DOPPLER ANALYSIS OF THE TESTICULAR ARTERY CAN BE USED IN ASSESSMENT OF SPERMATOGENESIS

Aim: It is quite clear that varicoceles are detrimental to testicular growth and spermatogenesis. However, the majority of men with varicoceles are fertile because the effect is modest or they started with a high spermatogenic potential and remained within the fertile range despite the adverse effect of the varicocele. Methods: The study was conducted between April 2008 and January 2009 and included 62 men of them 7 men with obstructive azoospermia, 9 with unobstructive azospermia, 2 oligoasthenospermia and clinical varicocele; 7 with male accessory gland inflammation (MAGI) and clinical varicocele, 2 with MAGI alone, 3 with unexplained oligoasthenospermia, 2 with clinical varicocele, 12 subjects with normal sperm analysis and recent paternity, and 18 with normal sperm analysis and a varicocele with recent paternity. PSV, EDV, RI and testicular volume were compared among the dyspermic and/ or control groups using analysis of variance. Results: The PSV and RI were useful for identifying the different groups of patients. Fertile men with varicocele, men with varicoceles + MAGI and those having UOA + varicocele had the highest PSV and RI. Men with unexplained oligoasthenospermia and men with UOA had the lowest PSV and RI. Conclusions: The PSV and RI are reliable indicators to identify infertile/dyspermic men as they differentiate obstructive from unobstructive azospermia