Is varicocele prevalence increasing with age?

Abstract

Varicocele is a bilateral vascular disease which occurs when the one-way valves in the internal spermatic veins, the testicular venous drainage system, malfunction. Based on new findings and fluid-mechanics analysis we showed that this process results in vertical blood columns, which cause pathological hydrostatic pressure in the testicular venous microcirculatory system. Ultimately, these pressures exceed the pressure in the arteriolar system. This unique phenomenon of reversal of pressures gradient between the arteriolar and venular systems leads to persistent hypoxia in the testosterone production site, namely, the Leydig cells. The result of bilateral varicocele is decreased testosterone production. Adequate treatment of bilateral varicocele significantly elevates the testosterone production. We found that the prevalence of varicocele increases with age with a rise of about 10% for each decade of life with the incidence reaching 75% in the eight decade of life. Based on our findings the following statements can be made: (1) varicocele prevalence is increased over time. (2) The rise of the incidence is about 10% for each decade of life. (3) 75% of men in the eight decade of their life have varicocele. As varicocele decreases testosterone production and it is reversible by appropriate treatment, it raises two interesting and important issues to be studied: (i) it is possible that varicocele accelerates the process of the ageing male. (ii) It is possible to retard, at least partially, the process of ageing in men by adequate treatment of bilateral varicocele.

Varicocele among healthy young men in Turkey; prevalence and relationship with body mass index

“…Levinger et al designed a retrospective study that consisted of 504 consecutive healthy men in older population (54.7 years) and found varicocele in 175 of the 504 men (34.7%). They concluded that the incidence of varicocele increases aproximately 10% for each decade of life and reaches up to 75% above the eighth decade (2). In our present study varicoceles were detected in 24% of 2061 young Turkish men.…”

“…Body mass index was calculated from height and weight data according to the formula of BMI = weight (kg)/height (m) 2 . Using the national Institutes of Health definition, participants with a BMI of less than 25 kg/m 2 were categorized as normal weight, participants with a BMI of 25 kg/m 2 to less than 30 kg/m 2 were considered overweight and those with BMI of 30 kg/m 2 or greater were considered obese (8).…”

“…The prevalence of varicocele is approximately 15-20% in the general population and 30-40% in infertile men (1). Levinger et al proposed that varicocele prevalence increase over time and the risk of incidence is approximately 10% for each decade of life (2).…”

Immunological Aspects of Varicocele

“…Although the incidence of varicocele in the male general population is roughly 15%, it has been implicated as a factor responsible for infertility in as much as one-third of the infertile population [13]. Incidence of varicocele is increased by about 10% for each decade of life and reaches up to 75% above the eighth decade [14]. Varicocele is found in approximately 15% of the general population, in 35% of men with primary infertility, and in 70% to 81% of men with secondary infertility [5,15,[16][17][18][19][20].…”

Efficacy of spermatic vein ligation in patients affected by high grade left varicocele

“…The condition is more common in men in infertile marriages, in which it affects 25-40% of men with abnormal semen analysis (2,3).…”