Varicocele

Varicocele

Varicocele

Varicocele is a condition that affects large number of male population. The occurrence of the disease is about fifteen percent among thousand men. It is considered as one of the main reason that causes infertility. It is characterized by swelling of the varicose veins which is present at the scrotum and mainly targets the left testicle.

Indications for Varicocele:

A person may show mild or no signs of varicocele. But if he has the following symptoms he may require an intervention.

  • He might have a throbbing pain due to external pressure such as standing or sitting for long hours.
  • Men who have fertility problems are more prominent to varicocele. They seem to have low sperm count, less motility and atypical sperms.
  • If there is attenuation in the testicle it might be due to varicocele. This condition is found commonly among the grown up boys.

Causes of Varicocele:

It is uncertain how varicocele is caused. However doctors consider that when the free flow of blood is blocked inside the veins and it causes the inflammation or dilation of the testicle. If one testicle is affected the production of the sperms comes down in both the testicles.

Diagnosis for Varicocele:

A physical examination is done by the consultant and he recommends for an ultrasound to get a final conclusion and to have a clear picture of the testicle.

Treatments:

Surgery is one of the generally suggested treatment options for varicocele. It is done as a day care procedure under local or general anesthesia. In this process the problem causing veins is corrected or redirected by making a slit in the skin and then tied off.

Varicocele Embolization is a non surgical therapy and considered to be effective and efficient than the normally done surgery. It is a non invasive process where a slender catheter is introduced in to the femoral vein through the skin and it reaches out to the testicular vein. After that the surgeon infuses the dye to visualize clearly on the affected region then by using loop the trouble causing veins is restricted and redirected through other route.

Advantages of the Therapy:

  • The quality of the semen will improve and paves way for conception through normal pregnancy or by Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI).
  • Those men who suffer from Azoospermia would able to produce sperms that are enough for Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).
  • The testosterone levels are found to increase in good range.