Impact of Varicocele Treatment on Sperm Recovery in Men with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia

Abstract

Varicocele, a condition characterized by dilated and tortuous veins within the pampiniform plexus, is observed in 10-20% of the general male population and is significantly more common in men with infertility, affecting 35-40% with primary infertility and up to 80% with secondary infertility. While its role in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) remains unclear, varicocele is present in approximately 5% of men with NOA, a severe form of male infertility that affects 10% of infertile men. to evaluate the improvement in semen quality and its outcome after varicocelectomy in non-obstructive azoospermic men. This study was a retrospective descriptive study; the study was conducted in Misurata Medical Center /Libya, and the National Infertility Center during the years January 2015 – January 2017. The study population was 20 patients diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia and varicocele. surgical varicocelectomy was performed in all cases, and after that, follow-up and sperm retrieval procedures were performed to retrieve sperm. The patients' ages ranged from 27 to 46 years; all of the cases were diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia and varicocele. there are 3 cases from the total 20 that got sperm on normal masturbation, and 5 cases got sperm by sperm retrieval procedures. the other 12 cases could not get sperm in the period from 3 to 24 months post-varicocelectomy. The results of our study indicate that infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia NOA. and clinical and subclinical varicocele benefit from varicocelectomy and its harmless procedures for azoospermic patients. But in a high percentage, testicular sperm retrieval is mandatory