Clinical and laboratory profiles of a large cohort of patients with different grades of varicocele

OBJECTIVE In this retrospective study we attempted to report our own data on the different clinical parameters in association with the presence and severity of varicocele in a large group of Austrian men. METHODS The records of 1,111 consecutive patients with clinical varicocele from 1993 to 2010 were evaluated. The presence, grade, and side of any varicocele were recorded. Semen samples, serum FSH, LH, and testosterone levels, and testicular volume were assessed. RESULTS The mean age was 28.8 (±7.3) years. Three hundred seventeen (28.5%) patients presented with grade I varicocele, 427 (38.4%) with grade II varicocele, and 367 (33%) with grade III varicocele. Correlation between different grades of varicocele and semen quality indicated an over-representation of oligospermia and asthenoteratospermia in the group of grade III varicocele (p <0.05), whereas other parameters of semen quality showed no significant difference between the three groups. Serum testosterone levels and BMI were significantly associated (p <0.05) with the grade of varicocele, but no association was found with the other parameters analyzed. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis showed a significant relationship between the grade of varicocele and semen analysis. Moreover, higher testosterone levels and lower body mass index were associated with the higher grade of varicocele and decreased semen quality. More prospective studies are recommended.