Influence of surgical treatment of varicocele on the pathospermia and the level of sperm DNA fragmentation

Abstract

Introduction. Varicocele is a varicose vein in the testicle caused by pathological venous reflux. Clinically, varicocele is found in 15% of the male population, with 35% of men with primary infertility and 70-81% of men with secondary infertility. Uncontrolled, excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause single- and/ or double-strand breaks in sperm DNA, commonly referred to as sperm DNA fragmentation. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of surgical treatment of varicocele on the level of DNA fragmentation and to develop prognostic criteria for restoring the fertility of patients.Materials and methods. The study is based on a comparative analysis of the results of examination and treatment of 93 patients without concomitant pathology, with pathospermia, increased levels of DNA fragmentation and varicocele, who received surgical treatment. All patients were followed up for 3–9 months after surgery. The control group did not receive postoperative therapy – 34 people, the main group (59 patients) received drug rehabilitation – a complex of spermatoprotectors and antioxidants – for 3 months after surgical treatment.Results of the study and their discussion. In patients who received surgical treatment, there was a normalization of the level of DNA fragmentation after 3 months in the postoperative period, on average the positive dynamics was 21% (from an average fragmentation level of 22.82% to 15.84%, p <0.05), the prognosis for pregnancy in the couple became favorable. An improvement in DNA fragmentation indicators was observed in parallel with an improvement in spermogram indicators in the postoperative period. Progression of left testicular hypotrophy in the postoperative period was not detected. No relapses or other complications were noted.Conclusions. Treatment of varicocele improves fertility in patients with pathospermia, increased levels of DNA fragmentation, which is consistent with research data from other authors, which confirmed the fact of a significant improvement in ejaculate parameters (sperm concentration, motility and morphology) However, the dynamics of normalization of sperm DNA fragmentation occurs, according to our data, more dynamically (within 3 months in the postoperative period) than the improvement of pathospermia (OAT syndrome) and does not depend on the presence of postoperative drug rehabilitation.