[Incidence of varicocele. Results of serial studies on 3 groups of probands].

Varicoceles were encountered in 21.9% of 2752 men at draft and in 16% of 818 sanatorium patients. There was no decreasing incidence in the latter with increasing age. Fathers were encountered almost equally frequently among men with varicoceles as in men without varicoceles. Varicocelectomy seems to be indicated only when further children are wanted, when abnormalities of the spermiogram are present or testicular abnormalities can be detected on palpation. The validity of preventive removal of varicoceles in adults needs to be ascertained in a randomised and prospective study with concomitant registration of pregnancy rate and spermiograms.