Does varicocele grade determine extent of alteration to spermatogenesis in adolescents?

Objective: To determine whether grade of varicocele determines extent of alterations to semen quality in adolescents.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Patients recruited from a local public school.

Sperm characteristics in a sample of healthy adolescents in São Paulo, Brazil.

The article presents preliminary data from a prospective investigation in a sample of healthy 14-17-year-old students from a technical school in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ninety-six Tanner stage 5 and thirty-one Tanner stage 4 adolescents were evaluated: testicular volume was measured using a Prader orchidometer, and semen analysis was performed according to standard procedures. Median testicular volume was 20.