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Greenberg DR, Hudnall MT, Goyette BN, Fantus RJ, Dubin JM, Brannigan RE, Halpern JA. Predictors of Semen Parameters Decline Following the Microsurgical Varicocelectomy. Cureus 2023; 15:e45061. [PMID: 37829944 PMCID: PMC10567203 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Varicocele is considered the most common reversible cause of male infertility. However, some men do not clinically improve after surgical repair. We aimed to identify preoperative factors associated with decreased semen parameters and clinical "downgrading" of total motile sperm count (TMSC) following varicocelectomy. Methods We examined men with preoperative laboratory testing and pre- and postoperative semen analyses (SA) who underwent varicocelectomy between 2010 and 2020. Ejaculate volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration, TMSC, and clinical grade of TMSC (in vitro fertilization: <5M sperm, intrauterine insemination: 5-9M sperm, natural pregnancy: >9M sperm) were used to determine postoperative outcomes. Demographic and clinical factors were compared between cohorts. Results Among 101 men who underwent varicocelectomy, 35 (34.7%) had decreased postoperative TMSC with a median follow-up of 6.6 months (interquartile range 3.9-13.6 months). Eleven (10.9%) men experienced TMSC clinical "downgrading" following surgery. Clinical grade III varicocele was significantly associated with decreased sperm motility on postoperative SA (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.7-10.0, p=0.002), and larger left testicle volume (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8, p=0.02) was associated with clinical "downgrading" after varicocelectomy. Conclusion A small but significant proportion of men experienced a "downgrading" of semen parameters after varicocelectomy. Larger left testis size was associated with clinical downgrading, whereas clinical grade III varicoceles were associated with lower post-treatment sperm motility. These data are critical for preoperative patient counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Greenberg
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Matthew T Hudnall
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | | | | | - Justin M Dubin
- Department of Urology, Memorial Healthcare, Aventura, USA
| | - Robert E Brannigan
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Joshua A Halpern
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA
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Abstract
Clinically, infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after a certain period. In contrast, sterility is defined as the inability to produce a biological child; however, this is not a practical definition that can be applied in a clinical setting to a patient’s diagnosis. Unlike infertility, sterility is rarely discussed in biomedical and clinical literature and is often used synonymously with infertility. Infertility affects about 10% of couples globally, but the prevalence of sterility remains unknown. We divide sterility into three subtypes natural, clinical, and hardship. To estimate sterility prevalence, we analyzed primary literature and meta-analysis papers on the rates of live births and pregnancies throughout several treatments of infertile couples (e.g., untreated patients, in vitro fertilization-treated, and patients administered other treatments). This analysis indicates that all treatments fail in delivering a biological child to most couples, suggesting that most infertile couples may fail to conceive. More comprehensive primary studies are needed to provide a precise estimate of sterility. Furthermore, research is needed to study the causes of sterility, as well as develop methods for diagnosis and treatment that are financially affordable and emotionally tolerable. Altogether, sterility is an under-discussed condition that is more common than expected, as many infertile couples are unable to conceive and are, in effect, sterile.
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Ghaed MA, Makian SA, Moradi A, Maghsoudi R, Gandomi-Mohammadabadi A. Best time to wait for the improvement of the sperm parameter after varicocelectomy: 3 or 6 months? Arch Ital Urol Androl 2020; 92. [PMID: 33016058 DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2020.3.259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the duration of time required following varicocelectomy to wait for the improvements of semen parameters. Therefore, we characterized the changes with the time in sperm parameters in men after varicocelectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this prospective cohort study we included consecutively observed men who underwent varicocelectomy between September 2017 and September 2018 in a referral academic hospital. Clinical data of the patients, as well as their semen parameters, were measured before surgery and at 3 and 6 months afterward. RESULTS In this study, a total of 100 men with average age of 29.5 ± 6.2 years were included. Mean sperm concentration and sperm motility significantly improved by 3 (p < 0.05), but not by 6 months following varicocelectomy. The semen volume and sperm with normal morphology were the same before and after surgery (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of semen parameters when comparing 6 months to 3 months postoperatively (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Sperm parameters (concentration and motility) improve by 3 months after varicocelectomy without further improvements. Consequently, physicians should decide quickly after 3-month of varicocelectomy if surgery has been not helpful and then plan other therapies, like assisted reproductive technology (ART) for managing infertility in couples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ali Ghaed
- Urology Department, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran.
