It is an expansion of the veins surrounding the spermatic cord responsible for transporting sperm. These veins contain valves to keep blood flowing in one direction and prevent its collection. Any disorder in these valves will reversal in the bloodstream and its collection. This is called Varicoceles.

Varicoceles are a common condition that affects about 20% of men, knowing that these men do not suffer from infertility or change in semen. As for childless men, 15-40% of them suffer from Varicoceles.

The average age of men suffering from Varicoceles is 15 to 25 years. In 60% of cases, the infection is on the left side, 15% on the right, and 25% on both sides.

Most of the time, there are no symptoms. In advanced cases, it appears as swelling and enlargement with a feeling of heaviness in the side of the testicle. It may be associated with pain that increases at the end of the day and decreases after lying down and resting.

Varicoceles Diagnosis

Varicose symptoms:

The diagnosis is made by a clinical examination in a standing position. To confirm the direction of blood flow in the veins, they use colored ultrasound.

The treatment:

There are different ways to treat varicose veins: 

surgical, laparoscopic, etc. All of them are equally effective in terms of results. The goal is to close the dilated vein, where the adjacent veins take over the functions of the closed vein, knowing that the improvement of semen standards is not confirmed, and this needs a few months after surgery to prove it.

The relationship of Varicoceles to fertility

So far, there is no definite evidence that Varicoceles cause infertility. The studies that have been conducted until this day have not shown a connection. Most men who suffer from Varicoceles have children, and at the same time, 15-40% of sterile men who visit fertility centers suffer from Varicoceles.

It is currently known that this Varicoceles leads to an accumulation of blood, then to the enlargement of the veins. This enlargement leads to an increase in the toxic substances, which affect the growth of the testicle and may cause its atrophy. It is also known that this blood accumulation leads to a rise in temperature. It also leads to negative impacts on sperm formation and genetic material in the long term.

Generally speaking, it can be said today that simple varicoceles have little effect on semen and fertility. Advanced cases may be one of the reasons that reduce the ability to fertilize. After analyzing all the studies that have been conducted in this regard so far, the experts found that performing any surgical procedure should not be routine, especially in simple cases and those that are detected only by sound waves without symptoms. In these cases, the results of the surgical procedure are often unsatisfactory. Other points must be taken into consideration, for example, the wife’s age and the presence of the other reasons for her infertility that prevent pregnancy from occurring naturally.