The World Journal of Men's Health

Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology (대한남성과학회)
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Current Issues in Adolescent Varicocele: Pediatric Urological Perspectives

  • Chung, Jae Min (Department of Urology, Pusan National University School of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Sang Don (Department of Urology, Pusan National University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2017.11.02
  • Accepted : 2018.01.03
  • Published : 2018.05.01
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Abstract

While varicocele is the most common cause of surgically correctable infertility in adult males, with repair resulting in improved semen parameters in 60% to 80% of men and a higher likelihood of conception in up to 60% of men, the rationale for varicocele repair in the pediatric population is less clear. Additionally, prepubertal varicoceles are much less common and their management is controversial. Adolescents with a varicocele are often in the midst of a progressive disease process. Despite the high prevalence of varicocele and its association with progressive disease processes, the indications for adolescent varicocele repair and the effects thereof on paternity have been persistently challenging to study. This review will briefly present some of the current issues regarding adolescent varicocele from a pediatric urological point of view, including the evaluation of adolescent varicocele, the optimal surgical indications, the optimal choice of surgical intervention to be performed, and outcomes.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital

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