Comparative Study of Post-Varicocelectomy Myo-inositol vs. Antioxidants vs. Surgery Alone in Infertile Men (MYO-VAR)

October 29, 2026 updated by: Mohamed Mahmoud Dogha, Fayoum University Hospital

Comparative Study Between Myo-inositol Add on Post Varicocelectomy Versus Add on Conventional Antioxidants or Varicocelectomy Alone in Infertile Patients

The purpose of this open-label, 3-arm randomized controlled trial is to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of adding oral myo-inositol versus conventional oral antioxidants (vitamin C, L-carnitine, and zinc) versus surgery alone following microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy in infertile adult males with clinical varicocele.

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.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Varicocele is present in approximately 40% of infertile males. While microscopic varicocelectomy remains the gold-standard surgical correction, post-operative oxidative stress and impaired spermatogenesis frequently require adjunctive metabolic or antioxidant support. Myo-inositol plays a critical role in Sertoli cell function, sperm maturation, mitochondrial energy production, and intracellular calcium mobilization essential for sperm hyperactivation. In this prospective study, 150 male patients with clinical Grade II-III varicocele undergoing microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy at Fayoum University Hospitals will be randomly assigned (1:1:1) into three parallel groups: Group A: Receives oral myo-inositol supplementation for 3-6 months postoperatively. Group B: Receives conventional oral antioxidant combination therapy for 3-6 months post-operatively. Group C: Receives no adjuvant medical treatment post-operatively. All subjects undergo standardized preoperative evaluation (hormone profile, seminal fluid analysis, scrotal duplex) and postoperative follow-up to assess semen parameter improvement, clinical pregnancy rates, and treatment side effects.

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.
Interventional

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.
150

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

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 Locations

  • Egypt
      • Al Fayyum, Egypt, 63514
        • Mohamed Mahmoud Dogha

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

18 years to 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult male patients.

Clinically palpable Grade II or Grade III varicocele undergoing varicocelectomy.

Presence of primary or secondary infertility.

Impaired semen analysis parameters.

Reduced testicular volume.

Exclusion Criteria:

Pediatric (infants) or elderly populations.

Sub-clinical varicocele.

History of previous varicocelectomy operations.

Systemic vascular or medical diseases affecting arterial flow (e.g., diabetes mellitus, hypertension, liver disease, hypercholesterolemia).

Active genital tract infections.

Hormonal abnormalities or autism.

-

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Group A: Myo-inositol

Surgical Intervention: Microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy. Drug/Supplement: Oral Myo-inositol 2g tablets, twice daily for 3 to 6 months post-surgery.
Drug: Experimental Arm Intervention: Myo-inositol

Microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy followed by oral myo-inositol 2 g tablets twice daily for 3 to 6 months post-surgery.
Active Comparator: Group B: Conventional Antioxidants

Surgical Intervention: Microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy. Drug/Supplement: Oral Vitamin C (500mg daily) + L-Carnitine (1000mg twice daily) + Zinc (10mg twice daily) for 3 to 6 months post-surgery.
Drug: Conventional Antioxidants

Microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy followed by oral vitamin C (500 mg daily) + L-carnitine (1000 mg twice daily) + zinc (10 mg twice daily) for 3 to 6 months post-surgery.
Placebo Comparator: Group C: Varicocelectomy Alone

Microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy alone with no adjuvant medical therapy post-surgery.
Other: Group C (Control)

Microscopic subinguinal varicocelectomy alone with no adjuvant medical therapy post-surgery.

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
semen analysis sperm concentration
Time Frame: 3 and 6 months post-intervention.

Assessment of improvement in semen analysis parameters sperm concentration
3 and 6 months post-intervention.
semen analysis sperm motility
Time Frame: 3 and 6 months post-intervention.

Assessment of improvement in semen analysis parameters sperm motility
3 and 6 months post-intervention.
semen analysis sperm morphology
Time Frame: 3 and 6 months post-intervention.

Assessment of improvement in semen analysis parameters: sperm morphology
3 and 6 months post-intervention.

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
Spontaneous pregnancy rate (incidence of pregnancy)
Time Frame: within 1 year postoperative

Spontaneous pregnancy rate (incidence of pregnancy)
within 1 year postoperative
Incidence and profile of medical treatment side effects.
Time Frame: within 3 to 6 months postoperative

Incidence and profile of medical treatment side effects.
within 3 to 6 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.
Fayoum University Hospital

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.
October 26, 2026

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.
June 29, 2027

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.
July 1, 2027

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).
October 25, 2026

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.
October 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

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.
November 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

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.
November 4, 2026

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.
October 29, 2026

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.
October 1, 2026

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.
  • R-872

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be made publicly available in open repositories to protect patient privacy and confidentiality, in accordance with the ethical protocol approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee of Fayoum University. Participants provided written informed consent for the publication of aggregated statistical results only, and consent was not obtained for public sharing of individual-level clinical data.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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