Frequency of varicocele in black adolescents.

To determine the incidence of varicocele among blacks, 423 black adolescent males were examined. Fifty-eight (13.7%) had varicocele compared to a 14-15% incidence among white teenage males. The close to 10% of adolescents with a varicocele who develop subnormal fertility cannot be predicted, nor has it been shown that early varicocelectomy prevents the problem. There is a need for prospective evaluation of early varicocelectomy in adolescent males to determine if subnormal fertility can be avoided.