Understanding Varicocele

  In the summer, some men find themselves with one high and one low testicle, and the lower one, sometimes hanging there like a pendulum, is very uncomfortable. Some men can sometimes see blood vessels on the skin of their scrotum that appear as curved as earthworms. Sometimes, if you stand for a long time, you will feel the discomfort of swelling on one side of the scrotum, maybe then you will go to the hospital for examination and the doctor will tell you that you have varicocele.  Varicocele is a disease that is caused by the obstruction of venous return in the spermatic cord, so the spermatic veins begin to twist and expand, which eventually leads to an increase in temperature in the scrotum, destroying the environment where sperm live and causing a decrease in sperm quality and testicular function. Most sperm have reduced motility in this overheated environment and do not have the stamina to complete the arduous marathon task of finding an egg.  Varicocele is a very common condition. Studies by foreign scholars have shown that varicocele is present in 15% of normal men and 40% of them have fertility problems. About 70% of men with a previous history of fertility who are currently infertile have varicocele as their underlying cause. The World Health Organization also reports that about 25.4% of patients with abnormal semen tests have varicocele, while only 11.7% of patients with normal semen have varicocele.  Although varicocele is highly prevalent and harmful: it is closely associated with testicular impairment and infertility. But it can be cured by surgery. And studies have shown that in most cases, the more severe the varicocele, the more significant the improvement in semen quality after surgery. It is now medically possible to surgically ligate these problematic veins so that the blood returns smoothly and the environment for sperm to live in is improved, much like in the summer, if the temperature is too hot, we must have air conditioning in the house. With air conditioning, the sperm will feel comfortable and will be able to concentrate on their rendezvous with the egg.  Currently varicocele is considered to be the most important cause of male infertility that needs surgical correction. However, there are many methods of surgical treatment, and the most commonly done are traditional open surgery, laparoscopic surgery and microsurgical approaches. The majority of foreign and domestic studies have concluded that the microsurgical approach is the most suitable for infertility and can achieve the best results, just like the difference between inverter and fixed frequency air conditioning, where “inverter air conditioning” can make the sperm more comfortable.