Clinical Outcomes of Varicocele Repair in Infertile Men: A Review

Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples, and male factors are known to be responsible in almost half of cases [1]. Several etiological factors can contribute to male infertility, including impaired spermatogenesis, the obstruction of the passage of sperm, and sexual dysfunction. Varicoceles are a major cause of impaired spermatogenesis and are the most common correctable cause of male infertility [2]. Varicoceles are found in approximately 40% of men with primary infertility and 80% of men with secondary infertility, although they also occur in 12% of men with normal semen parameters [3, 4, 5]. The recognition that varicoceles are associated with male infertility dates back to the first century, when Celsius noted an association between varicoceles and ipsilateral testicular atrophy [6]. In the 19th century, further evidence that varicoceles are associated with impaired testicular function was obtained [7, 8]. Subsequently, Macomber and Sanders [9] noted that surgical varicocelectomy was associated with improved sperm production and fertility. In 1955, Tulloch [10] demonstrated that high ligation of the spermatic vessels resulted in improved fertility, which led to varicoceles being recognized as a major surgically correctable cause of male infertility. Subsequently, numerous studies have reported that varicocele repair is an effective treatment for male infertility.

In 2003, Evers and Collins [11] published a shocking systematic review addressing the topic of varicocele repair for male-factor infertility, concluding that "varicocele repair does not seem to be an effective treatment for male or unexplained subfertility." However, their review included patients with non-palpable varicoceles and/or normal semen parameters, who are not generally offered varicocele repair as a treatment for male infertility [12, 13]. This is critical because including these men would have masked the beneficial effects of treatment for clinically apparent varicoceles in men with impaired semen parameters. Indeed, several meta-analyses that excluded men with subclinical varicoceles or normal semen parameters have confirmed the efficacy of varicocele treatment [14, 15]. For example, in a study involving men with palpable varicoceles and abnormal semen parameters conducted by Marmar et al [14], a meta-analysis indicated that the odds ratio of spontaneous pregnancy after surgical varicocelectomy was 2.87. In the updated Cochrane review conducted by Kroese et al [16], the authors concluded that in subfertile men with a clinically evident varicocele and poor semen quality, treatment might be beneficial, as it was found to result in an odds ratio for natural pregnancy of 1.47. Although the evidence is still inconclusive, many andrologists believe that varicocele treatment is effective in men with palpable varicoceles and impaired semen parameters. In this review, we sought to summarize the issues currently associated with varicocele treatment in infertile men.

A varicocele is a varicose vein in the scrotum that arises due to abnormal dilation of the internal spermatic vein and pampiniform venous plexus within the spermatic cord. Most varicoceles occur on the left side; a palpable left-sided varicocele is seen in 85% to 90% of cases, while isolated right-sided varicoceles are extremely rare [17, 18]. Accordingly, in cases involving an isolated right-sided varicocele, the physician should consider whether the varicocele may be caused by the effects of a retroperitoneal mass [19]. The predominance of left-sided varicoceles is related to the anatomy of the testicular venous drainage system [6]. The left internal spermatic vein is longer and enters the left renal vein at a right angle, whereas the right internal spermatic vein drains directly into the inferior vena cava. This anatomical structure contributes to the high hydrostatic pressure of the left testicular venous drainage system, which was confirmed by a study that detected higher venous pressure levels in the left internal spermatic vein in men with varicoceles [20]. Regurgitation can occur in the internal spermatic vein as a result of the absence of venous valves [21], compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta, or obstruction of the left common iliac vein by the left common iliac artery [22]. Although the precise mechanism has yet to be established, varicoceles can affect spermatogenesis and Leydig cell function by inducing an elevated testicular temperature [23], increased venous pressure [24], hypoxia [25], oxidative stress [26], hormonal imbalances [27], and/or the reflux of toxic metabolites of adrenal or renal origin [28]. However, it is important to note that the presence of a varicocele does not always result in impaired spermatogenesis. Only 20% of men with documented varicoceles have been reported to suffer fertility problems [29, 30].

As described above, the presence of a varicocele does not always result in fertility problems. A number of men with varicoceles do not show any evidence of testicular dysfunction, although varicoceles do affect spermatogenesis in a subset of patients. Consequently, the indications for varicocele treatment should be determined carefully in order to avoid unnecessary invasive interventions. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Practice Committee guidelines indicate that varicocele treatment should be considered when most or all of the following conditions are met: (1) the couple is attempting to conceive; (2) the varicocele is palpable on physical examination; (3) the couple has known fertility problems; (4) the female partner has normal fertility or a potentially treatable cause of infertility, and the time until conception is not a concern; and (5) the male partner has abnormal semen parameters [12]. However, it should be noted that varicoceles can have a progressively toxic effect on the testes, ultimately resulting in irreversible infertility if left untreated [2]. Even if no abnormalities in testicular function are detected during the evaluation of a patient with a varicocele, regular follow-up is recommended if the patient is concerned about his future fertility [2].

The goal of varicocele treatment is to eliminate venous reflux into the scrotum while preserving the internal spermatic artery, lymphatic vessels, and vas deferens. Two approaches can be used to accomplish this goal: surgical varicocelectomy and percutaneous embolization, the former of which is widely employed.

