Varicocele is one of the common clinical disorders in male medicine and has received widespread attention because of its associated scrotal pain and discomfort, infertility and testicular atrophy, and especially its impact on fertility. In this article, we will explain in detail the definition, incidence, pathogenesis, impact on fertility and treatment. 1.What is varicocele? Varicocele is a vascular lesion that refers to the abnormal expansion, elongation and tortuosity of the trapezius plexus in the spermatic cord, which can lead to pain and discomfort and progressive testicular hypofunction, and is one of the common causes of male infertility. 2. What is the incidence? The prevalence rate of adult men is about 11.7%, the prevalence rate of men with semen abnormalities is about 25.4%, and the prevalence rate of male infertility patients is 30%-40%. The prevalence of varicocele in secondary male infertility is about 69%-81%. There is a significant increase in the probability of co-morbidity in first-degree relatives of varicocele patients: 21.1% of fathers and 36.2% of brothers may have varicocele. 3. What are the symptoms of varicocele? Most patients are asymptomatic and are detected during physical examinations or during self-examinations with painless earthworm-like masses in the scrotum, and most adult men are detected during visits for infertility symptoms. Varicocele may manifest as scrotal swelling and discomfort or cramping, and the pain may radiate to the groin area and lower abdomen, and the symptoms may worsen after prolonged standing or walking, and may be relieved or disappear after lying down. Some patients are combined with neurasthenia and hypogonadism and other symptoms. 4.What people are prone to varicocele? Long-term standing or sitting will lead to poor venous reflux in the testicles and long-term stagnation in the blood vessels, causing obstruction of the spermatic veins in the scrotum. So people who are sedentary or standing for a long time are more likely to have varicocele, such as teachers, chefs, IT industry, security personnel, etc. 5.What types of varicocele can be classified? There are two types of varicocele: primary and secondary. Primary varicocele occurs mostly at the age of 15-30 years old, which may be related to the rich blood supply to the scrotum and its contents in young age, high sexual desire, excessive sexual stimulation reflexively causing the pelvic cavity and the veins in the spermatic cord to be filled with blood, thus leading to the occurrence of varicocele. Secondary varicocele is caused by compression of the spermatic veins on their way back to the body, (e.g. compression by renal tumors, retroperitoneal tumors and hydronephrosis), and occurs mostly over the age of 35.