Current approach to therapy for male infertility in patients with varicocele

Aim. To improve the results of treatment for male infertility in patients with varicocele and to evaluate the efficiency of microsurgical varicocelectomy performed by the same surgeon in a large group of patients. Subjects and methods. 1127 infertile males aged 22 to 52 years (mean 29.6±9.2 years) w...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: S I Gamidov, R I Ovchinnikov, A Iu Popova, R A Tkhagapsoeva, S Kh Izhbaev
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: "Consilium Medicum" Publishing house 2012-10-01
Series:Терапевтический архив
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ter-arkhiv.ru/0040-3660/article/view/31129
_version_ 1818020378739474432
author S I Gamidov
R I Ovchinnikov
A Iu Popova
R A Tkhagapsoeva
S Kh Izhbaev
author_facet S I Gamidov
R I Ovchinnikov
A Iu Popova
R A Tkhagapsoeva
S Kh Izhbaev
author_sort S I Gamidov
collection DOAJ
description Aim. To improve the results of treatment for male infertility in patients with varicocele and to evaluate the efficiency of microsurgical varicocelectomy performed by the same surgeon in a large group of patients. Subjects and methods. 1127 infertile males aged 22 to 52 years (mean 29.6±9.2 years) with varicocele were examined. An analysis of the patients' presenting complaints, collection of history data, examinations, spermogram studies, mixed agglutination reaction (MAR) test, ultrasonography and Doppler study of the scrotum, estimation of blood hormone and inhibin B levels, and genetic studies (karyotype, azoospermia factor (AZF), cystic fibrosis gene) were done. The analysis excluded 193 patients with other causes of infertility. 728 patients underwent uni- and bilateral microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy according to the Marmar procedure modified by the authors, 107 had spermatogenesis stimulation (clomiphene citrate, vitamins A and E, selenium, L-carnitine, pentoxifylline, antioxidants) for 3-6 months; 56 patients were untreated. The follow-up period was 3-12 months depending on the efficiency of treatment. Control examination was made every 3 months. Results. After microsurgical varicocelectomy, there were increases in the concentration of spermatozoa from 8.8±7.2 to 23.2±7.9 mln/ml and their active motility from 7.2±5.4 to 31.2±5.2% (category A); the proportion of abnormal sperm forms (Kruger morphology) reduced from 95.4±5 to 87.8±8.3%. The patients with azoospermia (n=39), spermatozoa appeared in 46.2% of cases; 52.8% of the patients with complete teratozoospermia (n=36) exhibited morphologically normal sperm postoperatively (unlike the results of treatment in the comparison groups). Higher sperm concentrations were observed after both microsurgical varicocele and empirical stimulation of spermatogenesis in 69.9 and 29.9% of the patients, respectively. Spontaneous conception occurred in the partners of 47.1% of the males after microsurgical varicocele, 21.5% of those after drug stimulation, and 3.6% of those untreated. Conclusion. Microsurgical varicocele is the most effective and safe treatment option for male infertility in patients with varicocele. Its effect far exceeds the results of drug stimulation of spermatogenesis and those of the follow-up. It lies in a rapid and significant improvement in spermatogenic parameters just 3-6 months after surgery and further continues to increase. This gives rise to spontaneous pregnancy in about 50% of the infertile couples within a year postsurgery. Microsurgical varicocele may be recommended not only as the gold standard surgical treatment for varicocele, but also for the therapy of male infertility in these patients. At the same time, prior to surgical treatment for varicocele, one should rule out all other causes of male infertility and female factor (particularly tubal one).
