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High educational level associated with reduced semen quality in men with asymptomatic varicocele testis
Author(s) -
LUND L.,
SØRENSEN H.T.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1995.tb07826.x
Subject(s) - varicocele , asymptomatic , semen quality , semen , andrology , medicine , gynecology , infertility , biology , pregnancy , genetics
Objective To investigate the relationship between education, intelligence, varicocele testis and semen quality. Subjects and methods Of 542 newly‐enlisted soldiers (median age 20 years, range 20–24) 47 men were found who had varicocele testis. Semen quality was assessed in 39 of the men with a varicocele and compared with a similar group with no varicocele. The educational level and intelligence of both groups was also assessed and compared. Results There was a significantly reduced quality of semen in men with varicoceles and in men with > 10 years of school education. There was no significant relationship between intelligence level and semen quality. Conclusions The assumption that there is a relationship between educational level and semen quality in men with asymptomatic varicocele seems well‐founded, and educational level should therefore be considered as an explanatory variable in future investigations; studies are also required to provide a biological explanation of this phenomenon.