Introduction: Varicocele has been known to be one of the most important factors influencing male infertility, which can cause
infertility through different mechanisms. Hence, the aim of the present study is to investigate its effects on male infertility.Methods: The present review article makes use of papers indexed in the following databases: Science Direct, Google Scholar, Sid, Pub Med, Iran Medex, and Iran Doc. The total number of papers investigated amount to 40, published from 2000 to 2018 in both Persian and English. The papers which did not have clear sample sizes, methodological procedures, or were not complete were eliminated. Thirty papers were selected from among them and investigated by the researcher.Results: Varicocele is found among 15 to 40 percent of infertile men, and it is the commonest curable cause for infertility. Varicocele’s frequency is more in the left testicle than the right one since the left testicular veins go directly to the kidney and they transmit hydrostatic pressure to the pampiniform plexus, cause widening of blood vessels, and consequently result in varicocele. Retrograde flow of toxic metabolites from kidneys or adrenal to the internal spermatic vein and the increase of hydrostatic pressure is one of the mechanisms that can cause the
varicocele to have an impact on the functions of the testicles. Additionally, the decrease of testicular blood flow as a result of scrotal temperature increase and hypertension in the veins around the testicle which is caused by varicocele, can manipulate spermatogenesis and consequently reduce
sperm production.Conclusion: Testicular disorders in
men suffering from
varicocele can reduce the quality of
sperm parameters and negatively influence male fertility. Nonetheless,
varicocele per se is not indicative of
infertility since some have normal parameters in their
sperm although they have varicocele.