Correlation of Varicocele and Body Mass Index Among Infertile Men in Abuja: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Varicocele is the most common abnormal finding among men presenting with infertility; however, there is controversy regarding its aetiology. This study aimed to determine the association between the occurrence of varicocele and Body Mass Index (BMI) at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abuja. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving 51 men presenting with infertility aged 18 years and above from August 2024 to February 2025. All participants were evaluated for the presence of varicocele. Height and weight measurements were taken to calculate BMI, and a scrotal ultrasound was performed to confirm the presence of varicocele. The height, weight, and BMI of those with varicocele were compared to those without it (the control group). Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27.0. Results: The mean age of the participants was 39.3 ± 10.2 years (range 18 to 68 years). The majority of patients were married (78.4%). Those without varicocele had a higher average BMI compared to those with varicocele, with values of 27.82 ± 2.74 and 25.74 ± 3.80, respectively (p-value < 0.050), which is clinically significant.  Conclusion: Our study indicates that there is a decreasing incidence of varicocele with increasing BMI, supporting the possibility that obesity may reduce the nutcracker effect.