Sonographic Assessment of The Effect of Varicocele on Testicular Volume in Men With Infertility

Background: Infertility is a major cause of marital discord in Nigeria. Many physicians who manage male infertility patients believe that varicoceles are a major cause and that its repair will improve fertility. 80% of testicular volume is comprised of the seminiferous tubules, consequently, a testicular volume of infertile men with varicocele indirectly assesses the effect of varicocele on spermatogenesis. Objective: The study was conducted to compare the testicular volume of infertile men with varicocele with infertile men without varicocele with the ultimate aim of knowing the effects of varicocele on infertility. Methodology: This was a comparative cross -sectional study. Using consecutive sampling, seventy new male patients with infertility with abnormal seminal fluid parameters with or without varicocele presenting to urology division, University of Abuja Teaching hospital were recruited. The testicular volume of all the subjects were measured by gray scale ultrasonography after clinically grading those with varicocele. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant, and results were presented in tables, charts and graphs. Results: There was a significant decrease in testicular volume and sperm count of infertile men with varicocele compared to those without varicocele. The mean testicular volume of those with varicocele was 6.42±2.04ml compared with mean testicular volume of 12.45+/-1.53ml in those without varicocele (p <0.001). Also, the mean sperm count of men with varicocele was 3.00±3.54ml compared with the mean sperm count of 6.73+/-2.30ml in those without varicocele (p <0.001) Conclusion: Infertile men with varicocele had significant decrease in ipsilateral and total testicular size compared to those without varicocele and it has further authenticated the usefulness of testicular ultrasound in the assessment of patients with infertility.