[Analysis of the levels of gonadotropins and testosterone in the serum and sperm of patients with varicocele].

In 26 patients with clinical varicocele, in 20 patients with "subclinical" varicocele, and in 90 clinically normal patients, measurements of the plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone were made. In 13 patients pre-operative and post-operative measurements were also performed. The difference in the serum testosterone values in patients with varicocele and in those without varicocele was not statistically significant. The level of FSH and LH markedly higher in the group of patients with subclinical varicocele than in the group with clinically expressed varicocele (p less than 0.05). The difference in the values of FSH, LH, PRL and testosterone in the serum and seminal plasma of clinically normal patients with thermographically verified scrotal hyperthermia due to the reflux into the pampiniform plexus and in those with euthermia was not statistically significant if the quality of the semen was similar.