What is a varicocele?

What is a varicocele?

Varicocele is a violation of the venous outflow of blood from the gonads (testicles). Most often, this pathology occurs in adolescent boys and in 97% - 99% of cases it develops on the left side. The disease is manifested by dilation of the veins of the testicle (sperm).

In a man's body, the testicles perform two main functions: they produce the hormone testosterone and spermatogenesis, that is, the formation of spermatozoa. It is connected with this and the special blood supply of the glands — not one or even two, but a whole plexus of vessels. Any violation of the venous outflow through the testicular vein system leads to an increase in the volume of the entire venous plexus. As a result, blood circulation in the gonads is disturbed.

Why on the left? What is the cause of venous stasis?

The left testicular vein is longer than the right. It passes from the testicle to the left kidney, where it flows into the left renal vein. The right, shorter vein, flows into the venous vessel, which takes blood from the lower extremities. As a result, the pressure in the left vein is higher, which creates a prerequisite for impaired venous outflow. In addition, there is another important reason: the vein ""does not keep up"" with the rapid growth of the body during puberty (it does not grow accordingly). Therefore, the mechanism of blood movement through the veins is disturbed, which also leads to a significant slowing down of blood flow.

Is varicocele dangerous?

The disease itself is not dangerous. With varicocele, you can live and work normally - especially if the disease does not bother you. However, there is a vital problem! A typical complication of varicocele is male infertility.

How does the disease manifest itself?

As a rule, varicocele proceeds without symptoms, there are no complaints. Sometimes you may feel discomfort in the genital area and a feeling of heaviness. Usually, the pathology is detected in teenagers during preventive examinations at school or at the military commissary. Sometimes teenagers themselves find an increase in the volume of the scrotum.

How is varicocele treated?

Treatment is only surgical. However, you should not worry about this. Why?

1. Surgery is not always necessary.

Absolute indications for the operation are:

• presence of a painful symptom in the testicle;
• reduction in the size of the affected testicle in the process of dynamic monitoring of the patient for 6 - 18 months;
• presence of changes in the spermogram in teenagers who live a sexual life.

2. At MS ""Dobrobut"" minimally traumatic surgical technique is widely and successfully used for the treatment of varicocele.

Depending on the specific situation and taking into account the wishes of the patient's parents, the following are carried out:

• or laparoscopic surgery (through punctures, without incisions) — ligation of the left testicular vein;
• or microsurgical operation (with the help of mini-accesses) — restore normal blood circulation to the testicle.

In both cases, interventions are performed using the latest technologies.

Low-traumatic surgery in the treatment of varicocele has a number of advantages over ""open"" surgery:

• practically no pain syndrome, no postoperative complications;
• stay in the hospital lasts only a few hours;
• cosmetic sutures on the skin do not require removal;
• the body quickly recovers, and the patient returns to his usual way of life.

To receive information about minimally traumatic surgical treatment of varicocele or to make an appointment with a doctor, contact the contact center of the Dobrobut Medical Center: 044 495 2 888 or 097 495 2 888.