Varicocele testis and testicular temperature

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether there is an association between scrotal skin temperature and impaired semen quality in patients with varicocele testis.

Subjects and methods: Two groups of men (all newly enlisted soldiers), 39 with an asymptomatic varicocele testis and 38 normal control subjects, were compared for semen quality and scrotal skin temperature.

Results: The semen quality in the men with varicocele was significantly lower than that in the control subjects; however, there was no significant difference in scrotal skin temperature between the groups.

Conclusion: This study confirmed previous observations showing a possible relationship between varicocele testis and impaired sperm quality, but there was no apparent difference in scrotal skin temperature in men with or without a varicocele.