https://doi.org/10.4081/itjm.2024.1827

Obesity: a potential cause of varicocele leading to male infertility

Vol. 18 No. 4 (2024)
Submitted: 10 October 2024
Accepted: 20 November 2024
Published: 20 December 2024
Male infertility, varicocele, obesity, scrotum, testes
Abstract Views: 25
PDF: 15
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Authors

Zain ul-Hasan
gilani_zain@yahoo.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1007-1649
University Institute of Radiological Sciences and Medical Imaging Technology (UIRSMIT), The University of Lahore, Pakistan.
Syed Amir Gilani
Department of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, Green International University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Asif Hanif
University Institute of Radiological Sciences and Medical Imaging Technology (UIRSMIT), The University of Lahore, Pakistan.
Raham Bacha
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9422-829X
University Institute of Radiological Sciences and Medical Imaging Technology (UIRSMIT), The University of Lahore, Pakistan.
Zareen Fatima
University Institute of Radiological Sciences and Medical Imaging Technology (UIRSMIT), The University of Lahore, Pakistan.

Male infertility is the root cause of social, psychological, economic, and medical problems. Obesity, culminating in varicocele, is one of the leading causes of male infertility. Veins of the lower abdomen are compressed by excessive subcutaneous fat, and the return of blood from the scrotum is compromised. This increases the intratesticular temperature, which decreases sperm quality. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of obesity on male infertility, particularly varicocele development. This cross-sectional study was conducted for 18 months with 172 men. The participants were categorized into obese and nonobese groups. Color Doppler ultrasound was performed to detect varicocele and related conditions. A chi-square test was applied to determine the associations between obesity and infertility with respect to varicocele. A significant association of varicocele with obesity was noted (p<0.05). The odds of the development of varicocele in obese individuals was 2.4 and the relative risk was 2.12 compared to nonobese individuals. In the nonobese group, 22 (25.5%) and 41 (47.67%) patients in the obese group were infertile. Compared with 25.5% of nonobese and infertile subjects, 47.6% of obese and infertile subjects concluded that a greater percentage of obese and infertile subjects were diagnosed with varicocele than nonobese and infertile subjects.

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How to Cite

ul-Hasan, Z., Gilani, S. A., Hanif, A., Bacha, R., & Fatima, Z. (2024). Obesity: a potential cause of varicocele leading to male infertility. Italian Journal of Medicine, 18(4). https://doi.org/10.4081/itjm.2024.1827
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