Clinical Research Directory

Intratesticular Artery Resistive Index Changes After Varicocelectomy

This study aims to evaluate how blood flow inside the testicles changes after surgery to correct a varicocele, and whether these changes correlate with improvements in semen quality and testosterone levels. Varicocele is a common, treatable cause of male infertility that can negatively affect testicular function by altering blood flow and temperature. While surgery (varicocelectomy) often improves fertility, doctors are continually looking for ways to predict which patients will benefit the most from the procedure. This study uses scrotal color Doppler ultrasound to measure the Intratesticular Artery Resistive Index (RI), which is an indicator of blood flow resistance and microvascular health, before and after surgery. Researchers will recruit 40 infertile men with clinically palpable varicoceles. Participants will undergo a baseline evaluation that includes a physical exam, semen analysis, a blood test for total testosterone, and a specialized ultrasound to measure the RI under different physical conditions (lying down, standing, and during a Valsalva maneuver/bearing down). All participants will then undergo a microscopic sub-inguinal varicocelectomy, which is the standard microsurgical treatment. Three months after the surgery, participants will return for follow-up testing to repeat the semen analysis, testosterone blood test, and ultrasound. The main goal of the study is to determine if pre-operative RI measurements can serve as an early, reliable predictor of surgical success, specifically looking at the recovery of testicular function, sperm parameters, and hormonal levels.