Comparison of Sperm Parameters and DNA Integrity between Fertile and Varicocele Individuals

Varicocele is the most common causes of male sterility that is caused progressive testicular damage over time. In this study sperm parameters and their DNA integrity was compared in varicocele and fertile people. The study performed on 55 grades II and III Varicocele people and 25 fertiles. Semen parameters (sperm count, motility and morphology) and sperm DNA health were assessed using TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling). Data were analyzed by SPSS software. Varicoceles semen parameters consist of sperm count, motility and morphology had significantly low quality in comparison with fertile people. Also damaged DNA sperms percentage of Varicocele people (14.34%±1.43) was significantly increased compared to fertile people (9.2%±1.36). Sperm parameters and DNA damage percentage correlation showed that there is a reversed correlation between DNA damage percentage and sperm density and significant and positive correlations with sperm abnormal morphology. Testicular temperature increasing in Varicocele people, caused to low quality of sperm parameters and also high sperm DNA damages. Therefore, Varicocele people are confronted with spermatogenesis process deficiency.