2. Microsurgical varicocelectomy

The most common complications of conventional varicocelectomy are postoperative hydrocele formation and varicocele recurrence [36, 37, 38]. Furthermore, ligation of the spermatic artery can have a negative impact on testicular function [39, 40]. The introduction of microsurgical treatment for varicoceles has made it easier to identify and ligate the spermatic veins and to preserve the spermatic arteries and lymphatic vessels [38, 41]. It is reasonable to suppose that the accurate identification of fine anatomical structures during surgery leads to better treatment outcomes. In agreement with this, a meta-analysis has shown microsurgical varicocelectomy to result in higher pregnancy rates and fewer postoperative complications than conventional varicocelectomy in infertile men [42].

In 1985, Marmar et al [38] presented the first microsurgical varicocelectomy procedure, which was performed with an operating microscope and microsurgical instruments. The procedure was carried out on 71 infertile men with varicoceles and involved a combination of the microdissection of larger veins (>2 mm) and the controlled sclerosis of small veins. The spermatic cord was delivered at the subinguinal level. The microscope was used to ensure that the lymphatics of the spermatic cord were avoided in order to prevent postoperative hydrocele, and a Doppler ultrasound probe and papaverine hydrochloride were employed to identify the internal spermatic arteries when they were in spasm. All of the larger spermatic veins were identified and ligated microsurgically, while the small veins were subjected to sclerosis using sodium tetradecyl sulfate. The operations were completed within 30 minutes, and significant postoperative increases in sperm density and motility were observed. The postoperative pregnancy rate was almost 30% [38]. The same research group updated the outcomes of 606 subfertile men who underwent the abovementioned procedure and reported that the 1-year pregnancy rate was higher in the post-varicocelectomy group than in the medically treated group (35.6% versus 15.8%). In addition, minimal morbidity was observed, including only one case of permanent hydrocele, and the recurrence rate was 0.82% [43]. Numerous microsurgical procedures derived from this procedure have subsequently been developed, although sclerosing agents are rarely used during surgical varicocelectomy.

The subinguinal approach results in less morbidity because it preserves the muscle layers and the inguinal canal; however, it is also technically challenging due to the greater number of spermatic veins and arteries located below the external inguinal ring [44]. A study evaluating the microanatomy of the spermatic cord during microsurgical varicocele treatment reported that the primary branching point of the testicular artery was often located in the section that passed through the inguinal canal and that the internal spermatic arteries at the subinguinal level were more than 3 times as likely to be surrounded by a network of adherent veins than those located at the inguinal level (Fig. 1) [45]. Another concern about the subinguinal approach is that the identification of artery pulsation can be difficult due to arterial compression caused by the edge of the external ring pressing against the elevated cord [46].

Fig. 1
Schematic diagram of the microanatomy of the spermatic cord. The numbers denote the mean quantity of arteries (red) and veins (blue) at the indicated level. The primary branching point of the testicular artery is often located along the section that passes through the inguinal canal. Internal spermatic veins become substantially less numerous moving from the subinguinal region through the inguinal canal to the internal inguinal ring. Data from the article of Hopps et al (J Urol 2003;170:2366-70) [45] with original copyright holder's permission.

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For these reasons, microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy has been widely performed for varicocele ligation. In the inguinal approach, an incision measuring 3~5 cm is made over the inguinal canal, and then the external oblique aponeurosis is opened to deliver the spermatic cord. Similarly to the subinguinal approach, all of the internal spermatic veins are identified and ligated under microscopy, and the testicular artery and lymphatics are preserved [41]. Several articles have argued that microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy is the treatment of choice because this approach produces similar outcomes to the subinguinal approach via a simple surgical technique [47, 48, 49]. One drawback of this approach is that it results in greater intraoperative pain when performed under local anesthesia. In particular, Gontero et al [49] reported that the inguinal approach resulted in significantly higher intraoperative visual analog scale pain scores.

Although the above techniques usually allow maximal ligation of the spermatic vessels, it should be noted that avenues of testicular venous drainage, such as the gubernacular veins, might persist. To eliminate such channels, the delivery of the testis via a subinguinal or inguinal incision during microsurgery was proposed [41]. Enlarged gubernacular veins were reported to be present in 48% of cases [50], and gubernacular collaterals were presumed to exist in 7% of cases recurrent varicoceles [51]. However, the latter study did not confirm the advantages of testicular delivery during varicocelectomy. Ramasamy and Schlegel [52] reported that delivery of the testis resulted in more trauma, a longer operating time, and inflammatory changes in the scrotum, and it did not have any beneficial effects on semen quality or pregnancy rates after microsurgical varicocelectomy.

