[Dissection of spermatoceles and fertility (author's transl)].

The majority of spermatoceles originate in retention cysts of the vasa efferentia. Cystic embryonic remnants of the testis and epididymis are not so frequent. Only 10 of 20 patients undergoing surgical treatment of unilateral, singular spermatoceles preoperatively showed normozoospermia. Excision of the spermatocele in more than 50% of our patients caused permanent deterioration of their spermiogramm. The number of sperms was reduced to less than the half of the preoperative counts. Obstruction of the epididymal duct caused by postoperative cicatrices is thought to be the reason. In consequence of these results operative treatment of spermatoceles should be though over. Our series clearly shows that the dissection of a spermatocele by no means should be practiced by way of treating infertility.