Varicocele and semen quality: a retrospective case–control study of 4230 patients from a single centre

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study is to assess impairment of spermatogenesis induced by varicocele in, to our knowledge, the largest single-centre caseload available to date.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective study on 4230 consecutive patients attending our Department for andrological outpatient assessment and preconception check-ups between 2011 and 2014. A total of 2113 patients had varicocele (Group V), while the remaining 2117 were selected as the control group (Group C). All patients were divided into age classes (<17, 18–28, 29–39 and ≥40 years), and Group V patients were classified as “low” (I–II) or “high” (III–IV) grade.

Results

Varicocele patients had a higher mean height than controls, as well as lower BMI. There was also a statistically significant reduction in the concentration/mL and the total sperm number in Group V against Group C. When stratified by age, values for all semen parameters were significantly worse in the older than in the younger age classes in both Group V and Group C, except for concentration/mL and total sperm number in the 29–39 and ≥40 age classes in both groups. A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that factors independently predicting the presence of varicocele were older age, higher BMI and smoking for more than 10 years.

Conclusions

Varicocele patients show worse semen parameters compared to controls, although their values were still within WHO reference limits. Semen quality is further worsened by increased age, grade and chronic smoking.

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