Review of current varicocelectomy techniques and their outcomes

OBJECTIVES To review all the various techniques and their results and efficiencies to provide practicing urologists with some guidance for choice of technique To discuss improvements of varicocelectomy techniques in the last 15 years and their impact on results of surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS A PubMed English literature review of literature from 1995 to present. RESULTS Pregnancy rates were highest with microsurgical subinguinal technique Varicocele recurrence rates were lowest with microsurgical subinguinal technique Hydrocele formation rates were lowest with microsurgical inguinal technique Surgical complications were highest in the laparoscopic technique Varicocelectomy by itself or in conjunction with IVF is cost effective CONCLUSIONS Microsurgical subinguinal or microsurgical inguinal techniques offer best outcomes Varicocelectomy is a cost effective treatment modality for infertility Further research is needed to explore new developments in varicocelectomy