Akira Komiya1, Akihiko Watanabe1, Yoko Kawauchi1, Hideki Fuse1. 1. Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences for Research University of Toyama 2630 Sugitani Toyama Toyama Japan.
Abstract
Purpose: We retrospectively reviewed infertile Japanese males for testicular volume discrepancies (D) and semen parameters to evaluate whether left grade II-III varicoceles (V) cause testicular damage. Methods: Seventy-seven patients who had idiopathic male infertility and 88 who had V without other causes of infertility were examined. We excluded cases of azoospermia. Testicular volume was measured using a punched-out orchidometer. D was defined as a size difference of at least 3 ml. The frequency of D was compared between the patients with and without V. The semen parameters were reviewed in association with D and V. Results: The mean left and right testicular volumes were 19.4 and 20.1 ml, respectively (p < 0.001). D with a smaller left testis was more common in V+ cases than in V- cases (26.1 vs. 13.0%, p = 0.0351). The sperm count and motility were also significantly lower (p = 0.0213 and p = 0.0217, respectively) in the D+ patients with a smaller left testicular volume. Conclusions: In the patients with V, D was more common than in those without V. The semen parameters were worse if D was present in the patients with V. These results indicated that V could induce testicular atrophy and negatively affect semen quality. Therefore, the ipsilateral reduced testicular volume is considered to be a sign of persisting testicular damage by V.
Purpose: We retrospectively reviewed infertile Japanese males for testicular volume discrepancies (D) and semen parameters to evaluate whether left grade II-III varicoceles (V) cause testicular damage. Methods: Seventy-seven patients who had idiopathic male infertility and 88 who had V without other causes of infertility were examined. We excluded cases of azoospermia. Testicular volume was measured using a punched-out orchidometer. D was defined as a size difference of at least 3 ml. The frequency of D was compared between the patients with and without V. The semen parameters were reviewed in association with D and V. Results: The mean left and right testicular volumes were 19.4 and 20.1 ml, respectively (p < 0.001). D with a smaller left testis was more common in V+ cases than in V- cases (26.1 vs. 13.0%, p = 0.0351). The sperm count and motility were also significantly lower (p = 0.0213 and p = 0.0217, respectively) in the D+ patients with a smaller left testicular volume. Conclusions: In the patients with V, D was more common than in those without V. The semen parameters were worse if D was present in the patients with V. These results indicated that V could induce testicular atrophy and negatively affect semen quality. Therefore, the ipsilateral reduced testicular volume is considered to be a sign of persisting testicular damage by V.
Entities:
Keywords:
Male infertility; Semen parameter; Sperm count; Sperm motility; Varicocele
Authors: T F Kruger; R Menkveld; F S Stander; C J Lombard; J P Van der Merwe; J A van Zyl; K Smith Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 1986-12 Impact factor: 7.329