Varicocele repair increases T levels regardless of severity

Results from a retrospective review reveal that microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy increases serum testosterone levels in men with clinically palpable varicoceles, regardless of varicocele grade.

First author Wayland Hsiao, MD, of Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, presented data from a study exploring the association between varicocele grade and the extent of testosterone increase post-repair. This analysis builds upon prior evidence linking varicocele repair with improvements in androgen levels and semen quality.

For the evaluation, pre- and postoperative serum testosterone levels and semen analyses were obtained from 67 men who underwent varicocelectomy to treat infertility and/or hypogonadism. Study participants were stratified by varicocele grade and location (ie, unilateral vs. bilateral).

Mean serum testosterone levels increased by 115.7 ng/dL after varicocelectomy (pp≤.003) and in the combined group of men treated for a grade 2 or 3 unilateral left varicocele (p

"What this study shows is that [men with] any varicocele that can actually be felt… regardless of whether it's a small one or a large one, will likely have a statistically significant increase in their testosterone levels after the surgery," concluded senior author Marc Goldstein, MD, DSc (hon).