268 patients (age 16-47 years) affected with idiopathic varicocele, submitted to surgery, have been studied. Semen analysis, pampiniphorm plexus doppler examination and testosterone, estradiol, D4 androstenedione, DHEA-S, HPRL, 17-OH-P, FSH and LH (basal and after LH-RH) evaluation, before and 6 months after surgery, were performed. The patients were divided in 3 groups (A, B and C) according to sperm count. Pre-surgery seminal parameters in A group were significantly reduced in comparison with control group. Six months after surgery, a significant increase of total and forward progression, Swelling test, Acridine Orange and in vitro penetration (CMPT) was observed. Sperm count showed an increase, although being still significantly reduced in comparison with normal controls. In B group, before surgery, sperm count, viability, Acridine Orange and CMPT were significantly reduced in comparison with controls. Six months after surgery, viability, Acridine Orange and CMPT resulted significantly improved. In C group, before surgery, CMPT resulted significantly reduced in comparison with controls. After surgery, semen framework improved without significant differences in comparison with normal controls. No significant differences were observed for hormonal patterns before and after surgery.