The effect of varicocele on seminal plasma and serum inhibin-B levels in adolescent and adult men.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: In the present study, the relationship between serum/seminal plasma and serum FSH and seminal parameters was evaluated in adults and adolescent varicocele patients and compared with normal fertile cases. METHODS: A total of 50 adult patients with varicocele (Group-1) and 50 adolescents with varicocele (Group-2) were enrolled into the study. Fifty fertile cases without any scrotal pathology were accepted as control group (Group-3). Serum gonadotropin, sex steroids and serum and seminal plasma inhibin-B levels were measured, and semen analysis was performed after 2 and 5 days of sexual abstinence. All parameters were compared among three groups by using one-way ANOVA test. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences among three groups on seminal parameters due to disturbed spermatogenesis in patients with varicocele (P < 0.05). However, there were not statistical differences between serum and seminal plasma Inhibin-B levels among groups. In varicocele patients, serum inhibin-B levels showed negative and significant correlation only with FSH levels (r = -0.253, P = 0.011). On the contrary, neither serum nor seminal plasma inhibin-B levels showed significant correlation with seminal parameters. CONCLUSION: While varicocele affects different mechanisms in the regulation of spermatogenesis in testes, serum and seminal plasma inhibin-B have not any role in decreased spermatogenesis in varicocele.