精索静脉曲张的治疗能够完全消除超过90%的精索静脉曲张。[25]Jarow JP, Sharlip ID, Belker AM, et al. Best practice policies for male infertility. J Urol. 2002;167:2138-2144.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11956464?tool=bestpractice.com复发率取决于手术技术,并发症发生率同样如此。并发症包括睾丸萎缩,更常见的是术后鞘膜积液的发生。
因为青少年精索静脉曲张通常是为了治疗睾丸发育停滞,患者受累睾丸术后可有50%~80%的机会出现追赶生长。这可能需要6个月。
在成年人,评价开放精索静脉手术治疗的研究结果显示60%的男性精液参数得到改善,并且试图怀孕的夫妻中有40%的妊娠率。[10]Dubin L, Amelar RD. Etiologic factors in 1294 consecutive cases of male infertility. Fertil Steril. 1971;22:469-474.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4398669?tool=bestpractice.com[46]Schlesinger MH, Wilets IF, Nagler HM. Treatment outcome after varicocelectomy. A critical analysis. Urol Clin North Am. 1994;21:517-529.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8059505?tool=bestpractice.com[51]Schauer I, Madersbacher S, Jost R, et al. The impact of varicocelectomy on sperm parameters: a meta-analysis. J Urol. 2012;187:1540-1547.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22425089?tool=bestpractice.com然而精索静脉曲张结扎手术是有争议的,一项严格排除亚临床型精索静脉曲张和精液参数正常男性的meta分析结果显示手术改善了精索静脉曲张和精液参数异常患者的精液参数。男性患有精索静脉曲张的夫妻妊娠率也有所提高。[3]Evers JL, Collins JA. Assessment of efficacy of varicocele repair for male subfertility: a systematic review. Lancet. 2003;361:1849-1852.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12788571?tool=bestpractice.com[38]Kroese AC, de Lange NM, Collins J, et al. Surgery or embolization for varicoceles in subfertile men. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(10):CD000479.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000479.pub5/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23076888?tool=bestpractice.com[47]Marmar JL, Agarwal A, Prabakaran S, et al. Reassessing the value of varicocelectomy as a treatment for male subfertility with a new meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2007;88:639-648.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17434508?tool=bestpractice.com[48]Agarwal A, Deepinder F, Cocuzza M, et al. Efficacy of varicocelectomy in improving semen parameters: new meta-analytical approach. Urology. 2007;70:532-538.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17905111?tool=bestpractice.com[51]Schauer I, Madersbacher S, Jost R, et al. The impact of varicocelectomy on sperm parameters: a meta-analysis. J Urol. 2012;187:1540-1547.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22425089?tool=bestpractice.com除了使男性精液参数和生育率达到最佳,外科精索静脉曲张结扎术能提高睾酮生成率和减少精子 DNA 损伤。[52]Li F, Yue H, Yamaguchi K, et al. Effect of surgical repair on testosterone production in infertile men with varicocele: a meta-analysis. Int J Urol. 2012;19:149-154.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22059526?tool=bestpractice.com[53]Baazeem A, Belzile E, Ciampi A, et al. Varicocele and male factor infertility treatment: a new meta-analysis and review of the role of varicocele repair. Eur Urol. 2011;60:796-808.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21733620?tool=bestpractice.com一项meta分析研究发现精索静脉曲张结扎至少减少了3.37%的精子DNA损伤。[31]Wang YJ, Zhang RQ, Lin YJ, et al. Relationship between varicocele and sperm DNA damage and the effect of varicocele repair: a meta-analysis. Reprod Biomed Online. 2012;25:307-314.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22809864?tool=bestpractice.com
长期以来,在利用体外受精等辅助生殖技术 (Assisted reproductive techniques, ART) 之前所进行的精索静脉曲张修复术的作用一直存在争议,且缺乏相关数据。系统评价表明,与仅进行观察相比,精索静脉曲张治疗后行 ART 的结局有所改善。研究已发现,接受卵胞浆内单精子注射 (ICSI) 的经治疗与未治疗精索静脉曲张患者相比,前者的临床妊娠和活产儿率显著增加。[45]Esteves SC, Roque M, Agarwal A. Outcome of assisted reproductive technology in men with treated and untreated varicocele: systematic review and meta-analysis. Asian J Androl. 2016;18:254-258.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4770495/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26510504?tool=bestpractice.com[54]Kirby EW, Wiener LE, Rajanahally S, et al. Undergoing varicocele repair before assisted reproduction improves pregnancy rate and live birth rate in azoospermic and oligospermic men with a varicocele: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2016 Aug 12 [Epub ahead of print].http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27526630?tool=bestpractice.com