Varicocele treatment information by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Varicocele symptoms

A varicocele is an enlargement of the veins within the scrotum, the loose bag of skin that holds the testicles. A varicocele is similar to a varicose vein of the leg. A varicocele is a dilation of the venous plexus and the internal spermatic vein. Varicocele is a well-recognized cause of decreased testicular function and occurs in approximately 15% of all males and in 30% of infertile males. Varicocele is one cause of low sperm count.

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Symptoms of varicocele
Symptoms of varicocele include: Visible, enlarged, twisted veins in the scrotum; A painless testicle lump, scrotal swelling, or bulge within the scrotum. Some men may have infertility as a result of a varicocele.

Embolization: Nonsurgical option to treat Varicoceles
Robert White, Jr., M.D., professor of diagnostic radiology and director of the Yale Vascular Malformation Center at Yale University, says,  "Approximately 10 percent of men suffer from varicoceles -- varicose veins in the testicle and scrotum that may cause pain, testicular atrophy or fertility problems. Over 70,000 men undergo surgery, which requires two to five weeks of recovery, every year for varicoceles. However, embolization is a nonsurgical option. In this outpatient procedure, an interventional radiologist uses imaging to guide a catheter into the affected vein and block blood flow, reducing pressure on the varicocele. This simple and elegant embolization technique allows us to treat testicular atrophy in young boys and reverse infertility in some men -- all nonsurgically." Robert White, Jr., M.D., is professor at Yale University.

Varicocele surgery for fertility problem
A varicocele, an enlargement of veins in the scrotum, can impair a man's fertility. Fortunately, surgery can correct the problem, and the procedure is just as effective for older men as it is for younger men.