Effect of Microsurgical Varicocelectomy on Oligospermic or Asthenospermic Patients with Subclinical Varicocele

Park, Jeong Su; Seo, Ju Tae

Abstract

Purpose
The object of this study was to attempt to assess the effects of microsurgical varicocelectomy in subclinical oligospermic or asthenospermic patients.
Materials and Methods
Fourteen oligospermic or asthenospermic patients, with subclinical varicocele, were diagnosed by color Doppler ultrasound, between October 2001 and March 2004. All patients underwent an inguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy. Semen analyses were performed 4 months later, and compared with the preoperative data.
Results
The mean patient and spouse ages were 31.9+/-2.09 (range 29 to 36) and 29.9+/-1.85 (range 27 to 33) years, respectively. Comparison of the semen parameter before and after surgery revealed significant improvement of the sperm count. The mean sperm count increased from 33.09+/-31.96 to 60.74+/-56.27 million/ml (p<0.05). There were no significant statistical differences in the pH, motility, morphology and viability on the semen analysis. 4 of the 14 patients achieved spontaneous pregnancy (28%) after 7 to 10 months, and 4 achieved pregnancy, with in vitro fertilization (28%), 10 to 30 months later.
Conclusions
A microsurgical varicocelectomy in oligospermic or asthenospermic patients, with subclinical varicocele, significantly increased their sperm count. In infertile couples, with no specific problem other than subclinical varicocele, it is worth while performing a microsurgical varicocelectomy.