Is varicocele treatment useful?

The effect of the treatment of varicocele on symptoms and fertility was followed up in 66 patients for an average of 27 months (range 6-84 months). The patients had been treated either surgically (n = 45) or with embolization (n = 21). The mean duration of the inpatient periods and sick leaves were significantly shorter among the patients treated with embolization than among the surgical patients (2.4 vs 3.3 days and 4.8 vs 21.3 days, respectively). Scrotal problems disappeared either completely or almost completely in 73% of the patients treated for symptoms (n = 40). The number of spermatozoa increased significantly (from 6.7 mill/ml to 27.4 mill/ml) in the patients with infertility after the treatment of varicocele. Pregnancy started in 31% of the couples with infertility problems. A spontaneous abortion occurred in two cases, and six couples (23%) had a child of their own. It could be concluded that the treatment of varicocele is useful regardless of whether it is given for symptoms or infertility. It is also indicated for the patients with infertility problems who have a low number of spermatozoa and disturbed spermatozoan motility in sperm analysis.