Decreased sperm DNA fragmentation after surgical varicocelectomy is associated with increased pregnancy rate.

Purpose: We prospectively evaluated changes in sperm chromatin structure in infertile patients before and after surgical repair of varicocele, and the impact on the pregnancy rate.

Materials And Methods: Included in the study were 49 men with at least a 1-year history of infertility, a palpable varicocele and oligospermia. World Health Organization semen analysis and sperm DNA damage expressed as the DNA fragmentation index using the sperm chromatin structure assay were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.

Sperm chromatin structure is associated with the quality of spermatogenesis in infertile patients.

Objective: To establish the diagnostic value of sperm chromatin structure assessment for the evaluation of male factor infertility, in addition to conventional andrological workup.

Design: Cross-sectional controlled study.

Setting: A tertiary referral andrology clinic.

Decreased sperm DNA fragmentation after surgical varicocelectomy is associated with increased pregnancy rate.

Purpose: We prospectively evaluated changes in sperm chromatin structure in infertile patients before and after surgical repair of varicocele, and the impact on the pregnancy rate.

Materials And Methods: Included in the study were 49 men with at least a 1-year history of infertility, a palpable varicocele and oligospermia. World Health Organization semen analysis and sperm DNA damage expressed as the DNA fragmentation index using the sperm chromatin structure assay were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.

Heterogeneous distribution of ITGCNU in an adult testis: consequences for biopsy-based diagnosis.

Carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the testis, also referred to as intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified (ITGCNU), is currently accepted as the common precursor for all malignant germ cell tumors of adolescents and adults- that is, the seminomatous and nonseminoma cancers. These preinvasive cells have specific cellular characteristics, which can be used for the early diagnosis-routinely done by morphological analysis, sometimes supported by immunohistochemistry-of tissue obtained by an open surgical biopsy. False-negative biopsy results can occur mostly because of the nonrandom distribution of ITGCNU within the testis, misdiagnosis, or suboptimal tissue treatment and analysis.

Semen cryopreservation in pubertal boys before gonadotoxic treatment and the role of endocrinologic evaluation in predicting sperm yield.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of semen cryopreservation in pubertal boys before they receive gonadotoxic therapy and to identify which pretreatment parameters might predict successful cryopreservation.

Design: Retrospective data analysis.

Setting: Tertiary fertility center, academic children's hospital.

Seminal plasma cobalamin significantly correlates with sperm concentration in men undergoing IVF or ICSI procedures.

Mild hyperhomocysteinemia is caused by B vitamin deficiencies. We hypothesize that these biochemical derangements detrimentally affect spermatogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the folate, cobalamin, pyridoxine, and homocysteine concentrations in blood and seminal plasma and the associations between these biomarkers and semen parameters in men participating in an in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection program.

The cryptorchidism prevalence among infants in the general population of Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Published trends and geographical differences in cryptorchidism rates are almost exclusively derived from hospital-based birth defect registers, which are sensitive to selection bias and incomplete reporting. This study aimed to accurately assess the cryptorchidism prevalence in the general population of Rotterdam. Of 7652 consecutive male live births, 7292 (95%) were examined for cryptorchidism at Child Healthcare Centres around the age of 1 month.

Inhibin B: a novel marker of spermatogenesis.

Subfertility affects about 15% of all couples. Assessment of spermatogenesis has a central role in the evaluation of the subfertile couple. Classical markers of spermatogenesis, such as semen analysis, testicular biopsy and endocrine evaluation all have their diagnostic limitations.

A high hypospadias rate in The Netherlands.

Background: Reports on increasing hypospadias trends are based on birth defect registries, which are prone to inaccuracy. We assessed the prevalence of hypospadias precisely, by prospective examination of all newborns in Rotterdam over a 2-year period.

Methods: A total of 7292 consecutive male births were examined for the presence of hypospadias, classified by severity.