Predictive indicators of successful varicocele repair in men with infertility.

OBJECTIVE

We sought predictive indicators of functionally successful repair in 168 infertile Japanese males who underwent high ligation of a varicocele via a retroperitoneal approach.

METHODS

Possible indicators evaluated included age at marriage, duration of infertility, testicular volume, varicocele grade, seminal analysis findings, and serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), and testosterone. All patients had palpable or visible unilateral left varicoceles. Success in conception was evaluated in all subjects 1 year after varicocele repair.

RESULTS

No associations were observed between outcome and mean age at marriage, infertility duration, varicocele grade, seminal volume, or serum PRL and testosterone concentrations, but testicular volume, sperm count, percentage of motile sperm, and serum FSH and LH concentrations were significantly associated with outcome. Multiple regression analysis of dependence of outcome revealed testicular volume and serum FSH concentrations to be independent predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Varicocele repair is likely to accomplish fertility in patients with a combined testicular volume of at least 30 mL or serum FSH concentrations lower than 11.7 mIU/mL.