Objective: To assess the effect of varicocele and subsequent varicocelectomy on testosterone-estradiol ratio in patients presented with infertility or testicular pain.
Materials and methods: In this prospective, controlled, clinical study, 135 men were assigned to 3 equal groups (n = 45 per group). The varicocele-treated "varicocelectomy" group included patients with varicocele who underwent loupe-assisted subinguinal varicocelectomy for infertility or testicular pain; the varicocele-not-treated "positive control" group included patients with varicocele who refused or who wished to postpone varicocelectomy; and the no-varicocele "negative control" group included fertile men without varicocele. The varicocele-treated patients underwent loupe-assisted subinguinal varicocelectomy for infertility or testicular pain. Semen analysis, serum testosterone, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, calculation of testosterone to estradiol ratio (T:E ratio), and scrotal Doppler ultrasound were assessed at baseline and 6 months later.
Results: Total testosterone levels and T:E ratio were in the normal range in all groups. Men with varicocele had significantly lower levels of total testosterone and T:E ratio than men without varicocele (P <.001 for each). Testosterone levels were 4.9, 4.6, and 7.3 ng/mL, and T:E ratios were 19, 17.4, and 28.1 in the treated, positive, and negative control groups, respectively. Testosterone level and T:E ratio were significantly higher in the negative control group than the other 2 groups at baseline assessment (P <.001 for each). These parameters improved significantly 6 months after varicocelectomy in the treated group; whereas, they remained unchanged in the 2 control groups.
Conclusion: Varicocele is associated with the diminishing of total testosterone and T:E ratio, which were significantly improved after subsequent subinguinal varicocelectomy.
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