Varicocele Treatment

A varicocele  is an enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that holds your testicles (scrotum). A varicocele is similar to a varicose vein you might see in your leg.

Varicoceles are a common cause of low sperm production and decreased sperm quality, which can cause infertility. However, not all varicoceles affect sperm production. Varicoceles can also cause testicles to fail to develop normally or shrink.

Most varicoceles develop over time. Fortunately, most varicoceles are easy to diagnose and many don't need treatment. If a varicocele causes symptoms, it often can be repaired surgically.

The decision to treat a varicocele depends on whether you are having symptoms and on whether you are trying to have children. Men who are not having symptoms usually do not need to be treated. For men who are having mild or occasional symptoms, the following steps may be enough to control the discomfort:

• Wearing a jockstrap during exercise or prolonged standing.
• Avoiding activity that causes the discomfort.
• Applying ice to the scrotum and groin, and/or.
• Taking the occasional over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Clear indications to repair a varicocele 

in adolescence include 

1.Progressive testicular atrophy 

2.Pain or 

3.Abnormal semen analysis results. 

Although treatment of a varicocele generally improves sperm characteristics, it's not clear if an untreated varicocele leads to progressive worsening of sperm quality over time.