Reflux Flow Volume Impact on Semen Parameters Pre and Post Varicocelectomy

December 1, 2025 updated by: Ahmed Adel Ragab Mohamed, Assiut University

Impact of Reflux Flow Volume on Semen Parameters Pre and Post Varicocelectomy

Evaluation of the impact of reflux flow volume and other ultrasonographic diagnostic parameters of varicocele on semen parameters before and 3 months varicocelectomy

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

Varicocele is an abnormal dilatation and tortuosity of the pampiniform plexus of veins draining the testicles. It affects almost 15% of men in the general population, but its prevalence rises significantly reaching 35-40% among men with primary infertility and up to 80% of men with secondary infertility. Varicocele is known to have a deleterious effect on spermatogenesis through multiple mechanisms, resulting in a progressive decline in semen parameters. However, the precise pathophysiological impact of varicocele on male infertility is still unclear. Although clinical examination is considered the standard diagnostic method , a considerable number of varicocele can be detected via ultrasound. Color Doppler Ultrasonography (CDUS) is widely used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for varicocele, mainly through detection of venous reflux which is a key diagnostic criterion. As the current CDUS-based grading systems rely on subjective and individual parameters which may not fully represent the harmful effect caused by the condition, there is a critical need for a more integrated and quantifiable parameter that can better predict the severity of testicular dysfunction and guide its treatment. Reflux flow volume is a quantitative parameter measured via the CDUS, referring to the rate of retrograde blood flow passing through the dilated veins during reflux episodes. This parameter integrates reflux duration, velocity and vein diameter. Thus, it can provide a more comprehensive assessment of reflux severity than any of the individual components alone. Consequently, reflux flow volume can serve as a reliable marker for testicular function. By investigating its relation to other ultrasonographic parameters, testicular volume and their impact on semen parameters, testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, it has the potential to transform diagnostic strategies and predict the impact of varicocelectomy on spermatogenesis and hormonal changes. Therefore, it can stratify patients for the therapeutic approach and provide a better prognostic tool for varicocele management

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
100

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Hatem Kamal Mohamed Abdelhafez, Medical doctorate
  • Phone Number: +20 01223971140
  • Email: Hatem76@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male patients with bilateral clinical varicocele confirmed with scrotal color doppler Ultrasonography

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with bilateral clinical varicocele confirmed by Scrotal Color Doppler Ultrasonography

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unilateral varicocele.
  • Recurrent varicocele.
  • History of undescended testis, orchitis, testicular trauma, torsion or scrotal surgery.
  • Inguinal hernia, hydrocele or scrotal mass.
  • Prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy or any other gonadotoxic agents.
  • Uncontrolled systemic illness.
  • Chromosomal or genetic anomalies.
  • Azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia (< 5 million/ml)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Patients with bilateral clinical varicocele confirmed with scrotal color Doppler Ultrasonography

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Scrotal ultrasonographic parameter
Time Frame: Preoperative
Reflux volume(ml/min)
Preoperative

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Semen parameter
Time Frame: Preoperative and 3 months postoperative
Sperm concentration (million/ml)
Preoperative and 3 months postoperative

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Assiut University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ahmed Adel, Assiut University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 16, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 1, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 4, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 4, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 1, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Scrotal duplex in varicocele

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