As described above, microsurgical varicocelectomy, laparoscopic varicocelectomy, and percutaneous embolization are the main treatment options for varicoceles in infertile men. The main goal of treatment is to eliminate venous backflow without causing postoperative complications, such as hydrocele. Although none of these methods has been proven to be superior to the others in terms of their ability to improve fertility [12], numerous studies have evaluated the clinical outcomes of these procedures, and microsurgical procedures seem to produce more favorable outcomes than other techniques. A meta-analysis by Cayan et al [42] evaluated the cases of 4,473 infertile men with palpable varicoceles and showed that microsurgical varicocelectomy techniques were associated with higher spontaneous pregnancy rates and lower complication rates. Another review by Diegidio et al [70] that included over 5,000 patients concluded that microsurgical subinguinal or inguinal techniques offer the best outcomes (Table 1). Similar results were also described in a recent review article [71]. Kovac et al [72] examined the cost-effectiveness of varicocele treatment and found that microsurgical varicocelectomy was the most cost-effective method of treatment based on pregnancy outcomes. Collectively, microsurgical subinguinal or inguinal varicocelectomy might be the optimal treatment in most cases. However, laparoscopic surgery might be preferred in some cases, such as those involving bilateral varicoceles. Percutaneous embolization is rarely employed as a first-line treatment for varicoceles, but it is an ideal choice for men in whom varicocele recurs after surgery.

Table 1
Outcomes of varicocele repair in each procedure [42, 70]

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From a practical viewpoint, assessing how soon improvements in semen parameters are seen after varicocele repair is important, especially in older couples. In humans, the entire spermatogenic process takes approximately 64 days [73]. Studies evaluating the time interval between varicocelectomy and improvements in semen parameters revealed that sperm parameters improved during the first 3 months after varicocele repair, but did not show further improvements thereafter [74, 75]. Correspondingly, the ASRM Practice Committee has stated that improvements in semen parameters are typically seen after 3 to 6 months [12]. These findings are useful for designing therapeutic strategies for candidates for varicocelectomy and underscore the necessity of not delaying other approaches for managing infertility.

Although they are rarely seen in pre-pubertal boys, most varicoceles are present by the time puberty is completed [76]. The management of varicoceles in adolescents is more complicated. Since many men with varicoceles do not suffer from fertility problems, it is obvious that repairing all varicoceles would represent overtreatment. However, in a proportion of adolescents, the presence of a varicocele has detrimental effects on testicular growth and can lead to irreversible testicular damage [77]. Thus, it is important to identify appropriate candidates for treatment. The most widely accepted indication for varicocele treatment in adolescents is a marked discrepancy in testicular volume (a >20% discrepancy in testicular volume is usually considered to be significant). However, no consensus currently exists regarding who should be treated, when they should be treated, or how they should be treated [17].

In the first report of a varicocele in a man with azoospermia, Tulloch [78] described the case of an azoospermic male with a varicocele in whom sperm returned to the ejaculate after varicocelectomy. Subsequently, several articles have indicated that surgical varicocelectomy is effective in men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) [79, 80]. However, whether men with NOA should be offered treatment for clinically apparent varicoceles remains controversial. Schlegel and Kaufmann [81] reported that even if return of sperm to the ejaculate was achieved after varicocelectomy in men with NOA, <10% of the patients had adequately motile sperm for assisted reproductive technology. In addition, although their study included men with NOA and subclinical varicoceles, a history of prior varicocele repair did not increase the likelihood of sperm retrieval when testicular sperm retrieval (testicular sperm extraction, TESE) was performed. In contrast, subsequent studies have shown varicocele treatment to be effective in men with NOA [82, 83]. Recently, Esteves et al [84] conducted a systematic review evaluating the outcomes of varicocele repair in men with NOA. Their study included 468 men with NOA and palpable varicoceles and reported that the sperm retrieval rate was significantly higher in men who had previously undergone varicocele repair (odds ratio=2.65). In addition, sufficient return of sperm to the ejaculate to avoid TESE was observed in approximately 44% of the treated men. Furthermore, of the men whose postoperative ejaculate contained sperm, 14% subsequently achieved natural pregnancies. Taken together, although in men with NOA, varicocelectomy may be an unnecessary treatment that delays the performance of a definitive intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure, a subset of men might benefit from such treatment. Thus, clinicians should counsel couples with care. Since varicoceles can occur coincidentally in men with NOA, it is essential to rule out other factors that can contribute to spermatogenic disruption, such as abnormalities of the sex chromosomes or Y chromosome microdeletions, before considering varicocele repair in these patients.

Varicoceles are a common and correctable cause of male infertility. Although varicocele repair has been shown to be an effective treatment for male infertility, some men who undergo this procedure fail to exhibit any postoperative improvement in spermatogenesis. One possible reason for this is that it is difficult to identify the patients who would benefit most from varicocele repair. According to the current guidelines, varicocele repair is only recommended for men who want to improve their fertility, have a palpable varicocele, and exhibit abnormal semen parameters. Considering their relatively high prevalence among the general population, varicoceles can occur concomitantly with other idiopathic conditions. Further studies are needed to identify the patients who are most likely to benefit from varicocele repair.

The varicocele repair procedures used to treat infertility include microscopic subinguinal or inguinal varicocelectomy, laparoscopic varicocelectomy, and radiological percutaneous embolization. Of these, microsurgical varicocelectomy is the most commonly employed and achieves favorable outcomes. However, controversies still remain regarding the optimal treatment for certain cases, such as adolescents or men with azoospermia.