Objective To analyze the anti-sperm antibody (AsAb) and semen quality in microsurgical varicocelectomy.

Methods A total of 67 varicocele patients treated by microsurgical varicocelectomy in our hospital from January 2015 to December 2017 were included in the study. At the same time, 67 cases with no varicocele found by pre-natal examination at the same age level were taken as control group. AsAb positive rate, sperm volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, rate of sperm with forward movement, sperm abnormality rate were comparatively analyzed before surgery, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-operation.

Results There was statistical difference in preoperative AsAb positive rate and semen quality between the two groups (P < 0.05).The 6-and 12-month postoperative AsAb positive rates reduced compared with the corresponding preoperative rates(P < 0.05), but no difference was found regarding the 3-month postoperative rates. There were no significant changes in sperm volume before and after operation between the two group. Sperm concentration, sperm activity rate, forward movement sperm rate, and sperm malformation rate were significantly improved in the case group after operation and before operation, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Sperm concentration and sperm motility rate improved further 12 months after operation compared with 6 months and 3 months after operation, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between 6 months after operation and 3 months after operation. There was no significant difference in sperm malformation rate between the two groups after operation. The sperm rate of forward movement at 12 months and 6 months after operation is further improved than that at 3 months after operation, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between 12 months after operation and 6 months after operation. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the decrease of AsAb positive rate before and after operation was significantly negatively correlated with the improvement of sperm concentration and sperm activity rate (P < 0.05).

Conclusions The positive rate of AsAb in patients undergoing microsurgical varicocele ligation was significantly reduced, and the sperm concentration, sperm activity rate, forward motility sperm rate, and sperm malformation rate were significantly improved. With the extension of time, the reduction degree of AsAb level was significantly correlated with the improvement of sperm concentration and sperm activity rate, which was helpful for the evaluation of postoperative efficacy.