Semen analysis in 116 subfertile and infertile patients with varicocele revealed oligospermia (counts less than 20 million/ml) in 66% of patients, asthenospermia (motility of less than 50%) in 59% of patients; and teratospermia (abnormal sperm morphology of greater than 50%) in 65% of patients. The sperm motility and morphology deteriorated with decrease in sperm concentration. After varicocelectomy 53% of all patients showed improvement in the overall semen quality. The best post-operative results were noted in patients who had pre-operative counts over 20 million/ml. Deterioration in semen quality was observed in 6% of all patients. Factors which possibly played a role in the response to varicocelectomy in our environment are discussed.