Varicocele
What is a varicocele?
A varicocele is a soft lump in your testicles caused by swelling of some of the veins. It probably won't give you any problems, but you might not like the way it looks. Some men find it makes their testicles ache. A varicocele might make it more difficult for you to have children.
Sperm is carried to your penis through a tube from your testicles.
A variococele happens when some of the veins around the tube carrying your sperm get swollen with blood.
The tube is surrounded by lots of small
veins.
veins
Veins are blood vessels that carry blood back to your heart after your blood has delivered oxygen and food to the tissues.
Veins are blood vessels that carry blood back to your heart after your blood has delivered oxygen and food to the tissues.
A varicocele happens when some of these veins get swollen with blood.
1
Source:
Evers JL, Collins JA.
Surgery or embolisation for varicocele in subfertile men (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Evers JL, Collins JA.
Surgery or embolisation for varicocele in subfertile men (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Your veins have valves in them to keep blood flowing through in the right direction. If these valves stop working properly, blood can flow backward
and pool in your veins. You've probably heard of this happening to people's legs, when it's called varicose veins.
2 A varicocele happens in a similar way, but it affects the veins in your testicles.
Source:
London NJ, Nash R.
ABC of arterial and venous disease: varicose veins.
BMJ. 2000; 320: 1391-1394.
London NJ, Nash R.
ABC of arterial and venous disease: varicose veins.
BMJ. 2000; 320: 1391-1394.
Varicose veins in the legs usually happen when you're older. But you can get a varicocele while you're a young man or teenager.
3
Source:
Paduch DA, Niedzielski J.
Repair versus observation in adolescent varicocele: a prospective study.
Journal of Urology. 1997; 158: 1128-1132.
Paduch DA, Niedzielski J.
Repair versus observation in adolescent varicocele: a prospective study.
Journal of Urology. 1997; 158: 1128-1132.
It's much more common to get a varicocele in the left testicle. However, it can happen on the right side or in both testicles
at the same time.
1
Source:
Evers JL, Collins JA.
Surgery or embolisation for varicocele in subfertile men (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Evers JL, Collins JA.
Surgery or embolisation for varicocele in subfertile men (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
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.
- London NJ, Nash R.ABC of arterial and venous disease: varicose veins.BMJ. 2000; 320: 1391-1394.
- Paduch DA, Niedzielski J.Repair versus observation in adolescent varicocele: a prospective study.Journal of Urology. 1997; 158: 1128-1132.
This information was last updated on May 12, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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