Don't Let a Varicocele Affect Your Fertility: What to Know

Varicoceles are basically varicose veins in your scrotum, the skin that protects your testicles. They form when malfunctioning valves cause the veins to pool up with blood. As a result, you can develop a range of bothersome issues, including infertility.

Having a varicocele doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll struggle with fertility forever. After effective treatment, many patients carry on with successful family planning.

With his expert team at our Midtown Manhattan, New York, practice, double board-certified vascular and interventional radiologist Dr. Yosef Golowa specializes in varicocele embolization, a highly effective nonsurgical solution.

Take a moment to learn more about varicoceles and fertility, including how varicocele embolization can help.

Varicocele symptoms and fertility risks

Varicoceles don’t always cause noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do arise, they may include:

• Aching pain or discomfort, especially while standing and later in the day
• A “bag of worms” (often left) testicle appearance 
• Different-sized testicles
• Reduced fertility

Some varicoceles interfere with fertility due to raised testicle temperature and vein malfunction, both of which can hinder sperm production, damage sperm motility, and lower testosterone levels. So even if you don’t notice symptoms such as pain, seeking support for infertility challenges may lead to your diagnosis. 

Varicocele treatment

If your varicocele symptoms include pain, testicle atrophy, or infertility, you’re a strong candidate for treatment. 

If chronic testicle pain is your only concern, your treatment may consist of medication alone. Other conservative care for mild symptoms includes wearing a jockstrap and applying an ice pack for 10-20 minutes at a time. 

If conservative treatments fail to suffice or your varicocele causes fertility challenges, common treatments include surgery or embolization to ligate the veins. When it’s successful, treatment improves fertility within 3-6 months.

How varicocele embolization helps

Varicocele embolization improves your fertility by blocking blood flow to problematic veins. This keeps blood from pooling up and restores normal testicular function and temperature.

During the minimally invasive procedure, Dr. Golowa inserts a catheter into the femoral vein in your groin. Guiding with X-ray imagery, he places a coil or medication to stop blood flow. From there, your body will naturally redirect blood through healthy veins.

Because varicocele embolization is minimally invasive and requires no incisions, just one small puncture, you’ll have a quick recovery and a low risk of complications. Up to 50% of people who have the procedure for improved fertility co-create a pregnancy within a year. 

To learn more about varicoceles and fertility, or to benefit from personalized, expert support, call our office today at 212-991-9991. You can also book an appointment with Dr. Golowa through our website.