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Conventional semen analysis and advanced sperm function tests in diagnosis and management of varicocele
Author(s) -
Dave Priya,
Farber Nicholas,
Vij Sarah
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/and.13629
Subject(s) - varicocele , semen , oxidative stress , male infertility , sperm , semen analysis , infertility , andrology , dna fragmentation , semen quality , medicine , biology , urology , pregnancy , genetics , apoptosis , programmed cell death
Clinical varicoceles are a common cause of male infertility and affect sperm parameters as measured in a conventional semen analysis. Varicocelectomy has been shown in prospective studies to improve semen parameters in men with a clinical varicocele. Clinical varicoceles are also a well‐known source of oxidative stress which may affect the quality of spermatozoa. Spermatozoa are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress due to a limited capacity for DNA repair. The susceptibility of spermatozoa to oxidative stress is modulated by a balance between ROS and antioxidants, which can be quantified by various laboratory assays. Varicocelectomy has been consistently shown to reduce both ROS and sperm DNA fragmentation, and various assays should be utilised in the diagnosis and treatment of infertile men with a clinical varicocele.