Can varicoceles affect erections?
When the testicles do not produce enough testosterone, men can experience a number of symptoms. Varicocele symptoms caused by low testosterone production are numerous and include: Sexual dysfunction, or inability to get an erection.
Can you have a baby with varicocele?
Here’s the good news: varicocele infertility is treatable, and it’s possible for a couple to become pregnant after treatment. After varicocele surgery, varicoceles may recur in about 10% of men and up to 30-50% of couples will become pregnant.
How does varicocele look like?
Recognizing the symptoms of a varicocele a lump in one of your testicles. swelling in your scrotum. visibly enlarged or twisted veins in your scrotum, which are often described as looking like a bag of worms. a dull, recurring pain in your scrotum.
Can varicocele be cured completely?
As a rule, varicoceles with no symptoms are not repaired. Most health care providers do not believe these varicoceles cause health problems if not treated. If there’s worry about fertility, semen analysis can be done to see if the varicocele is harming sperm quality.
Can I treat varicocele without surgery?
Varicocele embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that is an effective alternative to surgery for the treatment of varicocele. The procedure can be carried out with only a small incision or nick in the skin and it does not require any sutures.
What are the symptoms of a varicocele in a male?
Most males with a varicocele have no symptoms. But varicoceles are a concern for many reasons. Some may cause infertility (problems fathering a child) and slow growth of the left testicle during puberty.
Are there varicoceles on the left side of the scrotum?
Varicoceles are more common on the left side of the scrotum. This is because the male anatomy is not the same on both sides. Varicoceles can exist on both sides at the same time, but this is rare. About 10 to 15 boys out of 100 have a varicocele. Most of the time, varicoceles cause no problems and are harmless.
Where does the blood come from in a varicocele?
The spermatic cord holds the vas deferens and the testicular artery, which brings blood to the testicle. It also houses the pampiniform plexus, a group of veins that drains the blood from the testicles. Testes need a certain body heat that is below our core body heat for optimal sperm production, maturity and function.
How can you tell if you have varicoceles by ultrasound?
Ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of what’s inside your body. Signs of varicoceles on ultrasound are veins that are wider than 3 millimeters with blood flowing the wrong way during the Valsalva maneuver. The ultrasound can also show the size of the testicles.