High educational level associated with reduced semen quality in men with asymptomatic varicocele testis

Objective To investigate the relationship between education, intelligence, varicocele testis and semen quality. Subjects and methods Of 542 newly‐enlisted soldiers (median age 20 years, range 20–24) 47 men were found who had varicocele testis. Semen quality was assessed in 39 of the men with a varicocele and compared with a similar group with no varicocele. The educational level and intelligence of both groups was also assessed and compared. Results There was a significantly reduced quality of semen in men with varicoceles and in men with > 10 years of school education. There was no significant relationship between intelligence level and semen quality. Conclusions The assumption that there is a relationship between educational level and semen quality in men with asymptomatic varicocele seems well‐founded, and educational level should therefore be considered as an explanatory variable in future investigations; studies are also required to provide a biological explanation of this phenomenon.