Varicocele

Symptoms and treatment of varicocele

Varicocele is a medical term for abnormal enlargement of a vein in the scrotum, particularly of the pampiniform plexus, a group of veins that drain the testicle. Varicocele often occurs between the ages of 15 and 25, and it is relatively uncommon after the age of 40. When a varicocele is discovered in a man more than 40 years old, it is generally an indicator of more serious problems in the body, such as renal cell carcinoma. As many as one in five males may suffer varicocele at one point or another, and nearly half of all infertile males have had this disorder.

Varicocele Symptoms

A varicocele may be visible to the eye, and it may also be accompanied by various symptoms, including a dragging or aching within the scrotum, a feeling that the testicles have become "heavy," testicular shrinking and possibly infertility, although the exact process behind this is unknown. A doctor who suspects that the patient is suffering from a varicocele will probably confirm the diagnosis through ultrasound. After confirmation, surgery will usually be performed to correct the varicocele, although embolization may also be performed; the latter is sometimes preferred as recovery times are significantly better than with corrective surgery.

Other Diseases Similar to Varicocele

While varicoceles may be serious and have been linked to cancer, there are other reasons for abnormal lumps in the scrotum, or a swollen testicle. Hydrocele testis is the collection of fluid within the membranes surrounding the tissue. Sometimes males finding these lumps fear testicular cancer, but this can be ruled out by a doctor with a simple pressure test, as the hydrocele is soft and fluid, whereas the cancer is hard and immobile. Epididymitis, which is inflammation of the epididymis in the testicles, often causes sudden scrotal pain, and is often the result of infection or inflammation; chronic epididymitis may indicate testicular cancer or a cyst in the testicles. A similar illness to epididymitis is orchitis, which often causes blood in the urine and visible swelling of the testicles. Orchitis may indicate a wider problem with physical health, including infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, and can be caused by mumps.