Hindawi Publishing Corporation
ISRN Urology
Volume 2013, Article ID 698351, 3 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/698351
Clinical Study
The Effect of Varicocelectomy on
Sperm Parameters in Subfertile Men with Clinical Varicoceles
Who Have Asthenozoospermia or Teratozoospermia with
Normal Sperm Density
Basri Cakiroglu,
1
Orhun Sinanoglu,
2
and Ramazan Gozukucuk
3
1
Department of Urology, Hisar Intercontinental Hospital, Saray Mahallesi, Siteyolu Caddesi No. 7, Umraniye, 34768 Istanbul, Turkey
2
Department of Urology, Maltepe University Medical School, Maltepe, 34844 Istanbul, Turkey
3
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Hisar Intercontinental Hospital, Saray Mahallesi,
Siteyolu Caddesi No. 7, Umraniye, 34768 Istanbul, Turkey
Correspondence should be addressed to Basri Cakiroglu; drbasri@gmail.com
Received 5 July 2013; Accepted 27 August 2013
Academic Editors: J. S. Elder and G. Haidl
Copyright © 2013 Basri Cakiroglu et al. his is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Background. To compare preoperative and postoperative sperm parameters such as sperm count, motility, and morphology in
patients with normal sperm concentration with teratozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. Materials and Methods. Hundred
and six patients with varicocele associated with male infertility over a 5-year period were included into the study. Pre- and
postvaricocelectomy seminal luid parameters evaluation according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria was
performed at 4–6-month intervals. Results. One hundred and six patients met the criteria. he mean age of patients was 24.53 ±
8.13. he mean duration of infertility was 3.6 years (range: 1.5–6.3). Only the sperm motility of patients with normospermia showed
a signiicant improvement postoperatively. Conclusions. No signiicant improvement in sperm morphology may be obtained in
patients with clinical varicocele and preoperative normospermia.
1. Introduction
he incidence of infertility is 10–15% among couples trying to
conceive, with male infertility contributing to nearly 50% of
cases [1]. Although multiple factors may play a role in male
infertility, varicocele is the most frequent inding in male
infertility, with a prevalence of 19–41% of men with primary
infertility and 45–81% of men with secondary infertility [1, 2].
Increased scrotal temperature, relux of metabolites from the
kidney and adrenal gland, decreased volume of blood low,
and anoxia are the supposed mechanisms [3]. Varicocele is
also known as the most surgically correctable cause of male
infertility, and its repair is the most commonly performed
surgical procedure in order to correct male infertility [4].
Previous studies have shown abnormalities in the sperm
count, motility, and morphology in varicocele patients and a
signiicant improvement in these parameters following surgi-
cal correction [5]. he postoperative outcomes of varicocelec-
tomy operation in patients with normal sperm count but with
sperms having abnormal morphology and impaired motility
have not been studied much. herefore, in this retrospective
study, we compared preoperative and postoperative sperm
parameters such as sperm count, motility, and morphology in
patients with normal sperm concentration showing abnormal
forms and decreased motility pattern.
2. Materials and Methods
he study included 106 patients seeking surgical treatment for
varicocele in our institution from December 2008 to Decem-
ber 2011. here were no documented diseases that would
afect the results. A basic infertility evaluation including a
detailed history and a thorough physical examination was
carried out. All of the patients were married with primary