Varicocele Repair Improves Static Oxidation Reduction Potential as a Measure of Seminal Oxidative Stress Levels in Infertile Men: A Prospective Clinical Trial Using the MiOXSYS System

OBJECTIVE To assess whether varicocele repair improves oxidative stress (OS) measured by the MiOXSYS system. METHODS A prospective clinical trial was performed on male patients ages 18 and older who had not fathered a child within the previous 12 months, with a clinically palpable varicocele, who completed all aspects of the study who were enrolled through a couple's fertility center with on-site andrology laboratory testing. Men that met inclusion criteria were offered enrollment in the clinical trial and signed informed consents to participate, after having a history and physical examination. Semen analysis with OS measurement was obtained preoperatively and repeat semen analysis with OS measurement obtained 3 months following varicocele repair. Changes in postoperative semen analysis parameters, static oxidation reduction potential (sORP), and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) indices when available were compared to these values preoperatively. RESULTS Of the 177 subjects, 49 subjects met inclusion criteria. The data of OS suggests negative correlations with major semen parameters. Semen parameters and OS revealed statistically significant improvements following varicocele repair from baseline. Of the 49 subjects included, 22 completed all aspects of testing postoperatively. Subgroup analysis shows statistically significant negative correlations between OS and semen parameters. Forward progressive motility, SDF, and sORP demonstrated statistically significant improvements 3 months following varicocele repair in comparison to preoperatively. CONCLUSION Varicocele repair in infertile men improved sORP as measured by the clinically useful MiOXSYS system. (C) 2022 Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

This study aimed to assess whether varicocele repair can improve oxidative stress levels in patients. The results showed significant improvements in semen parameters, static oxidation reduction potential, and sperm DNA fragmentation index 3 months after the surgery.