VARICOCELECTOMY IN SUBFERTILE MALE - 10-YEAR EXPERIENCE WITH 295 CASES

Results of follow-up studies were given. Semen quality improved in a meaningful manner in 58% of men following varicocelectomy. The improvement, except at times for motility, was often only modest. The semen improved in 46% of men with a preoperative average count of < 10 million/ml and in 70% whose count was .gtoreq. 10 million/ml. The stress pattern of sperm morphology was seen prior to surgery in 93% of the men. The pregnancy rate for the entire series was about 41%. Men with a preoperative count of .gtoreq. 10 million/ml achieved a 48% conception rate and those with a count of < 10 million/ml succeeded 35% of the time. Only 7% of the pregnancies occurred without a concomitant improvement in the semen quality. Men with moderate- and large-sized left varicoceles fared better than those with small-sized varicoceles. Varicocelectomy, when varicocele and poor semen quality coexist, is a justified procedure in the treatment of the infertile couple.