Effect of varicocelectomy on patients with unobstructive azoospermia and severe oligospermia.

Abstract

To assess the treatment outcome and benefits after varicocelectomy in men with unobstructive azoospermia (UOA) and severe oligospermia (SO). The records were retrospectively evaluated for six patients with UOA and 54 with SO who had microsurgical inguinal varicocele ligation (mean age 33.3 years, SD 5.3). Fifty-one (85%) had a unilateral left-sided procedure (five of six with UOA, 46 of 54 with SO), and nine (15%) had a bilateral procedure. After ligation, spermatogenesis was induced in two of the six men with UOA; the mean (SD) sperm concentration increased from 2.3 (1.6) to 9.2 (12.6) million/mL (P < 0.001), but the sperm motility did not change significantly. Four (7%) of the 54 men with SO achieved paternity, with unassisted pregnancies. Varicocelectomy resulted in the induction or enhancement of spermatogenesis for several men with UOA or SO; it seems to be a reasonable option in selected patients with UOA or SO.