Clinical study and results of surgical treatment in 146 oligospermic men with varicocele.

Data of 146 infertile men undergoing surgical treatment for varicocele are reported. Patients with the following features were treated by surgery: normal FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) not severe hypotrophy of the left testis and normal right testis; absence of azoospermia; absence of autosome or sex chromosome alterations; absence of signs of genital inflammation. A clear-cut improvement in the condition of seminal secretion was obtained both in oligospermic patients with less than 10 millions spermatozoa per ml preoperatively, and in patients with a higher number of spermatozoa. Particularly, a marked improvement in the valid motility and morphology of spermatozoa was observed. The biological index of a successful treatment in correcting infertility is represented by the high number (51) of successful pregnancies in the wives of operated patients. It is to be underlined that measurements of spermatic vein pressure, phlebography and intraoperative cineradioscopy completely avoid recurrence that otherwise affects about 5 to 6% of operated patients.