Varicocele: Does it Hurt? What Are the Treatment Options?
Varicocele: Does it hurt?
Most men do not experience symptoms with a varicocele and do not realize they have one unless a doctor feels it during a physical exam. Other men will notice their scrotum has a lumpy appearance (sometimes described as looking like a bag of worms) or a slight bulge on one or both sides. The lumps and bulges due to a varicocele are generally painless.
Occasionally, a man may experience discomfort with a varicocele. He may feel a dull ache or heaviness in his scrotum during hot weather, after exercising, or when he has been standing or sitting for long periods of time.
In rare cases, the discomfort may increase to a throbbing ache or even a sharp pain in the scrotum. This type of varicocele pain can be triggered by lifting, hard exercise, and standing or sitting for extended periods. The pain can also be the result of a varicocele that has become quite large.
Discomfort and pain can often be relieved by using one or more of the following:
Lying down
Wearing snug fitting underwear (tight enough to support the scrotum)
Wearing an athletic supporter
Taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil)
A doctor may recommend varicocele repair if the pain continues or is bothersome.
Varicocele: The Connection to Male Infertility
Male infertility can also be a sign of a varicocele. Approximately 40% of infertile men are diagnosed with a varicocele. The percentage climbs to 80% in men who have fathered one child but suddenly find they cannot father another.
Experts feel a varicocele causes infertiltiy because the excess blood held in the scrotum warms the testicles too much, hindering healthy sperm production. The result is often a low sperm count, slow moving sperm or unhealthy sperm. Varicocele repair increases sperm production and quality in 50-70% of men.
Varicocele: Treatment Options
Most men with a varicocele do not require treatment to repair the problem. Varicocele repair is recommended for men who are in pain, have quite large varicoceles, or who have become infertile due to the condition.
Treatment options for a varicocele involve restoring normal circulation by forcing the blood away from the enlarged veins and into normal ones. There are two commonly used ways of doing this:
Varicocele Surgery
Varicocele surgery involves making an incision above the scrotum. The surgeon then locates the enlarged veins and ties them off.
The surgeon may perform this surgery by cutting through tissue to expose the affected veins (open surgery) or with a less invasive technique using a laparoscope. Both forms of varicocele surgery are performed using general anesthesia and on an outpatient basis.
Recovery time depends on the method of surgery used. In most cases, light activity can be resumed within two or three days. Full recovery can take between two to six weeks.
Varicocele Embolization
Varicocele embolization involves making a small nick in the skin, about the size of a pencil lead, in either the groin or the neck. A thin tube is inserted through the tiny cut and guided by means of X-ray imaging to the varicocele. A small coil is then passed through the tube into each of the affected veins. The coil is left in place to block blood from entering the vein.
Once all affected veins have been blocked with a coil, the tube is removed and an adhesive bandage is placed over the nick.
Varicocele embolization is performed on an outpatient basis using what is commonly referred to as "twilight" sedation. This form of sedation uses a mixture of medications that leave the patient conscious, but unaware of what is happening.
Recovery time is usually less than 24 hours. The patient will be advised to rest the day of the procedure, ice the scrotum, and wear some form of scrotal support. Normal activity can be resumed the next day.
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Sources:
eMedicine:
Varicocele
Mayo Clinic:
Varicocele - Symptoms
Varicocele - Treatment and drugs
Varicocele - Lifestyle and home remedies
MedlinePlus:
Varicocele
Teen health:
Varicocele - What is a Varicocele? What are the Signs and Symptoms? What If the Doctor Finds a Varicocele?
Urology Channel:
Varicocele - Overview, Incidence and Prevalence
Varicocele -Treatment, Prognosis
Varicoceles.com:
What is a Varicocele?
Symptoms
Treatment Options
F.A.Q.s
Published by Amanda C. Strosahl
Born and raised on the banks of the Mississippi river, Amanda moved to the Greater Indianapolis area in 1994, where she worked alongside her husband in the newspaper industry until 2008. She now works as a f... View profile
- Treatment and Varicocele Discomfort Relief, Including Surgical RepairVaricoceles are very similar to that of varicose veins in the leg and commonly do not pose a problem with pain or symptoms however they do over time gradually enlarge and may at some point cause pain or discomfort.
- Male Urogenital Conditions: What's the Difference Between Hydrocele and Varicocele?Hydrocele and varicocele are two conditions that affect the male reproductive system. While both are swelling conditions that occur inside the scrotum, they have differences.
- Typical Signs and Symptoms of a VaricoceleVaricoceles don't usually cause any symptoms or pain however over time they can grow large and may sometimes cause symptoms including pain and in some cases fertility issues.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Varicocele?Most men experience mild symptoms with a varicocele, if they experience them at all. Other men will feel pain, see lumps on their scrotum, or become infertile.- Pelvic Congestion Syndrome Linked with Chronic Pelvic and Lower Back Pain in WomenWomen with undiagnosed chronic pelvic pain should be screened for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome.
- Varicocele: Treatment for Testicular Lumps and Bumps in Your Scrotum is Not as Bad...
- Varicocele Embolization Treatment for Dilated Blood Vessels in the Scrotrum
- Symptoms of a Varicocele
- What Men Should Know About a Varicocele
- Varicocele: Treatment and Pain Relief
- Varicocele: Definition and Causes
- Varicocele: What is It? What Causes It? How is it Connected to Male Infertility?