THE IMPACT OF MICROSURGICAL VARICOCELECTOMY ON SERUM TESTOSTERONE LEVEL AND SEMEN PARAMETERS IN SUBFERTILE MEN WITH CLINICALLY EVIDENT TESTICULAR VARICOCELE

Ahmed Mahmood Hussein; Ayad Abdukhaleq Ismael Sefer; Alan Adnan Saber

doi:10.46903/gjms/22.04.1794

THE IMPACT OF MICROSURGICAL VARICOCELECTOMY ON SERUM TESTOSTERONE LEVEL AND SEMEN PARAMETERS IN SUBFERTILE MEN WITH CLINICALLY EVIDENT TESTICULAR VARICOCELE

Ahmed Mahmood Hussein, Ayad Abdukhaleq Ismael Sefer, Alan Adnan Saber

Abstract

Background: Testicular varicocele is a prevalent condition contributing to male infertility by disrupting spermatogenesis and reducing testosterone production. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of sub-inguinal microscopic varicocelectomy on serum testosterone levels and seminal fluid parameters in subfertile men.

Materials & Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Azadi Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk between January 2023 and February 2024. Fifty men, aged 19-45, diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral varicocele and abnormal semen parameters (oligo-, astheno-, or oligoasthenoteratospermia) were recruited. Infertility duration exceeded three years in all cases. Exclusion criteria included azoospermia or normal semen profiles. Varicocele was confirmed via physical examination and scrotal ultrasound. Preoperative and six-month postoperative serum testosterone levels and seminal parameters were compared. Data collection involved standardized hormonal assays and semen analyses, with statistical analysis conducted to determine significance.

Results: Of the participants, 76% had left-sided varicocele, and 24% had bilateral involvement. Postoperative serum testosterone levels significantly increased from 3.18 ±0.88 to 4.07 ±0.70 ng/ml (p <0.001). Sperm motility also improved significantly from 17.2% ±7.43% to 27.4% ±8.22% (p <0.001). However, sperm count and morphology showed no statistically significant changes after surgery (p >0.05).

Conclusion: Sub-inguinal microscopic varicocelectomy is effective in improving testosterone levels and sperm motility in men with varicocele. Despite these benefits, no significant enhancements were observed in sperm count or morphology, suggesting a partial therapeutic impact on seminal parameters.

Keywords

Varicocele; Male Infertility; Microsurgical Varicocelectomy; Testosterone; Semen Analysis.

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References

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46903/gjms/22.04.1794