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Predictors for spontaneous pregnancy after microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy: a prospective cohort study

  • Urology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the possible preoperative predictors of spontaneous pregnancy (SPR) for infertile males with varicocele after microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy (MVL) performed in two medical centers in a prospective cohort study.

Methods

A total of 120 males with varicocele that underwent MVL between June 2013 and June 2014 in two medical centers were documented. Related data, including male and female partner age, male body mass index (BMI), female BMI, preoperative semen parameters, hormone levels, testicular volume, grade and side of varicocele, were collected and analyzed. The follow-up assessment was also conducted within a 2-year period after the surgery. The outcome measure was SPR within the 2-year follow-up reported. The possible determinants of SPR were also analyzed and indentified using Cox regression analysis.

Results

Of the 110 patients that accomplished the 2-year follow-up, 42 patients reported pregnancy outcome. Using Cox regression analysis, total motile sperm count [TMC; RR (95% CI) = 1.362 (1.120–1.560), p = 0.003] and follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH; RR (95% CI) = 0.726 (0.541–0.980), p = 0.020] levels posed significant determinants for SPR.

Conclusion

Our study indicated that males who underwent MVL with higher TMC and lower FSH preoperatively have higher possibility of pregnancy postoperatively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, # 1 Jian She Dong Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, Henan, China

    Jian-wei Zhang, Yan Wang, Feng Xu & Yu-dong Tian

  2. Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China

    Quan-quan Xu & You-lin Kuang

Authors
  1. Jian-wei Zhang
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  2. Quan-quan Xu
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  3. You-lin Kuang
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  4. Yan Wang
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  5. Feng Xu
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Correspondence to Jian-wei Zhang.

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None authors claimed any conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Zhang, Jw., Xu, Qq., Kuang, Yl. et al. Predictors for spontaneous pregnancy after microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy: a prospective cohort study. Int Urol Nephrol 49, 955–960 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-017-1564-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-017-1564-4

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