Varicocele in adolescents.

Varicocele is a frequent disease in adolescents (15%) and has a harmful eff ect on growth of the testis and spermatogenesis which deteriorates with inc reasing exposure time to varicocele. However, only 15 to 20% of adults with varicocele are infertile. It is currently impossible to predict, among ado lescents with a varicocele, those who will subsequently be infertile. Testi cular hypotrophy reflects testicular repercussions, but is correlation with subsequent infertility is unknown at the present time. However, treatment of varicocele allows correction of testicular hypotrophy. Although the argu ments are still only speculative, testicular hypotrophy, together with symp tomatic and/or grade III varicocele, represents a logical indication for tr eatment of varicocele in adolescents. Many techniques can be used to occlud e the varicocele in adolescents. Open retroperitoneal surgery is currently the reference method.