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Varicocelectomy
What is
Varicocelectomy?
The
surgical removal or ligation of varicose veins
located in the scrotal sac is called a
varicocelectomy.
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Effects
of Varicocelectomy
When a
varicocelectomy is performed, this may result in
men who have low testosterone levels to
experience an increase in muscle mass, body
hair, and sexual interest.
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Candidates for Varicocelectomy
Candidates for varicocelectomy are patients who
experience pain or have fertility problems.
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Your Consultation
There
are minimal guidelines to be followed for this
procedure such as eating and drinking are not
allowed prior to the procedure. Other guidelines
may depend on the physician or the facility
where the varicocelectomy will take place. The
patient should be provided by the physician with
any essential preoperative instructions.
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The
Varicocelectomy Procedure
The
varicocelectomy procedure is done for the
improvement of male fertility. This procedure is
usually done surgically and may be performed on
an outpatient basis with the use of local or
general anesthesia. Varicocelectomy starts by
creating a small incision in the abdomen near
the area where the testicles originally
descended through the abdominal wall. The veins
that are causing the varicocele are made out and
are cut in order to eradicate blood flow to the
varicocele.
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Recovery
The
patient is instructed by the physician to do the
following:
-
Abstain from sexual activity for one week
-
Bathing or showering should be avoided for 24
to 48 hours
-
Outer dressing should be removed 48 hours
after the procedure
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Pain
medications should be taken as prescribed by
the doctor
-
Weightlifting or jogging or strenuous
activities should be avoided for approximately
two weeks
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Risks
The
risks that may be expected from this procedure
are the occurrence of some complications which
include formation of hydrocele and testicular
artery damage. The testicle may shrink or stop
the production of sperm when the testicular
artery is injured during the surgery.
The
following are rare complications from a
radiographic occlusion:
-
Allergic reactions to the
radiographic dye
-
Balloon moving into the
renal vein which results in kidney loss
-
Development of blood clots
in larger veins
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What are varicoceles?
A:
Varicoceles are enlarged veins that are somewhat
the same as varicose veins and may result to
infertility. Varicoceles are one of the most
common scrotal disorders.
Q:
Why is varicocelectomy needed?
A:
The mechanism by which varicoceles influence
fertility is poorly understood; however, it is
believed that they raise the temperature of the
testicles which results in damaging or killing
the sperm. This procedure is usually done in
order to improve the fertility of men who both
have a varicocele and an impaired sperm. On the
other hand, this procedure is very controversial
as some infertility experts think that this
procedure is not an effective treatment for
infertility.
Q:
What are the various methods of varicocelectomy?
A:
Varicocelectomy involves the tying off of the
affected veins. The following are the various
methods used in this procedure:
-
Inguinal varicocelectomy
-
Laparoscopic varicocelectomy
-
Microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy
-
Radiographic occlusion
-
Retroperitoneal varicocelectomy
The
incidence of recurrence of a varicocele after
the procedure greatly varies with an average
rate of 9%. When recurrence of varicocele
happens, the procedure is usually performed
again. We must wait for at least four months in
order to see any significant improvement in the
quality of the sperm.
Q:
How well does this procedure work?
A:
Studies show that undergoing varicocelectomy
results in favorable pregnancy rates; however,
studies also show that these pregnancy rates do
not differ with couples who have not undergone
varicocele repair.
The following list of Urology procedures are
performed at Beverly Hills Medical Group -
please click the links to find out more:
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