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Kohn JR, Haney NM, Nichols PE, Rodriguez KM, Kohn TP. Varicocele Repair Prior to Assisted Reproductive Technology: Patient Selection and Special Considerations. Res Rep Urol 2020; 12:149-156. [PMID: 32426301 PMCID: PMC7196200 DOI: 10.2147/rru.s198934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical varicoceles are one of the most commonly identified physical exam abnormalities in men presenting with infertility. Clinical varicoceles can cause impaired spermatogenesis and surgical correction can improve semen parameters in select men. Increasingly, andrologists are performing varicocele repairs prior to intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to boost male fertility potential. In this review, we evaluated the available literature 1) to determine if varicocelectomy prior to IUI or assisted reproductive technologies proved to improve sperm production or pregnancy outcomes; and 2) to identify who may be the ideal candidate for pre-IUI/ART varicocelectomy. Overall, few studies have explored this topic and little can be concluded about the impact of varicocelectomy prior to IUI. The evidence, however, does support that correcting a clinical varicocele can increase pregnancy outcomes in couples who plan to pursue IVF or ICSI. When selecting patients for varicocelectomy prior to IUI or ART, clinicians should evaluate female age as improvement in semen parameters can take 6 months after varicocelectomy and this duration of time may be deleterious in cases of advanced maternal age when each cycle becomes increasingly important. Overall, the currently limited literature regarding clinical varicoceles correction demonstrates that pregnancy rates can be increased when comparing patients who have undergone varicocelectomy prior to ART with those who had clinical varicocele but did not undergo surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaden R Kohn
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nora M Haney
- The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Katherine M Rodriguez
- The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Taylor P Kohn
- The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Najari BB. The Role of Varicocelectomy and Diagnostic Testis Biopsy in Men With Non-obstructive Azoospermia: NYU Case of the Month, July 2020. Rev Urol 2020; 22:130-132. [PMID: 33239973 PMCID: PMC7672499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bobby B Najari
- Departments of Urology and Population Health, NYU Langone Health New York, NY
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Madhusoodanan V, Blachman-Braun R, Patel P, Ji L, Masterson TA, Owyong M, Greer A, Ramasamy R. Preoperative follicle-stimulating hormone: A factor associated with semen parameter improvement after microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy. Can Urol Assoc J 2019; 14:E27-E31. [PMID: 31658008 DOI: 10.5489/cuaj.5910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Currently, there exists no serum biomarker to predict patients likely to benefit from varicocelectomy. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between baseline follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and semen parameter changes after subinguinal microscopic varicocelectomy. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all men who underwent microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy between August 2015 and October 2018. Pre- and postoperative semen analyses were stratified per total motile sperm count (TMSC): TMSC <5, 5-9, and >9 million (based on TMSC required for in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination [IUI], and natural conception, respectively). Then, variables were analyzed to determine the correlation with postoperative TMSC values and upgrade in TMSC category. RESULTS Among the 66 men analyzed, 55 (83.3%) and 11 (16.7%) had a preoperative TMSC of <5 million and 5-9 million, respectively. A total of 33 (50%) patients upgraded in TMSC category, 26 of them achieving levels corresponding to natural conception and seven achieving those of IUI. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between postoperative TMSC and preoperative TMSC (r=0.528; p<0.001), and preoperative FSH (r=-0.314; p=0.010). A lower preoperative FSH (odds ratio [OR] 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.98; p=0.028) and a higher preoperative TMSC (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.06-1.76; p=0.015) were associated with upgrade in TMSC category. CONCLUSIONS Lower preoperative FSH and higher TMSC are associated with improvement in TMSC category after varicocelectomy, although small sample size limited the study. FSH can be useful to identify men who are most likely to benefit from varicocele repair.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Premal Patel
- Department of Urology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Lunan Ji
- Department of Urology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Thomas A Masterson
- Department of Urology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Michael Owyong
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Aubrey Greer
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Ranjith Ramasamy
- Department of Urology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
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Madhusoodanan V, Patel P, Blachman-Braun R, Ramasamy R. Semen parameter improvements after microsurgical subinguinal varicocele repair are durable for more than 12 months. Can Urol Assoc J 2019; 14:E80-E83. [PMID: 31599718 DOI: 10.5489/cuaj.6047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Varicoceles account for the most common correctable cause of male infertility, with varicocele repair leading to improvements in semen quality. However, there is little evidence to establish the durability of varicocele repair. We analyzed the durability of improvements in postoperative semen parameters following microsurgical subinguinal varicocele repair. METHODS We evaluated all men who underwent microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy from 2015-2019. Patients were included if they desired fertility and had a followup of at least 12 months. We assessed the baseline characteristics of these patients, as well as semen volume, total motile sperm count (TMSC), concentration, percent motility, and morphology. Semen parameters were analyzed at baseline (preoperative) and at approximately three months and ≥12 months postoperatively. RESULTS Of 105 men who underwent varicocelectomy, 18 men had a followup of at least 12 months. These men presented with median age of 34.5 (27-38) years for a median followup duration of 14.5 (13-22.5) months. TMSC levels increased from 6.4 (1.1-24.5) million at baseline to 11.1 (2.4-38.4) million at approximately three months and remained similar at 12.5 (1.6-31.5) million at ≥12 months. The study is limited by its retrospective nature and limited sample size. CONCLUSIONS Microscopic subinguinal varicocele repairs can result in durable improvements of semen quality beyond one year, as demonstrated by upgrade in median TMSC. Further studies should be performed to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Premal Patel
- Department of Urology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Ruben Blachman-Braun
- Department of Urology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Ranjith Ramasamy
- Department of Urology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
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Wang Q, Yu Y, Liu Y, Wang L. Outcome of varicocelectomy on different degrees of total motile sperm count: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2019; 65:430-436. [PMID: 31434522 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2019.1655813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qun Wang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yanhong Liu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Libo Wang
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Whole Exome Sequencing Identifies a Rare Nonsense Mutation in FAM47C as a Possible Cause of Severe Oligospermia in Brothers With Varicocele. Urology 2019; 129:71-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2019.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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