Fertility rates after successful correction of varicocele in adolescence and adulthood

Vast epidemiologic studies have shown that varicocele becomes manifest at the beginning of sexual maturation and its incidence gradually increases in patients between 10-16 years. This percentage is 16-18% in adolescents and is comparable to that of the adult male population. Since varicocele first appears in early adolescence and its gonadotoxic effect increases with age, the possibility of improved fertility rate with early varicocelectomy has been suggested. We report the results of a comparative follow-up study to value the efficacy of surgical correction in two groups of adolescent and adult patients. Our study shows that early recognition and treatment of a severe varicocele provide a higher fertility rate and can prevent the reduced fertility rate associated with delayed varicocelectomy.