Effects of Varicocelectomy Surgery on Sperm Morphology and Male Fertility
Background: A varicocele is linked to aberrant semen characteristics and decreased spermatogenesis. It has been demonstrated that microsurgical varicocelectomy enhances testicular function. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of microsurgical varicocelectomy on sperm morphology. Met...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
ziauddin University
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ojs.zu.edu.pk/pjmd/article/view/3912 |
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| Summary: | Background: A varicocele is linked to aberrant semen characteristics and decreased spermatogenesis. It has been demonstrated that microsurgical varicocelectomy enhances testicular function. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of microsurgical varicocelectomy on sperm morphology.
Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted on 112 infertile male patients diagnosed with Grade II or III clinical varicocele at the Institute of Kidney Diseases (IKD), MTI-Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. The study was carried out over a six-month period from September 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025. A non-probability consecutive sampling technique was employed to recruit eligible participants. Baseline semen analysis was performed prior to surgery and repeated six months postoperatively. The primary outcome variables were sperm morphology, sperm concentration (million/mL), and semen volume (mL). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26.0. Paired sample t-tests were applied to assess mean differences in semen parameters before and after surgery, while subgroup analyses were conducted based on varicocele grade, laterality, age, and duration of infertility. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean age of participants was 31.8 ± 5.4 years, and the average duration of infertility was 3.3 ± 1.8 years. The majority of patients (77 out of 112, 68.7%) had a unilateral varicocele, while the most common severity grade observed was Grade III, present in 68 patients (60.7%). At six months post-surgery, there was an improvement in semen parameters, which was statistically significant. Sperm morphology improved from 2.2 ± 1.3 to 5.7 ± 1.8 normal forms, sperm concentration increased from 12.6 million/mL to 22.5 million/mL, and semen volume rose from 2.5 mL to 3.0 mL (all p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Infertile males with clinical varicocele benefit greatly from microsurgical varicocelectomy in terms of semen characteristics, particularly those who are younger and have experienced infertility for a shorter period.
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| ISSN: | 2313-7371 2308-2593 |