“Varicocele is a medical condition in which there is a dilation of veins in an area of the “spermatic cord” that is found very close to the testicle and many times it also includes the testicle”, explained Dr. Gustavo Codas, a specialist in Urology and Andrology, in communication with HOY Digital.
In this regard, the specialist indicated that, having this vein dilation and pooling of blood, causes the temperature of the testicle to rise. As one of the functions of testicle is to produce sperm could be produced, but of poor quality, thus affecting male fertility.
“Making an example: It would be like being in a 45 degree summer, without air conditioning and with a fur sack on top. We will be very hot and we will move with difficulty, doing badly any job we want to do ”, he explained.
Regarding the causes, the urologist held that there is no specific cause. However, he pointed out that it is due to the fbeyond the valves of said veins and, this is likely to already come in the person’s genetics. “It’s something we’re already born with. There is nothing we can do or stop doing to avoid having this condition.”
What if a man has a varicocele?
3 situations could occur:
1. Nothing. A man may have a varicocele and not have any consequences.
2. Testicular pain. He could present symptoms of heavy pain in the testicular area.
3.Infertility. Due to the decrease in sperm quality (which does not occur in all cases of varicocele), there could be difficulty in achieving a pregnancy for the couple.
Due to these problems, in 50-70% of patients, after the seminogram or spermogram, seminal alterations are diagnosed, such as:
* Oligospermia: low sperm concentration.
*Asthenospermia: sperm motility problems.
*Teratozoospermia: alterations in sperm morphology.
Alteration of sperm production.
What are the signs and symptoms
He Varicocele does not always give symptoms, mentioned Dr. Codas. But most often you can produce testicular pain heaviness type sporadically. And we could also be facing a difficulty conceiving a pregnancy with the couple (infertility).
Comparison of genitalia with varicocele.
At what stage of male development can it occur?
On this point, Codas stated that at any time. may be already in childhood or adolescence, but even at advanced ages. Varicocele, a complication as such does not have, rather would be the pain and the difficulty to achieve pregnancy, but it does not occur in all cases, he insisted.
When to consult
It should be consulted in case of persistent testicular pain, or if there is a difficulty in achieving a full-term pregnancy with the couple reaching the newborn. And I I mean a “term” pregnancy until you reach a newborn because it can also cause spontaneous abortions.
Which is the treatment
The indicated treatment is surgery, that should be performed in the presence of the symptoms mentioned above. In cases where there is no pain and there are no fertility problems, surgery is not necessary.
“It is done with a minimal cut in lower groin area. Through this cut, you get to close “varicose” veins present in the area of the testicular cord. It is difficult to speak of a “cost”, since this varies according to many situations. It depends on the place where it is performed, if it is unilateral or bilateral, etc.”
recovery is relatively fast. A “relative” rest of approximately 2 weeks is required. In those 2 weeks, the person can mobilize (walk) on their own. Rather efforts should be avoided.
A question is, if the sexual intercourse or erection, they are usually painful if a man suffers from it
On that point, the doctor mentioned no. He Varicocele is independent of erections. In any case, on certain occasions it can make sexual intercourse difficult due to testicular pain. But the erections are independent.
So, what would happen if the man does not have surgery?
“If it does not have any negative consequences (pain or infertility), nothing happens,” argued the specialist.
Diagnosis: physical examination and ultrasound
To diagnose it, a thorough physical exploration of the scrotal and inguinal contents, preferably with the patient lying down. After that, the patient is instructed to stand up and increase his abdominal pressure. Thus, the urologist studies how blood flows from above and fills the inguinal cord and testicular venous plexus.
Depending on the ease of diagnosis, we can talk about three main degrees of varicocele:
Varicocele grade 1: the diagnosis is complicated. You need to put pressure on the abdomen. Typically, the specialist tells the patient to cough or blow hard.
Varicocele grade 2: with the palpation of the testicle it can be verified that the veins present a greater volume than usual.
Varicocele grade 3: venous dilation can be seen with the naked eye, without the need for the specialist to palpate the testicle.
When varicocele cannot be diagnosed Through physical examination, it may be useful to perform an ultrasound or ultrasonography to detect if there is dilation of the vessels. To assess the rate at which blood flows, the Dopple ultrasound.
