Varicocele and the morphology of spermatozoa

Abstract

It is believed that varicocele is characteristically associated with specific abnormalities of spermatozoal morphology (increased numbers of tapered and amorphous forms). This report summarizes the results of a prospective study of spermatozoal morphology in 208 male partners of infertile couples seen consecutively during an 18-month period. After exclusion of 23 azoospermic males, sperm morphology in the remaining 56 patients with varicocele and 129 men without varicocele were compared. Although the incidence of abnormal spermatozoa was higher in patients with varicocele, no significant differences in the patterns of morphology were observed. In both groups of patients the percentage of normal spermatozoa was significantly correlated with the sperm count and with percentage motility. Sperm count and motility were significantly correlated with each other. The percentages of tapered and amorphous spermatozoa were inversely correlated with the motile sperm count. These results demonstrate that the pattern of spermatozoal morphology observed in men with varicocele is not characteristic or unique to this condition. It appears that abnormality of spermatozoal morphology is commonly associated with diminished sperm count and motility, regardless of the presence or absence of a varicocele.