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The ultrasound diagnosis and clinical significance of varicocele
Author(s) -
Curtis P.,
Nicholas O. A.,
Berger L.,
Shaw R. W.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.1995.06030186.x
Subject(s) - varicocele , medicine , semen , ultrasound , semen analysis , pregnancy , clinical significance , gynecology , infertility , obstetrics , urology , radiology , andrology , genetics , biology
A study was carried out to determine the relationship between clinically diagnosed and ultrasound‐diagnosed varicoceles in I51 men with normal and abnormal semen analysis. In only 60 cases (40%) was the clinical diagnosis confirmed by ultrasound. Of the men with ultrasound‐diagnosed varicocele, 14(% were found to have a normal semen analysis compared to 31% of men without a varicocele, and this difference was statistically significant ( p < 0.05). Bilateral varicoceles were associated with an even greater chance of having an abnormal semen analysis ( p < 0.01), and with a significantly ( p < 0.05) decreased chance of spontaneous pregnancy. These men and also men with unilateral varicocele, whose partners have a relative cause of female subfertility, may benefit from earlier intervention for the treatment of their subfertility. Copyright © 1995 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology