Varicocele testis and testicular temperature.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether there is an association between scrotal skin temperature and impaired semen quality in patients with varicocele testis.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

Two groups of men (all newly enlisted soldiers), 39 with an asymptomatic varicocele testis and 38 normal control subjects, were compared for semen quality and scrotal skin temperature.

RESULTS

The semen quality in the men with varicocele was significantly lower than that in the control subjects; however, there was no significant difference in scrotal skin temperature between the groups.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed previous observations showing a possible relationship between varicocele testis and impaired sperm quality, but there was no apparent difference in scrotal skin temperature in men with or without a varicocele.