first_indexed 2024-04-14T08:05:13Z
format Article
id doaj.art-542e1cc6d2844b56989c20b907c7c0f9
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0040-3660
2309-5342
language Russian
last_indexed 2024-04-14T08:05:13Z
publishDate 2012-10-01
publisher "Consilium Medicum" Publishing house
record_format Article
series Терапевтический архив
spelling doaj.art-542e1cc6d2844b56989c20b907c7c0f92022-12-22T02:04:47Zrus"Consilium Medicum" Publishing houseТерапевтический архив0040-36602309-53422012-10-018410566128145Current approach to therapy for male infertility in patients with varicoceleS I GamidovR I OvchinnikovA Iu PopovaR A TkhagapsoevaS Kh IzhbaevAim. To improve the results of treatment for male infertility in patients with varicocele and to evaluate the efficiency of microsurgical varicocelectomy performed by the same surgeon in a large group of patients. Subjects and methods. 1127 infertile males aged 22 to 52 years (mean 29.6±9.2 years) with varicocele were examined. An analysis of the patients' presenting complaints, collection of history data, examinations, spermogram studies, mixed agglutination reaction (MAR) test, ultrasonography and Doppler study of the scrotum, estimation of blood hormone and inhibin B levels, and genetic studies (karyotype, azoospermia factor (AZF), cystic fibrosis gene) were done. The analysis excluded 193 patients with other causes of infertility. 728 patients underwent uni- and bilateral microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy according to the Marmar procedure modified by the authors, 107 had spermatogenesis stimulation (clomiphene citrate, vitamins A and E, selenium, L-carnitine, pentoxifylline, antioxidants) for 3-6 months; 56 patients were untreated. The follow-up period was 3-12 months depending on the efficiency of treatment. Control examination was made every 3 months. Results. After microsurgical varicocelectomy, there were increases in the concentration of spermatozoa from 8.8±7.2 to 23.2±7.9 mln/ml and their active motility from 7.2±5.4 to 31.2±5.2% (category A); the proportion of abnormal sperm forms (Kruger morphology) reduced from 95.4±5 to 87.8±8.3%. The patients with azoospermia (n=39), spermatozoa appeared in 46.2% of cases; 52.8% of the patients with complete teratozoospermia (n=36) exhibited morphologically normal sperm postoperatively (unlike the results of treatment in the comparison groups). Higher sperm concentrations were observed after both microsurgical varicocele and empirical stimulation of spermatogenesis in 69.9 and 29.9% of the patients, respectively. Spontaneous conception occurred in the partners of 47.1% of the males after microsurgical varicocele, 21.5% of those after drug stimulation, and 3.6% of those untreated. Conclusion. Microsurgical varicocele is the most effective and safe treatment option for male infertility in patients with varicocele. Its effect far exceeds the results of drug stimulation of spermatogenesis and those of the follow-up. It lies in a rapid and significant improvement in spermatogenic parameters just 3-6 months after surgery and further continues to increase. This gives rise to spontaneous pregnancy in about 50% of the infertile couples within a year postsurgery. Microsurgical varicocele may be recommended not only as the gold standard surgical treatment for varicocele, but also for the therapy of male infertility in these patients. At the same time, prior to surgical treatment for varicocele, one should rule out all other causes of male infertility and female factor (particularly tubal one).https://ter-arkhiv.ru/0040-3660/article/view/31129male infertilityvaricocelemicrosurgical varicocelectomy
spellingShingle S I Gamidov
R I Ovchinnikov
A Iu Popova
R A Tkhagapsoeva
S Kh Izhbaev
Current approach to therapy for male infertility in patients with varicocele
Терапевтический архив
male infertility
varicocele
microsurgical varicocelectomy
title Current approach to therapy for male infertility in patients with varicocele
title_full Current approach to therapy for male infertility in patients with varicocele
title_fullStr Current approach to therapy for male infertility in patients with varicocele
title_full_unstemmed Current approach to therapy for male infertility in patients with varicocele
title_short Current approach to therapy for male infertility in patients with varicocele
title_sort current approach to therapy for male infertility in patients with varicocele
topic male infertility
varicocele
microsurgical varicocelectomy
url https://ter-arkhiv.ru/0040-3660/article/view/31129
work_keys_str_mv AT sigamidov currentapproachtotherapyformaleinfertilityinpatientswithvaricocele
AT riovchinnikov currentapproachtotherapyformaleinfertilityinpatientswithvaricocele
AT aiupopova currentapproachtotherapyformaleinfertilityinpatientswithvaricocele
AT ratkhagapsoeva currentapproachtotherapyformaleinfertilityinpatientswithvaricocele
AT skhizhbaev currentapproachtotherapyformaleinfertilityinpatientswithvaricocele