Varicocele is a common condition that occurs when the veins within the scrotum become enlarged, similar to varicose veins in the legs. It affects up to 15% of men, most often during adolescence and early adulthood. While some men experience no symptoms, others may notice:
- Dull aching
- Swelling
- A mass or lump in the scrotum
- One testicle appears smaller than the other
- Fertility challenges
Varicoceles can impact testicular function and fertility, making early diagnosis and monitoring important. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and potential complications of varicocele is key to managing the condition and maintaining reproductive and overall health.
What are my Treatment Options?
There are several options available to treat varicocele, with each varying in approach, recovery time, and effectiveness.
As far as surgical options go, the most common and direct procedure is varicocelectomy. During varicocelectomy, the affected veins are tied off to redirect blood flow to healthier vessels. This can be done through open surgery, microsurgery, or laparoscopic surgery.
Microsurgical varicocelectomy is desirable thanks to its high success rates and low complication risks, which it achieves with the use of a surgical microscope for greater precision.
Laparoscopic varicocelectomy uses small incisions and a camera to view and access the veins, typically resulting in quicker recovery.
While effective, these procedures are still surgical and invasive and may require a few weeks of downtime. For those seeking to avoid surgery or who simply want a less invasive alternative, never fear, there are options available.
Varicocele Embolization
Varicocele embolization is a minimally invasive, non-surgical, outpatient alternative to traditional varicocele repair. This procedure, performed by an interventional radiologist, involves inserting a small catheter through an accessible vein and guiding it to the affected veins in the scrotum using imaging technology. Once in place, tiny coils or a special solution are used to block the faulty veins, redirecting blood flow to healthy ones. Over time, this will cause the enlarged veins to shrink.
Embolization has several advantages: it doesn’t require general anesthesia, leaves no surgical scars, and typically allows for a faster return to normal activities. The procedure typically takes around an hour to complete. Success rates are comparable to surgical options (over 90%), and the risk of complications is low, making it an appealing choice for many patients seeking a less invasive path to relief.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Varicocele Embolization?
- You have persistent discomfort, heaviness, or swelling in the scrotum from a varicocele.
- You’re dealing with fertility concerns, like low sperm count or quality, and your partner has no known fertility issues.
- You’ve had previous varicocele surgery that failed or recurred.
- You prefer a quicker recovery and minimal invasiveness, or you are not a good candidate for surgery.
- You have testicular atrophy or underdevelopment linked to a varicocele (often in younger adults/adolescents).
Varicocele Embolization is ideal for patients with severe cases of Varicocele who don’t want or don’t qualify for surgery. If you think Varicocele embolization may be right for you, call (952) 960-9399 to schedule a consultation or learn more.
