Varicocele repair for infertility

Varicoceles are enlarged varicose veins that occur in the scrotum. They are fairly common, affecting 15% of men overall, and 40% of men with known infertility.¹ Varicoceles occur most often in the left testicle.

Varicocele repair is performed to improve male fertility. It can usually be done surgically on an outpatient basis using local or general anesthetic. A small incision is made in the abdomen close to where the testicles originally descended through the abdominal wall. The veins that produce the varicocele are identified and cut to eliminate blood flow to the varicocele.

Alternatively, a nonsurgical procedure called percutaneous embolization can be done to repair a varicocele. A small catheter is inserted through a large vein in the groin or neck and advanced to the varicocele, which is then blocked off by a balloon, coil, or medication.

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