Can fixing a varicocele beat antioxidants for boosting sperm?
NCT ID NCT07759713
First seen Aug 12, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether microscopic surgery to repair varicoceles (enlarged veins in the scrotum) works better than antioxidant medication for men with cryptozoospermia—a condition where very few sperm are present in semen. About 69 men with clinical varicoceles will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. Researchers will measure sperm concentration at 6 and 12 months, and also track biological pregnancy and live birth rates to see which approach offers a better chance of fathering a child.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Microscopic varicocele surgery (varicocelectomy) compared with antioxidant medication
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could identify a better first-line treatment to improve sperm counts and increase chances of natural conception or IVF success in men with cryptozoospermia.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small trial (69 participants) and results may not apply to all men. Surgery carries standard procedural risks, and antioxidants may not improve fertility in every case.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Andrology department
Qina, Egypt
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.