VARICOCELE IS ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATED SPERMATOZOAL REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES PRODUCTION AND DIMINISHED SEMINAL PLASMA ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY

Abstract

Our results suggest that elevated reactive oxygen species and depressed total antioxidant capacity levels are associated with varicocele. These changes may be related to functional sperm abnormalities and infertility seen commonly in these patients. These findings support a possible rationale for controlled clinical trials of antioxidant supplementation in infertile men with varicocele.