The impact of vitamin E supplementation on semen parameters and pregnancy rates after varicocelectomy: a randomised controlled study

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of vitamin E supplementation on semen parameters and pregnancy after varicocelectomy. Forty-five infertile male patients who were diagnosed with varicocele and underwent subinguinal varicocelectomy were included in the study. After performing subinguinal varicocelectomy, the patients were randomised into two groups: 22 receiving vitamin E for 12 months, and 23 as the control group without receiving any supplementation. The pre-operative parameters of semen analyses and pregnancy rates of both groups were compared with those of post-operative parameters. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of sperm count and motile sperm percentage, in pre-operative, post-operative 3rd month, post-operative 6th month and post-operative 12th month periods. Repeated-measures anova was performed, and sperm count, percentage of change in sperm count, motile sperm count and percentage of change in motile sperm count of the groups were compared. The administration of vitamin E increased all of these parameters; however, they were not found to be statistically significant. In conclusion, vitamin E supplementation might improve the sperm parameters after varicocelectomy; however, further studies including larger number of samples are needed to make a proper decision on vitamin E supplementation after varicocelectomy.

Keywords: Infertility; sperm analysis; varicocelectomy; vitamin E.