Abstract: Abstract: Objective To investigate the abnormal changes in the testes and semen parameters in patients with varicose veins
and analyze the possible relationship between clinical varicocele and infertility. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the
records of 172 male patients consulting for varicocele in our hospital since 2003. All these patients were examined for the size
of the testes with scrotal ultrasound. The semen samples of the patients with varicocele except for 5 under the age of 17 years
were collected and analyzed, using the data of semen analyses of 163 healthy young male volunteers (aged 18-29 years) as
control. Results All the 172 patients had left-sided varicose veins. Sixty-three patients were found to have bilateral varicocele,
and in most of them, the clinical grades of the left-sided varicose veins were higher than those of the right-sided ones. The
mean volume of the left testis of the patients was 10.99±3.71 ml, significantly smaller than that of the right one (11.86±4.05 ml,
P<0.01). The physiochemical indices of the patients, including the voiding volume, semen pH, liquefaction time and sperm
concentration, were normal or similar with those of the healthy volunteers (P>0.05). Almost all the patients’sperm motility
and viability were significantly lower than those of the healthy volunteers (P<0.05). In addition, no significant difference was
found in the sperm density, motility or viability between the patients with unilateral and bilateral varicocele (P>0.05).
Conclusion Varicocele may decrease the testicular volume. Both unilateral and bilateral varicocele may have an effect on the
bilateral testes to cause possible functional impairment of the testes manifested by decreased sperm motility and viability.