Male infertility: the role of percutaneous treatment of varicocele

Varicocele is a common finding in adolescents and adult men. Its association with male infertility has been well documented: varicoceles are reported to be present in 20% to 40% of infertile men. In 1955 Tullouch stimulated interest in varicocele repair for the treatment of male infertility when he first reported a pregnancy in a partner of a previously azoospermic patient following bilateral varicocele ligature. In our report we intend to review our experience in venographic study and transcatheter sclerotherapy based on 560 cases of infertile patients with varicocele.