Hormonal and biochemical parameters in varicocele.

Eight-seven patients were studied and divided in three groups: patients with varicocele and abnormal seminal fluid (47 cases), patients with varicocele and normal spermiograms (10 cases), and normal individuals (30 cases). Blood samples for hormonal dosages of FSH, LH, and testosterone were taken through puncture of a peripheral vein. Testosterone concentration for the varicocele group with abnormal spermiograms was lower than for the other groups; statistically significant difference were found when comparing these values. FSH and LH, as well as seminal fructose and citric acid, did not show any statistically significant differences when we compared the values obtained for the three groups. We believe that the decrease of testosterone concentration found in cases of varicocele with abnormal spermiograms can explain the alterations in spermatogenesis present in these patients.