Our results suggest that elevated reactive oxygen species and depressed total antioxidant capacity levels are associated with varicocele. These changes may be related to functional sperm abnormalities and infertility seen commonly in these patients. These findings support a possible rationale for controlled clinical trials of antioxidant supplementation in infertile men with varicocele.

Pediatric inguinal hernia repair is the most common cause of iatrogenic injury to the vas deferens. Results of treatment of iatrogenic injury to the vas deferens are somewhat lower than for patients with obstructive azoospermia due to vasectomy. Iatrogenic injuries are associated with longer vasal defects, impaired blood supply and longer obstructive intervals frequently resulting in secondary epididymal obstruction. Crossover reconstruction is particularly useful when contralateral testicular atrophy is present. Intraoperatively aspirated sperm should be cryopreserved for later use in case the reconstruction fails.

No abstract

Our results suggest that elevated reactive oxygen species and depressed total antioxidant capacity levels are associated with varicocele. These changes may be related to functional sperm abnormalities and infertility seen commonly in these patients. These findings support a possible rationale for controlled clinical trials of antioxidant supplementation in infertile men with varicocele.

Varicocele treatment may not improve semen characteristics in all men but it appears to improve pregnancy and live birth rates among couples undergoing intrauterine insemination for male factor infertility. A functional factor not measured on routine semen analysis may affect pregnancy rates in this setting. Men should be screened for varicocele before intrauterine insemination is initiated for male factor infertility.