Varicocele Surgical Correction
Usually men tend to visit the doctor in their childhood, then when they’re teenagers, but then there’s quite a gap until they reach around the age of 40, which is when they feel the need to be examined again, due to prostate issues. Prevention is the best way to avoid varicocele, since it has no big symptoms. Sometimes patients complain about a feeling of weight, periodic pain or increased scrotal size.
What is it?
Varicocele is the uncommon expansion of the testicular pampiniform plexus veins. It can be either unilateral or bilateral. It’s actually pretty similar to varicose veins from other parts of the body. It happens when the testicles drainage veins can’t handle their job, resulting in difficulties for blood to pass and a blood reflux vein expansion.
- There are many theories regarding how that varicocele causes infertility, and some of the most accepted are:
- Raise of scrotal temperature (the testicles dwell outside the body because they need to be at 0.5°C less than the body in order to work properly)
- Due to the blood circulation malfunction caused by varicocele, there may be difficulties draining toxic substances
- The production of oxygen reactive species (free radicals), which are very harmful to the testicles
Although 2/3 of men that have varicocele are fertile, there’s a straight link between varicocele and male infertility. This is the most common infertility provoking treatable disease in men.
Varicocele is evaluated according to its stage of progression, as the following:
First Degree (small) – When it’s only touchable though Valsalva maneuver.
Second Degree (medium) – In which it’s easily touchable even without this maneuver.
Third Degree (large) – Very clear and easy both to see and touch.
How is it done?
The kind of varicocele surgical correction that’s more often done is in the area around the groin. It requires a microscope, since the expanded veins are way too small to be easily seen. This technique has also been generating better results. It takes around 45 minutes per side, and the patient can even go home in that very same day. We could also use the laparoscopic surgery, but that’s a way we would rarely choose to solve the problem. Varicocele embolization is a less invasive process, and it’s similar to a catheterization. However, microscopic surgery still provides better results.
Whom should do it?
When a man has testicular hypotrophy or asymmetry, this may imply that his testicles are damaged. Nevertheless, this can help to lead the surgical treatment, especially in teenagers. In addition, we can confirm if there is any damage though testicles ultrasound exam.
As already mentioned, varicocele has usually no big symptoms. Some of the symptoms that might show up are the following:
- Testicle pain
- Scrotal size raise
- Testicles feeling heavy
- Visual or touchable expanded veins
- When symptoms tend to get worse if exercising