Varicocele among infertile men in Qatar. (12th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: ElBardisi, H.; Arafa, M.; Rengan, A. K.; Durairajanayagam, D.; AlSaid, S. S.; Khalafalla, K.; AlRumaihi, K.; Majzoub, A.; Agarwal, A.
• Is Part Of: Andrologia. Volume 49:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2016-07-12
• Subjects: frequency -- grade -- male infertility -- Qatar -- varicocele; Andrology -- Periodicals; Infertility, Male -- Periodicals; 616.69
• DOI: 10.1111/and.12637
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0303-4569

Abstract

Summary: Objective of this retrospective study was to assess the presence and clinical grade of varicocele among Qatari and non‐Qatari men evaluated for infertility. Diagnosis of varicocele was performed clinically and confirmed via colour Doppler ultrasonography. A total of 455 infertile male patients (mean age 36.3 ± 7.6 years) were divided into either Qatari ( n = 91, mean age 37.3 ± 9.1 years) or non‐Qatari ( n = 364, mean age 36.0 ± 7.1 years) groups. Among all patients, 43.1% ( n = 196) were confirmed to have varicocele, of which 40 were Qatari and 156 non‐Qatari. Among all patients, 171 (37.6%) presented with left‐sided varicocele and 25 (5.5%) with bilateral varicocele. Of the 196 patients with varicocele, grade I was given to 40 (20.4%), grade II to 68 (34.7%) and grade III to 88 (44.9%). Grade II and III varicocele were seen significantly more frequently than grade I among all patients and non‐Qatari patients ( p < .05). Grade II varicocele was seen more frequently than grades I or III among Qatari patients, but difference was not significant. Grade III was seen significantly more frequently than grade I among patients with secondary infertility ( p < .05). Varicocele is an important health issue in Qatar among both Qatari and non‐Qatari men.