Varicocele Repair for Infertility

Varicoceles are enlarged Reference varicose veins Opens New Window that occur in the Reference scrotum Opens New Window. They are fairly common, affecting 15 out of 100 men overall and 40 out of 100 men with known Reference infertility Opens New Window.^{Reference 1} Varicoceles occur most often in the left Reference testicle Opens New Window.

Varicocele repair is done to improve male fertility. It can usually be done surgically on an outpatient basis using Reference local or general anesthetic Opens New Window. 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 medicine.

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