OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of high ligation of the spermatic vein (HLSV) on DNA fragmentation in varicocele (VC) patients.

METHODSThirty-four VC patients underwent HLSV. Sperm motion indexes and the results of papanicolaou staining and DNA fragmentation detection were analyzed before and 3 months after the operation according to the WHO guidelines.

RESULTSCompared with pre-operation, HLSV achieved a significant increase in the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.01), and remarkable decreases in DNA fragmentation, sperm deformity index (SDI) and multiple anomalies index (MAI) (P < 0.01). The patients also showed significant increases in sperm concentration and the percentages of grade b sperm (P < 0.05) and grade a and a + b sperm (P < 0.01) after the operation. The post-operative percentages of sperm DNA fragmentation in those with grades I - III VC were markedly lower (P < 0.01), but showed no significant difference from that in those with subclinical VC (P > 0.05). The percentage of big-halo sperm was significantly increased (P < 0.01), while those of the medium-, small- and non-halo sperm remarkably decreased (P < 0.01) after HLSV.

CONCLUSIONHLSV can effectively improve the sperm quality of VC patients.