Varicoceles are common, affecting 10 to 15 percent of men. Doctors continue to debate the role of varicoceles in infertility.
Some research suggests that treating a varicocele may improve fertility outcomes. However, a systematic review states that the available evidence is weak and that doctors must conduct more research.
In this article, learn more about whether a varicocele affects fertility, as well as when to see a doctor.
What is a varicocele?
A varicocele occurs when a bulge results from enlarged veins inside the scrotum. The swelling typically resembles an enlargement above the testicle, without discoloration.
The pampiniform plexus is a group of veins inside the scrotum. These veins help cool the blood before it travels to the testicular artery, which supplies the testicles with blood.
If the testicles are too hot, they cannot make healthy sperm. Sperm health affects fertility, so it is essential that the veins can cool down the blood.
Most people with a varicocele do not have symptoms, but some may experience fertility issues.
When someone has a varicocele, they may also experience swelling and tenderness of the scrotum.
A varicocele occurs when veins in the scrotum become enlarged.
Every vein has a valve that prevents blood from flowing backward, but sometimes the valve fails. This causes blood to flow back, damaging the vein and causing swelling.
Doctors do not fully understand what causes the valves to fail and cause varicoceles. They are common and do not usually mean that a person has an underlying health problem.
Research published in 2014 found that smoking may be a risk factor for varicoceles, as it damages a person’s blood vessels. The same study found no link between alcohol or occupation and varicoceles.
Rarely, a growth in the stomach can put pressure on the veins, causing a varicocele. This issue is more common in men of more than 45 years of age.
In many people, a varicocele has no apparent cause.
Varicoceles that do not cause symptoms do not require treatment. A varicocele may need treatment when:
- A man has a varicocele and a low sperm count or other problems with sperm.
- The varicocele is causing pain or swelling.
- A couple has unexplained infertility, and the male has a varicocele.
When people chose to have treatment, they have two different options:
Embolization
Embolization is surgery that temporarily cuts off the blood supply. A doctor can carry out this procedure in their office with local anesthesia, meaning a person will not feel any pain in the area.
During embolization, a doctor inserts a needle into a vein usually through the groin. Sometimes, they may insert a needle through the neck. The needle helps the doctor access the veins in the scrotum and block off the varicocele.
A person may experience some pain and tenderness after the procedure, but recovery time is short, and the individual can immediately return to their usual activities.
A 2012 study suggests that embolization may be unsuccessful in as many as 19.3 percent of cases. If embolization does not work, surgeons may need to try a different procedure to treat the varicocele.
Surgery
A doctor can surgically remove a varicocele by blocking the blood flow to the damaged vein. This surgery is called a varicocelectomy.
A person will receive a general anesthetic before the varicocelectomy, so they will be asleep and unable to feel any pain during the procedure. A person may experience some pain and tenderness for several days afterward.
Surgery is more effective than embolization with a failure rate of less than 5 percent.
Laparoscopic surgery uses a smaller incision than open surgery and requires less recovery time but also requires a very skilled surgeon. Open surgery uses a larger cut into the scrotum.
Outlook
The outlook for men who choose to treat a varicocele is relatively good. A 2014 study of men with low sperm count and a varicocele found that surgery increased their sperm count, on average, from 2.4 to 11.6 million per milliliter.
However, in the same study, fertility rates remained relatively low. Out of 102 participants, 17 couples conceived naturally. This suggests that treatment may increase fertility, but will not cure infertility in all men.
Men who have a varicocele and a history of infertility should discuss with their doctors the risks and benefits of treatment. In some cases, surgery may be the safest option for increasing fertility. In other situations, a couple may have better results with assisted fertilization techniques, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
There is no evidence that varicoceles inevitably make a man infertile. In 10 to 20 percent of men, the varicocele comes back after surgery.
Men who notice swollen veins should not assume they will have fertility issues, though they may wish to discuss the risk with a doctor.
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