Varicoceles are a common condition that can affect men of any age. They occur when one or both testicles fail to drain and blood pools in the veins around them.
Varicoceles cause no symptoms, but they could lead to infertility if left untreated. Luckily, varicocele surgery is an effective treatment option for many patients who want to restore fertility and enjoy an improved quality of life.
I am no writing a blog post about men’s health. Instead, I have a blog post that discusses the common condition of varicocele in men and how it can affect fertility.
What Is A Varicocele?
Varicoceles are small swellings on either side of the scrotum, which might leave you with some pain and inconvenience if they go undetected for long enough.
An ultrasound can quickly identify these small swellings caused by the dilation of veins in the scrotum.
Varicocele treatment can be either conservative or surgical. Conventional treatment includes changes in lifestyle like less alcohol consumption, avoiding prolonged sitting, and wearing supportive underwear. Surgery is recommended when traditional methods do not work or when pain is severe enough to affect the quality of life.
The operation can be an outpatient procedure or with a short stay in the hospital.
Varicose veins in your testicles could be causing this issue, though there isn’t any way to know without proper testing from a doctor who specializes in men’s reproductive health issues like these.
What Happens If Varicocele Is Left Untreated?
Varicocele is a condition in which the scrotum’s veins become engorged, and it can cause low sperm production. If left untreated, this may lead to infertility problems by interfering with both the quality of sperm and quantity.
Varicoceles are an often undiagnosed cause of infertility in males as dilation or knotting of the veins that carry blood from your genitals up to your heart.
Varicose veins can also be found on other parts of the body, including the legs and feet. However, they do not present as considerable a health risk because those vessels have valves that prevent backflow when the pressure becomes too great against them (compared with unvalved pelvic venous systems).
Many doctors widely believe that varicoses lead to decreased fertility due to inadequate sperm production among infertile men who test positive for this condition.
How Do You Fix A Varicocele?
In the unlikely event that your varicocele has not been successfully remedied with surgery, you may be able to have it repaired non-surgically.
With percutaneous embolization, a doctor can use an imaging system like X-ray computed tomography (CT) for guidance and then inject tiny particles into blood vessels without any incisions or stitches involved in the process of the scrotum to stop bleeding inside them.
The injected material acts as a plug that blocks off these veins so they will no longer carry blood back up from where it is supposed to go—to other parts of our body!
Why Varicocele Is Common On Left Side?
Varicoceles are usually on the left because of an anatomical connection: The left testicular vein’s angle enters the venous system.
Lack of effective valves between these two veins and increased reflux from a compression created by pressure coming in through another artery runs next to it.
Conclusion
I am grateful every day that I successfully treated my varicocele without surgery. Today, I live pain-free and can enjoy all of the activities that are so important to me.
The pain that I experienced in my own life is now why I’m writing this article for you. People must know what varicoceles are, how they can affect a man and what treatments exist, so those who suffer from them don’t have to go through any of these things alone.
But there IS help out there!
You can overcome a varicocele without surgery. However, I want to share my knowledge and experience, hoping that others suffering from this condition will find relief.
Maybe someone will find this blog post helpful or informative as it might answer some questions about their symptoms. But, if not, at least maybe this article helps by taking away some anxiety around something many men feel ashamed talking about with friends, family members or doctors because we’ve been taught since birth that it’s just an inevitable part of ageing.