Impact of varicocelectomy on urine dopamine value in patients with premature ejaculation and varicocele

Abstract

Dopamine is an important regulator of male sexual function and behaviour. Decreased levels of this substance have been observed in blood and seminal plasma of infertile men. Hence, this study was carried out to determine the impact of varicocelectomy on 24-hr urine dopamine values in patients with both premature ejaculation (PE) and varicocele. In this prospective study, 55 consecutive patients with premature ejaculation and grade 2 or 3 varicocele were enrolled. The urine dopamine level was measured in a 24-hr sample by HPLC method in a single laboratory centre. Two samples were gathered from each patient, one before and the other 1 month after varicocelectomy. The mean initial and final 24-hr urine dopamine levels were 259.6 +/- 86.3 and 602.9 +/- 88.4 micrograms, respectively, showing statistically significant increase (p = .0001), while there was no statistically significant difference between urine volume and creatinine. However, the change in intravaginal ejaculation latency time value was not statistically significant at this short time visit. According to our findings, varicocelectomy results in a significant increase in 24-hr urine dopamine levels in patients with premature ejaculation and varicocele. However, the effect of this change on premature ejaculation in the long term has yet to be determined.