The impact of height, weight and BMI (body mass index) on the incidence and significance of varicoceles

Abstract

Objective: To assess the impact of physical characteristics on the incidence of varicoceles and their effect on semen analysis. Although, previous reports have alluded to the fact that taller individuals may have a higher incidence of varicoceles this has not been systematically studied. We hypothesized that physical characteristics such as height and weight could have a significant impact on the incidence of varicoceles and on spermatogenesis.Design: A retrospective chart review was performed.Materials/Methods: A retrospective chart review of 111 random patients who presented to a single practitioner for evaluation of infertility between 1998–2001 was performed. Patients’ heights and weights, presence or absence of a varicocele, and semen analysis was recorded. All semen analyses were performed by one technician. Routine semen analysis included: total sperm count, motility, viability, and Kruger morphology. Analysis of variance was performed to determine whether a correlation existed between presence or absence of a varicocele and height, weight, and body mass index. Bivariate Pearson correlations were performed between height and weight and semen analysis.Results: Our analysis showed that there was no association between height and presence of a varicocele, nor was there a significant difference between the semen analysis of taller patients with varicoceles and their shorter counterparts. However, the weight of the patient and the incidence of varicoceles approached significance. Increased weight was associated with a lower incidence of varicoceles. There was no association between BMI and the presence of varicoceles.Conclusions: Although previous reports have alluded to a higher incidence of varicoceles in taller patients, the current study did not demonstrate a correlation between height and the presence of a varicocele, either on one or both sides. Additionally, height did not significantly alter the impact of a varicocele on the semen analysis. Increased weight however was associated with a non-significantly lower incidence of varicoceles. This may reflect the difficulty of examining the overweight individual. This study demonstrates that patient height is not a conideration when evaluating the infertile male, whereas patient weight may affect the ability to diagnose the varicocele.Supported by: Male Reproduction Special Funds, Department of Urology, Beth Israel Medical Center and the I.W. Decamp Foundation. Objective: To assess the impact of physical characteristics on the incidence of varicoceles and their effect on semen analysis. Although, previous reports have alluded to the fact that taller individuals may have a higher incidence of varicoceles this has not been systematically studied. We hypothesized that physical characteristics such as height and weight could have a significant impact on the incidence of varicoceles and on spermatogenesis. Design: A retrospective chart review was performed. Materials/Methods: A retrospective chart review of 111 random patients who presented to a single practitioner for evaluation of infertility between 1998–2001 was performed. Patients’ heights and weights, presence or absence of a varicocele, and semen analysis was recorded. All semen analyses were performed by one technician. Routine semen analysis included: total sperm count, motility, viability, and Kruger morphology. Analysis of variance was performed to determine whether a correlation existed between presence or absence of a varicocele and height, weight, and body mass index. Bivariate Pearson correlations were performed between height and weight and semen analysis. Results: Our analysis showed that there was no association between height and presence of a varicocele, nor was there a significant difference between the semen analysis of taller patients with varicoceles and their shorter counterparts. However, the weight of the patient and the incidence of varicoceles approached significance. Increased weight was associated with a lower incidence of varicoceles. There was no association between BMI and the presence of varicoceles. Conclusions: Although previous reports have alluded to a higher incidence of varicoceles in taller patients, the current study did not demonstrate a correlation between height and the presence of a varicocele, either on one or both sides. Additionally, height did not significantly alter the impact of a varicocele on the semen analysis. Increased weight however was associated with a non-significantly lower incidence of varicoceles. This may reflect the difficulty of examining the overweight individual. This study demonstrates that patient height is not a conideration when evaluating the infertile male, whereas patient weight may affect the ability to diagnose the varicocele. Supported by: Male Reproduction Special Funds, Department of Urology, Beth Israel Medical Center and the I.W. Decamp Foundation.