A. Lerchl et al., DIURNAL-VARIATIONS IN SCROTAL TEMPERATURE OF NORMAL MEN AND PATIENTS WITH VARICOCELE BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT, International journal of andrology, 16(3), 1993, pp. 195-200
Scrotal temperature was monitored using a portable data recorder for p
eriods of 24 h in six normal volunteers and 48 infertile patients with
unilateral varicocele while subjects pursued their regular daily acti
vities. Temperatures during sleep (T(S)) were generally higher than da
ytime values (T(D)), probably as a consequence of thermal insulation i
n bed. These diurnal variations were found to be less pronounced in th
e infertile patients than in volunteers (T(S) - T(D) = 0.29-degrees-C
+/- 0.06-degrees-C vs 0.88-degrees-C +/- 0.12-degrees-C; P< 0.01). Mor
eover, scrotal temperatures at night of patients and volunteers were i
ndistinguishable statistically, but were different during daytime hour
s. After successful ligation or embolization of the spermatic vein in
16 patients, no change in scrotal temperature was observed. Although s
perm counts were higher after treatment, this difference was not signi
ficant (67.4 +/- 17.2 x 10(6) vs 105.8 +/- 25.5 x 10(6); P > 0. 05). T
he data support the view that varicocele-related damage to the testis
results from a lack of adequate cooling, and that treatment does not n
ormalize the temperature pattern.