Varicocele

A varicocele is an enlargement of veins within the scrotum, similar to varicose veins in the legs. At IYA Medical, we offer varicocele embolization—a minimally invasive alternative to surgery that effectively treats this common cause of male infertility and scrotal pain.

What is a Varicocele?

A varicocele develops when the valves inside the veins that drain blood from the testicle become dysfunctional, allowing blood to pool and the veins to enlarge. Varicoceles are found in approximately 15% of adult men and up to 40% of men evaluated for infertility. They are most common on the left side due to anatomical differences in venous drainage.

Symptoms of Varicocele

Many varicoceles cause no symptoms and are discovered during routine physical exams or fertility evaluations. When symptoms occur, they may include:

• Dull ache or pain in the scrotum, especially after standing or physical activity
• Feeling of heaviness in the testicle
• Visible or palpable enlarged veins (often described as feeling like a "bag of worms")
• Testicular atrophy (shrinkage of the affected testicle)
• Male infertility: Varicoceles can affect sperm production and quality

How Varicoceles Affect Fertility

Varicoceles can impact fertility through several mechanisms:

• Increased scrotal temperature from blood pooling
• Decreased oxygen supply to the testicle
• Accumulation of toxic substances
• Hormonal imbalances

Studies show that treating varicoceles can improve sperm parameters in 60-80% of men and increase pregnancy rates.

Varicocele Embolization at IYA Medical

Varicocele embolization is a minimally invasive procedure performed by our interventional radiologists as an outpatient treatment.

How the Procedure Works:

1. A small catheter is inserted through a tiny incision in the groin or neck
2. Using X-ray guidance, the catheter is navigated to the affected testicular vein
3. Small coils and/or sclerosing agents are placed to block the abnormal vein
4. Blood flow is redirected through healthy veins

Advantages Over Surgical Repair:

• No incision in the scrotum
• Local anesthesia only—no general anesthesia required
• Faster recovery: Most men return to work in 1-2 days
• Lower recurrence rate than some surgical techniques
• Can treat both sides in the same procedure
• Equal effectiveness to surgery for improving fertility

What to Expect

The procedure takes approximately 45-60 minutes. Patients may experience mild groin discomfort for a few days, easily managed with over-the-counter pain medication. Heavy lifting should be avoided for about a week, but most normal activities can resume within 24-48 hours.

Results

Following varicocele embolization:

• Pain relief is typically noticed within days to weeks
• Improved sperm parameters are usually seen within 3-6 months
• Success rate exceeds 90%

Considering treatment for varicocele? Schedule a consultation with our interventional radiology team.