210 likes | 382 Views
Bilateral microsurgical varicocele repair versus the non-surgical approach for male-factor infertility is associated with a higher pregnancy rate and lower ART utilization. INTRODUCTION. VARICOCELE. Most common identifiable pathology in infertile men.
E N D
Bilateral microsurgical varicocele repair versus the non-surgical approach for male-factor infertility is associated with a higher pregnancy rate and lower ART utilization
VARICOCELE • Most common identifiable pathology in infertile men. • Affects 35% - 40% of men presenting for infertility evaluation.
Management of male-factor infertility with clinical varicocele and abnormal semen parameters: • Varicocele repair • Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) • Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) • In Vitro Fertilization with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (IVF/ICSI) • Observation
OBJECTIVES • Assess pregnancy outcomes of two cohorts of infertile men with bilateral varicoceles: • Bilateral varicocelectomy • No surgery
Retrospective review of 610 consecutive infertile couples with clinical varicoceles. • All men had: • one year or more of infertility • bilateral clinically palpable varicocele (examined by same investigator – AZ) • abnormal semen parameters • Couples with subclinical or unilateral clinical varicoceles, tubal obstruction or ovulatory failure excluded.
Couples counseled about treatment options (observation, varicocelectomy & ARTs) • All microsurgical varicocelectomies performed by same surgeon (AZ).
Outcome measures: • Pregnancy rates (natural and assisted) • Changes in semen parameters • Utilization of ARTs
Total of 610 consecutive infertile men with a clinical varicocele • 238 (39%) infertile men with bilateral clinical varicoceles • 157 (66%) chose bilateral varicocelectomy • Surgical (SUR) group • 81 (34%) men chose not to have surgery • Non-surgical (NON-SUR) group.
Pregnancy outcome and ART utilization data available for: • 67.5% (106/157) of SUR group • 64% (52/81) of NON-SUR group.
MEAN (±SD) BASELINE CLINICAL PARAMETERS IN COUPLES WITH PREGNANCY OUTCOME DATA
PREGNANCY & ART UTILIZATION RATES IN COUPLES WITH PREGNANCY OUTCOME DATA
Bilateral varicocele repair, when compared to non-surgical management, was associated with: • Significant improvements in semen parameters • Significant increase in natural pregnancy rate • Significantly less overall ART utilization
For bilateral clinical varicoceles, microsurgical repair is a favourable option for treating couples with male factor infertility.