DIURNAL-VARIATIONS IN SCROTAL TEMPERATURE OF NORMAL MEN AND PATIENTS WITH VARICOCELE BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT

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.