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Cited by 9Sperm and Testicular FunctionMale Reproductive Health StudiesReproductive Health and Technologies

Best time to wait for the improvement of the sperm parameter after varicocelectomy: 3 or 6 months?

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Ghaed, Mohammad Ali, Makian, Seyed Alireza, Moradi, Asaad, Maghsoudi, Robab, Gandomi-Mohammadabadi, Alireza·2020·Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia
DOI 10.4081/aiua.2020.3.259
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Abstract

Objective: To estimate the duration of time required following varicocelectomy to wait for the improvements of semen parameters. Therefore, we characterized the changes with the time in sperm parameters in men after varicocelectomy. Materials and methods: In this prospective cohort study we included consecutively observed men who underwent varicocelectomy between September 2017 and September 2018 in a referral academic hospital. Clinical data of the patients, as well as their semen parameters, were measured before surgery and at 3 and 6 months afterward. Results: In this study, a total of 100 men with average age of 29.5 ± 6.2 years were included. Mean sperm concentration and sperm motility significantly improved by 3 (p < 0.05), but not by 6 months following varicocelectomy. The semen volume and sperm with normal morphology were the same before and after surgery (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the improvement of semen parameters when comparing 6 months to 3 months postoperatively (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Sperm parameters (concentration and motility) improve by 3 months after varicocelectomy without further improvements. Consequently, physicians should decide quickly after 3-month of varicocelectomy if surgery has been not helpful and then plan other therapies, like assisted reproductive technology (ART) for managing infertility in couples.

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  • Three months is usually a sufficient time to see changes in semen analysis results.

    “It is stated that 3 months is usually a sufficient time to see changes in semen analysis results [23][24][25].”

    From Sperm concentration and semen volume increase after smoking cessation in infertile men (2022) · cites this paper as [25]

    The discussion ('Two meta-analysis by Agarwal et al.') reports improved sperm concentration and motility at three months after varicocelectomy, with no further improvement at six months. It did not find improvement in morphology or semen volume. The citing sentence omits the post-varicocelectomy setting and thus states the point more broadly than this study supports. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Research works printed but not linked: 31

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Cited by

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Authors
Ghaed, M. A., Makian, S. A., Moradi, A., Maghsoudi, R., & Gandomi-Mohammadabadi, A.
Affiliations
Iran University of Medical Sciences (IR)
Corresponding author
  • Ghaed, Mohammad Ali
  • Makian, Seyed Alireza
  • Moradi, Asaad
  • Maghsoudi, Robab
ORCID
Venue
Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia
Publisher
PAGEPress Publications
Published
2020-10-02
Volume
92
Issue
3
ISSN
  • 1124-3562 (ISSN-L)
  • 2282-4197
DOI
10.4081/aiua.2020.3.259
OpenAlex
W3089433076
Cited by
9
References
0
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1
FWCI
1.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Male Reproductive Health Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
Keywords
varicocelectomy, semen parameters, sperm concentration, sperm motility, varicocele, male infertility, postoperative follow-up, semen morphology, semen volume
MeSH terms
Adult, Humans, Male, Prospective Studies, Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male, Time Factors, Varicocele, Treatment Outcome, Semen Analysis

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