Varicocele is the most common correctable cause of male infertility, but some men with varicoceles are able to father children, even without intervention, and so the link between varicoceles and male infertility remains a matter of debate. Oxidative stress seems to be a central mechanism of testicular damage; however, no single theory to explain the differential effect of varicoceles on infertility has been suggested. In this Review, a panel of expert authors discuss the epidemiology and pathophysiology of varicocele-related infertility, and consider the optimal treatment for men with varicocele.
- Christian Fuglesang S. Jensen
- Peter Østergren
- Mikkel Fode
