Sperm chromatin condensation in infertile men with varicocele before and after surgical repair

Abstract

Objective: To assess sperm chromatin integrity in infertile men with varicocele before and after surgical repair.

Design: Prospective.

Setting: Academic setting.

Patient(s): Seventy-two infertile men with varicocele compared with 20 healthy fertile men.

Intervention(s): History taking, genital examination, semen analysis, sperm chromatin condensation assessment by aniline blue stain before and 3 months after varicocelectomy.

Main outcome measure(s): Stained sperm heads (abnormal chromatin condensation) before and 3 months after varicocelectomy.

Result(s): The mean percentage of aniline blue-stained sperm heads was significantly higher in infertile men with varicocele compared with fertile controls. The mean percentage of stained sperm heads was significantly decreased in infertile men with varicocele 3 months after surgery compared with the preoperative data. There was a significant negative correlation between percentage of stained sperm heads and normal morphology where nonsignificant correlation was elicited regarding sperm count and sperm motility.

Conclusion(s): There is a significant increase of abnormal sperm chromatin condensation in infertile men with varicocele that is markedly improved after varicocelectomy.