Left varicocele at puberty.

A study was made of 160 cases of left varicocele treated during 1979-1980; there were 35 patients under sixteen years old. Also 74.3 per cent of patients already had mono- or bilateral testicular hypotrophy. Testicular biopsy revealed 90 per cent had histologic lesions of varying nature and degree. We believe varicocele formation is related to physiologic changes during puberty. These data suggest that early recognition of varicocele and its correction before the appearance of irreversible testicular lesions may prevent male sterility.