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Are varicoceles the holy grail of Andrology?

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 36, pages 177–180 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Varicoceles are a common condition affecting up to 15% of men in the general population, and up to 40% of men with infertility. A varicocele is an abnormal dilation of the veins within the scrotum, which can lead to reduced sperm production and testicular damage, resulting in infertility. Despite the prevalence of varicoceles, much remains to be discovered about their diagnosis, treatment, and long-term impact. Varicoceles are considered the ‘holy grail’ of Andrology because they represent a complex, multifactorial condition that requires a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment. While surgical repair of varicoceles has been shown to improve fertility outcomes in some cases, there is still debate about the best approach to diagnosis and treatment, and long-term outcomes are not well understood. Advances in diagnostic imaging, such as color Doppler ultrasound, have improved our ability to identify varicoceles, but more research is needed to fully understand the impact of this condition on male fertility and overall health. As such, varicoceles represent an ongoing area of investigation in Andrology with much progress to be made in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and long-term impact.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions. The authors confirm that all data underlying the findings are fully available without restriction.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was supported by the National Institute of Health Grant R01 DK 130991 to Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy at the University of Miami.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Urology, Miami, FL, USA

    Joshua White, Braian Ledesma, Maria Camila Suarez Arbelaez, Akhil Muthigi & Ranjith Ramasamy

  2. University of South Florida, Undergraduate Education, Tampa Bay, FL, USA

    Sofia Cartaya

  3. University of Michigan, Urology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Kristian Black

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  7. Ranjith Ramasamy
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Contributions

JW, SC, KB, BL, MCSA, and AM all contributed equally to the writing of the manuscript. JW and SC drafted the first version of the manuscript. RR provided critical feedback to help shape the research and analyses. JW and RR completed the final draft equally. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. In addition, we confirm that all authors have agreed to be listed and have approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Joshua White.

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White, J., Cartaya, S., Black, K. et al. Are varicoceles the holy grail of Andrology?. Int J Impot Res 36, 177–180 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-023-00696-3

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