Should varicocele be operated

  The prevalence of varicocele in men is 15-20%; it is mostly unilateral, with the left side accounting for 90% of cases; the postoperative improvement rate is 65%, with a 40% increase in fertility. The postoperative pregnancy rate is 33% and the untreated pregnancy rate is 16%. The clinical situation is divided into the following areas and treated separately.  1, For patients with decreased sperm quality due to varicose veins, surgical treatment is recommended for male infertility patients who exclude spousal factors and other causes.  2, Adolescents whose testicles are not growing because of varicocele and who continue to grow and have increased spermatogenic capacity after surgery are recommended to have surgery as early as possible.  3.Surgery is recommended for adults who still have progressive damage. However, another study showed that semen quality did not decrease significantly in untreated adults, but was at a lower level; in summary, surgery may not be performed immediately in asymptomatic patients with normal semen quality, but an annual examination of semen parameters is necessary.  There are many studies on whether semen quality and fertility of patients with subclinical varicocele are improved after surgery, but the findings are inconsistent. The data suggest that there is no significant difference in pregnancy rates at one year postoperative follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference between unilateral and bilateral surgery.  In conclusion: surgical treatment is recommended, early surgery is recommended for adolescents, and adults with normal semen can be closely observed.