A varicocele is made up of dilated blood vessels (varicose veins) in the scrotum. It is a common condition affecting up to 20% of all men, and especially those in their 20s and 30s.1 The condition is commonly associated with infertility and may cause a dull and aching pain. Patients who are treated for this condition will experience an improvement in sperm count and quality. Additionally, the dull and aching pain will usually improve or resolve.
Varicoceles are the result of one or more faulty valves within the veins returning blood to the heart from the scrotum. This causes blood to flow in reverse and “pool” within the veins. The veins become enlarged, forming a varicocele.
Most men with this condition do not experience any symptoms. However, as many as 40% of men with decreased fertility have a varicocele. It is believed that the additional blood within the scrotum raises its temperature, which can negatively affect sperm count and quality.
Varicoceles are most common in the left testicle. They can feel like a “bag of worms” and will usually be found by a doctor during a routine physical. Once a varicocele is formed, it will not go away on its own.
Men without symptoms do not typically require treatment for a varicocele. However, those experiencing pain, infertility, testicular shrinking, or discomfort may benefit from intervention. Left untreated, varicoceles can continue to affect sperm production and quality.
While surgery has traditionally been used to treat varicoceles, many men are now candidates for varicocele embolization, a minimally invasive outpatient procedure performed by an interventional radiologist. Embolization treats the abnormal veins responsible for the varicocele without surgery, allowing most patients to return to normal activities within just a few days.
Varicocele embolization is highly effective and offers outcomes comparable to surgery, with no hospital stay required.
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