Effect of age on semen parameters in infertile men after varicocelectomy

Kamaleddin Hassanzadeh-Nokashty1, Parisa Yavarikia2, Alireza Ghaffari3, Samad Hazhir1, Mohammadali Hassanzadeh11Department of Urology, 2Faculty of Nursery and Midwifery, 3Department of Internal Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranBackground: The effectiveness of varicocelectomy in restoration of fertility and improvement of semen parameters is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of age on semen parameters following varicocelectomy in a group of infertile men.Methods: Improvements in sperm count, morphology, and motility were studied in 67 infertile patients 4–10 months after varicocelectomy.Results: The mean age of the patients was 30.48 ± 7.49 years. Significant improvements in total sperm count, percentage normal morphology, and motility were noted in all age groups (P < 0.05). Patients aged <25 years demonstrated the greatest increase in sperm counts, normal morphology, and motility following varicocelectomy. There was a significant negative correlation between age and sperm count, sperm morphology, and sperm motility (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The effect of age on improvement in sperm parameters after varicocelectomy is inconsistent with some reports in the literature, and could be attributable to the duration of infertility prior to surgery; in the long term, varicoceles are known to have deleterious effects on testis biology.Keywords: sperm count, sperm morphology, sperm motility, varicocel