Review of 427 cases of varicocele at Ferdowsi University, Mashad, Iran

ABSTRACT

427 patients with varicocele aged 14 > 35 years were operated on over a 10 year period [1977 - 1986], 190 [44.5%] were referred for infertility and 365 had left-sided varicoceles [85.5%]. No relationship was found between infertility and the grade of varicocele. Clinical features of prostatitis were often present. Semen analyses were performed in 37% of patients and showed abnormalities in motility, morphology and density; hormone analyses [26 patients] showed elevated FSH, normal LH and decreased testosterone levels. Complications of high ligation were recurrence of varicocele in 10% and oedema of the scrotum in 12%. In the 32 patients presenting with infertility who were followed up there was an improvement in sperm density in 81% and a pregnancy rate of 37.8%