Feasibility of loupe assisted subinguinal varicocelectomy in treatment of male infertility.

OBJECTIVES

To study the impact of loupe assisted subinguinal varicocelectomy on semen quality, serum testosterone level, and spontaneous pregnancy rate.

METHODS

The data were prospectively collected for 102 infertile men with clinical varicocele. The preoperative values of semen analysis parameters and serum testosterone level were compared with postoperative values at 6 months. Spontaneous pregnancy was assessed at 6 months.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 31.56 ± 4.31 years. Primary infertility was reported in 86 patients, while 16 had secondary infertility. Bilateral varicocele was seen in 79 patients while 23 had a unilateral varicocele. The total sperm concentration (×10/mL) before and after varicocelectomy was 12.82 ± 3.91 and 20.06 ± 2.13 respectively (P < .0001). The total sperm motility (%) before and after varicocelectomy was 37.67 ± 7.23 and 55.46 ± 4.51 respectively (P < .0001). The sperm morphology (Kruger/Strict morphology criteria, %) before and after varicocelectomy was 3.11 ± 0.80 and 3.70 ± 0.78 respectively (P < .0001). The serum testosterone level (ng/dL) before and after varicocelectomy was 323.90 ± 67.81 and 396.74 ± 40.88 respectively (P < .0001). The Spontaneous pregnancy rate in couples with primary and secondary infertility was 18.60% and 31.25% respectively. The difference in their rates was not significant (P = .251). The overall spontaneous pregnancy rate was 20.5%.

CONCLUSION

Loupe-assisted sub-inguinal varicocelectomy is a safe and effective modality for treating infertile men, particularly when provision for microscopic surgery is unavailable. However, only large size comparative studies or multi-centric trials can confirm this.