Varicocele Repair for Infertility
Surgery Overview
Varicoceles are enlarged
varicose veins that occur in the
scrotum. They are fairly common, affecting 15% of men
overall and 40% of men with known
infertility.1 Varicoceles
occur most often in the left
testicle.
Varicocele repair is performed
to improve male fertility. It can usually be done surgically on an outpatient basis using
local or general anesthetic. A small incision is made
in the abdomen close to where the testicles originally descended through the
abdominal wall. The veins that produce the varicocele are identified and cut to
eliminate blood flow to the varicocele.
Alternatively, a
nonsurgical procedure called percutaneous embolization
can be done to repair a varicocele. A small catheter is inserted through a
large vein in the groin or neck and advanced to the varicocele, which is then
blocked off by a balloon, coil, or medicine.
What To Expect After Surgery
Varicocele repair typically is done on
an outpatient basis. You can expect to go home within 4 hours of a routine
varicocele surgery. Pain medicine is prescribed for a few days after
surgery.
You should be able to resume light work duties 1 to 2
days after surgery and full strenuous activities within 1 week.
Why It Is Done
Varicoceles are thought to raise the
temperature of the testicles or cause blood to back up in the veins supplying
the testicles. Although the mechanism by which varicoceles affect fertility is
poorly understood, varicoceles seem to help damage or kill the sperm.1 Varicocele repair is typically performed to improve the
fertility of men who have both a varicocele and impaired sperm.
How Well It Works
While some researchers have
observed that varicocele repair produces favorable pregnancy rates, others have
noted that these pregnancy rates are the same as the rates of couples who have
chosen not to have a varicocele repaired.2
Risks
- Infection at the site of
surgery
- Fluid buildup in the scrotum (hydrocele) that requires
draining
- Injury to the arteries or nerves in the pubic area
What To Think About
There is no proof that fertility
rates improve after this surgery. But some doctors think that larger
varicoceles are linked to sperm problems. It is also possible that varicocele
surgery would improve the semen quality, making other fertility treatments
easier.2
Small varicoceles that are only
apparent with
ultrasound testing do not require repair.
Complete the surgery information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you prepare for this surgery.
References
Citations
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2008). Report on varicocele and infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 90(Suppl
3): S247–S249.
- Speroff L, Fritz MA (2005). Male infertility. In
Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 7th
ed., pp. 1135–1173. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Femi Olatunbosun, MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
|---|
| Last Revised | March 19, 2010 |
|---|
Last Revised:
March 19, 2010
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2008). Report on varicocele and infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 90(Suppl
3): S247–S249.
Speroff L, Fritz MA (2005). Male infertility. In
Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, 7th
ed., pp. 1135–1173. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the Magnet designation, the highest award for nursing excellence given by the American Nurses Association.