Varicocele Specialists

Associated Urologists of North Carolina

Urologists located in Apex, Cary, Clayton, Clinton, Dunn, Raleigh & Wake Forest, NC

It’s estimated that 15% of all men develop varicoceles or enlarged veins in the scrotum, which can lead to male infertility. The board-certified doctors at Associated Urologists of North Carolina have years of experience diagnosing and treating varicocele, helping to restore normal function and overcome infertility. If you have questions about varicocele or you’d like to schedule an appointment, call one of the seven offices in Apex, Cary, Clayton, Clinton, Dunn, Raleigh, or Wake Forest, North Carolina today.

Varicocele Q & A

What is a Varicocele?

A varicocele occurs when veins inside your scrotum become enlarged. Varicoceles are similar to varicose veins, but they develop in a network of veins that drain blood from the testicles and help to cool blood in the testicular artery.

Cooling the blood is important because the temperature in a man’s testicles must stay lower than his normal body temperature for optimal sperm production and maturation. For this reason, a varicocele can lead to male infertility. About 40% of men who are tested for infertility are diagnosed with varicocele.

What Symptoms Develop Due to a Varicocele?

You may not develop any symptoms, but as the veins enlarge over time, they’re described as looking and feeling like a bag of worms. A varicocele can affect either testicle, but it most often occurs on the left side.

Though it’s not common for a varicocele to cause pain, you may feel:

Sharp-to-dull discomfort
Increased pain when standing for a long time
Increased pain during physical activities
Pain that gets worse throughout the day
Pain that gets better when you lie on your back

In many cases, men only learn they have a varicocele when they come to Associated Urologists of North Carolina for an infertility evaluation.

What Causes a Varicocele?

Like varicose veins that develop in your legs, a varicocele develops when valves in the veins become weak and stop working properly. These valves keep blood flowing in one direction, so if they don’t work, blood flows backward and builds up, leading to enlarged and twisted veins.

How Do You Treat a Varicocele?

Varicoceles don’t always need treatment. However, treatment is recommended if you have uncomfortable symptoms, infertility, or atrophy of the affected testicle.

There are two primary types of treatment for varicoceles:

Surgery: Your surgeon at Associated Urologists of North Carolina uses a high-powered microscope or a laparoscope to view and remove the affected veins. Once they’re gone, your blood flow is redirected through healthy veins. Varicocele surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. Most men return to work in a week and resume normal activities in about two weeks.
Percutaneous Embolization: During a percutaneous embolization, contrast material is injected so that X-rays can be used to see the veins and guide the procedure. After threading a narrow catheter through the vein and placing it at the affected area, the blood flow is blocked by inserting a coil or plug, and/or injecting a medication that collapses the vein.

If you need expert treatment for a varicocele, call Associated Urologists of North Carolina today.