The effect of subinguinal varicocelectomy on human sperm DNA integrity and semen parameters

Varicocele occurs in approximately 15% to 20% of the male population and it is the most common cause of poor semen. It has been demonstrated that patients with varicocele have poor chromatin packing, DNA damage and nuclear anomalies than the healthy men. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate sperm chromatin integrity and semen parameter in patients after nonmicrosurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy. This study evaluated semen parameters and sperm DNA integrity before and 4 month after nonmicrosurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy from 30 men with varicocele in center of infertility in Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences. Parameters of semen were evaluated with WHO criteria and sperm DNA integrity was analysed by aniline blue and toluidine blue. The slides were checked by light microscopy and to determine the percentage of mature or immature spermatozoa. 200 spermatozoa were counted in each slide. The percentage of positive aniline blue (AB+) and toluidine blue (TB+) significantly decreased following varicocelectomy (59.98% versus 57.08%, P=0.047 for TB+ and 57.08%5 versus 43.91%, P=.039 for AB+). Morphology, count and motility of sperm showed improving after varicocelectomy but motility of sperm was not considered statistically significant This study suggests that nonmicrosurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy can improve human sperm DNA integrity and semen parameters in men with varicocele.