Effects of Varicocelectomy on Abnormal Semen Parameters in Patients with Clinically Palpable Varicocele

Abstract

Prevalence of varicocele is approximately 15.1% of the general population. Studies showed that surgical correction of clinically palpable varicocele could improve the semen parameters. However, there is scarce of study to demonstrate post-operative outcome of varicocelectomy among the patients with abnormal semen parameter. Therefore, this study tried to compare the microscopic changes in sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm morphology before and after varicocelectomy. This quasi-experimental study was done in Urology Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from November 2014 to April 2016. Forty five patients with clinically palpable varicocele were finally includedin the study. Semen parameters of these patients were assessed by following the World Health Organization′s 5th manual of semen parameter, 2010. Subinguinal varicocelectomy was performed in every case. Follow up was done three months and six months after surgery. Data were analysed with statistical software SPSS 20 and level of significance was assessed by paired t-test.Almost 60.0% of patients were from 25 to 35 years age group. Of them, 87.1% patients were presented with left-sided varicocele, and 80% were grade III. All the patients showed oligospermia on semen analysis, whereas the number of abnormal sperm motility and abnormal morphology was 39, and 09, respectively. After surgical correction of varicocele, mean improvement of sperm concentration, motility and morphology found in 35 patients (77.7%), 31 patients (79.4%) and six patients (66.6%) respectively. The improvement was statistically significant (p<0.05). This study showed that surgical treatment could lead to the betterment of semen parameters in patients with clinically palpable varicocele, which will guide in deciding the management of varicocele patients presented with abnormal semen parameter. However, to recommend varicocelectomy as a most useful procedure in treating infertility cases; further longitudinal studies are recommended to establish the impact of varicocelectomy on