Percutaneous varicocele embolization in the treatment of infertility

Br J Radiol. 1995 Jul;68(811):700-3. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-68-811-700.

Abstract

Clinical and sub-clinical varicoceles are associated with infertility and abnormal sperm parameters. Percutaneous embolization is a minimally invasive, safe, outpatient method of treatment which is cost effective in comparison to surgery. This study is a retrospective review of embolization of the spermatic vein using stainless steel occluding spring coils, performed in 116 males from two infertility clinics. Follow-up results were complete in 87 patients of which 79 (91%) were successful both technically and clinically and all had sperm analysis performed both before and within 2 years after embolization. There was a highly significant increase in motility (mean 35% before, mean 46% after, p < 0.001). Sperm density showed a trend towards improvement, but only p < 0.10, and there was no significant change in semen volume or morphology. The partners of 29 men (33%) became pregnant in a total of 241 years of follow-up.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / methods*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / etiology
  • Infertility, Male / therapy*
  • Male
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sperm Count
  • Sperm Motility
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Varicocele / complications
  • Varicocele / diagnostic imaging
  • Varicocele / therapy*