Fertility of men following inguinal hernia repair.

Among 8500 patients attending the fertility clinic due to infertility, 565 men (6.65%) reported an incidence of inguinal hernioplasty with or without subsequent atrophy of the testis. Semen quality (sperm concentrations, motility, and morphology) of these patients was markedly reduced in comparison to that of fertile men. In cases where hernioplasty was followed by atrophy of the testis, damage to sperm characteristics and Sertoli cell function was found to be far greater. This was also reflected in significant serum follicle stimulating hormone elevation (P less than 0.0025). No changes in luteinizing hormone and testosterone were found. No correlation was found between age of hernioplasty and semen quality following operation. The reasons for testicular damage may be due to ischaemic orchitis or immunological reactions.