Abstract: Abstract: Objective To detect the sperm DNA fragmentation and level of MDA in seminal plasma and explore their correlation among infertile males with varicocele. Methods The sperm chromatin dispersion test was employed to detect the sperm DNA fragmentation in 52 infertile men with varicocele and 24 healthy fertile male; Content of malonddialdehyde in seminal plasma was measured by reaction of thiobarbiuric acid; At the same time, the classical semen parameters,their including sperm concentration, progressive motility and sperm morphology were evaluated by computer assisted sperm analysis. The differences in seminal parameters between infertile groups and control group were compared, and the correlation of the sperm DNA fragmentation and level of MDA in seminal plasma was explored in varicocele group. Results Men with varicocele had lower ejaculate volume, sperm concentration,progressive motility and morphology than men in the control group. Sperm DNA fragmentation and level of MDA in seminal plasma among infertile males with varicocel were significantly higher than those in control group.The perm DNA fragmentation was positively correlated with the level of MDA in varicocele group. Conclusion The increased sperm DNA fragmentation and level of MDA in seminal plasma may be related to the infertile males with varicocele. The increased level of MDA in seminal plasma may be one of the causes of increased sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile males with varicocele.

Key words: varicocele, infertility, sperm DNA fragmentation, MDA