Effects of inguinal hernia repair techniques on testicular atrophy and sexual functions in the long-term

Abstract

Purpose: Inguinal and femoral herniae are classified together as “inguinal herniae”. The aim of this study was to investigate the inguinal hernia repair techniques on testicular atrophy and sexual functions in the long-term.

Patients and Methods: One hundred male patients with age between 20-40 and sexually active with inguinal hernia, Nyhus type 1 or 2 were included in this study between January 2007 and March 2007. The patients who had applied to the outpatient clinic with inguinal hernia were enrolled in the study consecutively. All patients have been consulted with the same urologist before the surgery and at the 18th month after the surgery.

Results: No complications were detected during surgery or postoperatively. In the long-term, no patient a had recurrent disease, mesh reaction or any urological problem. In the mesh group, no significant difference was detected regarding the testicular size, parenchyma, epididyme size or arterial blood flow. Also, in the Moloney group, no significant difference was detected regarding the testicular size, parenchyma, epididyme size or arterial blood flow. However, between the mesh group and the Moloney group, there was a difference detected between arterial blood flow speed (46% and 28%, respectively).

Conclusion: Testicular atrophy is observed with an incidence of %0.5 in the literature, after inguinal hernia surgery. We did not encounter any testicular atrophy in our study. Finally, there is still a need for studies with a large size of patients to investigate the difference.