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Varicocele

How common are varicoceles?

Varicoceles are fairly common.

About 1 in 7 men and teenage boys get varicoceles.

Source:
Evers JL, Collins JA.
Surgery or embolisation for varicocele in subfertile men (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.

They seem to be even more common among men who have sperm problems. One study found that about one-quarter of men with sperm problems (such as abnormally shaped sperm) had a varicocele.

Source:
World Health Organization.
The influence of varicocele on parameters of fertility in a large group of men presenting to infertility clinics.
Fertility and Sterility. 1992; 57: 1289-1293.

Sources for the information on this page:

Evers JL, Collins JA.Surgery or embolisation for varicocele in subfertile men (Cochrane review).In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.

World Health Organization.The influence of varicocele on parameters of fertility in a large group of men presenting to infertility clinics.Fertility and Sterility. 1992; 57: 1289-1293.

This information was last updated on May 12, 2009

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