What is the Incidence of Varicocele in a Fertile Population?

Abstract

The incidence of subclinical and clinical varicocele or reflux of blood into the internal spermatic vein in the fertile population was estimated at 61% by examining 100 consecutive men who presented for vasectomy. The men averaged 36 years old (range 28-52) and 2.5 children 67% of them having fathered a child less than 3 years old. Varicocele was determined by palpation with a pencil probe held over the spermatic cord in the region of the pampiniform plexus while the patient was standing and performing the Valsalva maneuver. The Doppler stethoscope was also used. A definite prolonged bruit was considered a positive subclinical varicocele. A clinical left varicocele was seen in 17 men (17%) and a subclinical varicocele in 44 (44%); left in all but 1 and bilateral in 8 men. Reports in the literature range from 8-23% for clinically evident varicoceles. Apparently subclinical varicocele has no detrimental effect on fertility.