Varicocele as a risk factor for androgen deficiency and effect of repair

Abstract

• Men with varicoceles had significantly lower testosterone levels than the comparison group of men with vasectomy reversal. • Microsurgical varicocele ligation resulted in a significant increase in serum testosterone levels in more than two-thirds of men. • These findings suggest that varicocele is a significant risk factor for androgen deficiency and that repair may increase testosterone levels in men with varicocele and low testosterone levels.