Is surgery the first choice for varicocele?

  Varicocele is caused by the elongation and dilatation of the trapezius plexus of the spermatic vein, which in turn causes the scrotum to swell when the patient stands, with a feeling of heaviness and swelling that may spread to the lower abdomen, groin or lower back. It is aggravated when standing and walking, and relieved after lying down and resting. Severe symptoms may include headache, fatigue, insomnia and sexual dysfunction. The clinical presentation of varicocele varies from person to person and varies greatly between individuals. The name of this disease does not exist in Chinese medical literature, but belongs to the category of “tendon tumor” and “tendon hernia” in Chinese medicine. Varicocele does not need to be treated as long as there are no symptoms and it does not affect fertility. Varicocele has an effect on semen quality, but not all patients with varicocele affect semen quality. Any surgery has certain risks, and only some patients can improve the quality of semen with surgical treatment of varicocele, and if severe varicocele is accompanied by infertility and medication and external treatment are not effective, surgical treatment can be considered. That’s why surgery is not the first choice for varicocele treatment.  Treatment of varicocele: 1. Chinese herbal treatment: Danshen tablets, 3-4 tablets each time, 3 times a day. Combined with seminal fluid abnormalities, tonic yang and five soup plus flavor: astragalus, wolfberry, angelica, red peony, psyllium, lutong, safflower, etc.  2, external treatment method: local cold compress or sling to hold up the scrotum.  3, massage therapy: every night before going to bed lying down, with the right index finger and thumb slowly massage the scrotum to promote the spermatic cord vein reflux. Each time 20 minutes-30 minutes, once a night.  4.Embolytic therapy: Insert a catheter through the skeletal vein or jugular vein to the spermatic vein, and after the venous blood reflux is confirmed by imaging, inject a sclerosing agent or embolize it with a detachable airbag or wire coil.