AIM: To evaluate the effect of presence, grade and anatomical side of varicocele on semen parameters and to identify age-related modifications in semen quality in men with varicocele. METHODS: A prospective clinical study was performed in 363 men with varicocele and 155 normozoospermic men without varicocele. We determined the presence, grade and anatomical localization of varicocele: left (grades I-III), right or bilateral. Additionally, evaluation of semen was done and the hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST) percentage determined. RESULTS: The percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology, motility, vitality, and HOST was reduced in patients with varicocele. Comparison of semen parameters between the different degrees of left varicocele (I, II or III) shows that the percentage of normal sperm morphology is reduced in men with varicocele grade III, while other parameters are not affected. The percentage of patient normozoospermic was 50 and 24% in men with left varicocele grades I and III, respectively. A negative correlation between increase of age in men and sperm motility was observed only in the varicocele group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that both the varicocele grade and an increase of age in men with varicocele could determine the extent of alteration to semen quality.
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