To evaluate the effect of varicocelectomy on sperm retrieval at testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and at spermiograms in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia.

An observational study was conducted from April 2008 to December 2011. The study included men with a clinical diagnosis of nonobstructive azoospermia with a history of clinical unilateral varicocele (only grade III). After providing consent, the patients were treated with 2 different strategies according to the timing of varicocelectomy: group 1, varicocelectomy before microsurgical TESE (3 months); and group 2, varicocelectomy during microsurgical TESE. At 6 months after varicocelectomy, we evaluated the semen analysis findings for all patients. All patients underwent subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy. We also evaluated the percentage of sperm retrieval during TESE.

During the study period, 35 patients were enrolled. Group 1 included 19 patients and group 2, 16 patients. The sperm retrieval rate during the spermiograms was significantly greater in group 1 (57.8%) than in group 2 (37.5%). The percentage of sperm retrieval during TESE between the 2 groups was significantly greater in group 1 (57.8%) than in group 2 (27%; P <.05).

Our results have suggested that varicocele repair significantly increases the sperm retrieval rate in patients with clinical varicocele and nonobstructive azoospermia at both TESE and spermiogram.