Semen profile, testicular volume, and hormonal levels in infertile patients with varicoceles compared with fertile men with and without varicoceles

Pasqualotto, Fábio Firmbach; Lucon, Antônio Marmo; Góes, Patrícia Freitas; Sobreiro, Bernardo Passos; Hallak, Jaime Eduardo Cecílio; Pasqualotto, Eleonora Bedin; Arap, Sami

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.06.047

Cited by 88 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…We previously reported that the seminal plasma of patients with varicocele had excessive oxidative stress, even in men with normospermia [Sakamoto et al 2008]. Deleterious effects of altered Leydig cell function and seminiferous tubule damage in varicocele patients can disrupt the endocrine pathway affecting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone [Pasqualotto et al 2005;Weiss et al 1978]. On one hand a study has indicated that varicocelectomy improved Sertoli cell and Leydig cell function increasing serum testosterone, and resulted in improvement in sperm concentration and motility [Su et al 1995].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Significant improvement of sperm DNA quality after microsurgical repair of varicocele

Li¹,

Yamaguchi²,

Okada³

et al. 2012

Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine

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Varicocele is currently the most common irregularity identified in males that is associated with impaired spermatogenesis. It primarily presents in the form of decreased sperm count and motility, abnormal morphology, and significantly increased sperm DNA fragmentation. Several studies have shown that surgical repair improves semen parameters and increases the odds of spontaneous pregnancy. However the exact effect of surgical repair treatment remains controversial. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of microsurgical repair by comparing common semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). We evaluated infertile men (n = 19) who underwent microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy for treatment of clinical varicocele before and 3 months after surgery. Normozoospermic men (n = 19) were considered as the normal control group. Semen parameters improved significantly after surgery when compared with that before surgery, but still significant differences with the normal control group were observed. In comparison, sperm DNA integrity improved significantly after surgery (percentage DFI decreased from 28.4 ± 15.6% before surgery to 22.4 ± 12.9%, at 3 months post surgery) to similar levels as the normal control group. These results suggest that microsurgical repair may be considered as a treatment option in infertile men with palpable varicocele.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Significant improvement of sperm DNA quality after microsurgical repair of varicocele

Li¹,

Yamaguchi²,

Okada³

et al. 2012

Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine

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show abstract

“…There is evidence that varicocoeles can have a progressive, deleterious effect on testicular size, function and fertility over time, possibly caused by raised intratesticular temperatures, altered blood flow and endocrine imbalances (Akbay et al, 2000;Cozzolino & Lipshultz, 2001;Pasqualotto et al, 2005). An increase in scrotal temperature with reversible changes in germ cell function and regrowth with surgical correction has been published in both animal models and adult varicocoele series (Saypol et al, 1981;Green et al, 1984;Hurt et al, 1986;Goldstein & Eid, 1989;Paul et al, 2009).…”

Section: Pathophysiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescent varicocoele management controversies

2012

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SUMMARYVaricocoele is defined as excessive dilatation of the pampiniform venous plexus of the spermatic cord. Varicocoele frequently appears during early puberty and is recognized to be the most common surgically correctable cause of male infertility. However, the actual incidence in adolescents, pathophysiology and the association with male factor infertility all remain somewhat controversial. The most accurate diagnostic technique for identifying young men who will benefit from surgical treatment has yet to be established. Observations of testicular asymmetry and deteriorating semen quality helped establish current guidelines and recommendations for surgical treatment. Further studies, comparing observation with surgical intervention, are needed to refine the current indications for varicocoele repair in the adolescent male.

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“…Varicocele has long been considered to be the most treatable cause of male infertility, with multiple pathophysiologic theories addressing low sperm count, decreased sperm motility, and increased sperm abnormal morphology (9)(10)(11). It has been suggested that apoptosis plays an important role in the development of oligozoospermia among varicocele patients with increased germ cell apoptosis demonstrated in either rat models with varicocele or human studies (12).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%