What is a varicocele?
A varicocele is an enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that holds the testicles (scrotum).
Varicoceles usually form during puberty and develop over time. They may cause some discomfort or pain, but they often result in no symptoms or complications.
A varicocele may cause poor development of a testicle, low sperm production or other problems that may lead to infertility. Surgery to treat varicocele may be recommended to address these complications.
A varicocele usually occurs on the left side of the scrotum and often produces no signs or symptoms.
Possible signs and symptoms may include:
- Pain.
- A mass in the scrotum.
- Differently sized testicles.
- Infertility.
The exact cause of a varicocele is unknown. One contributing factor may be the malfunction of valves inside the veins that are intended to keep blood moving in the right direction. Also, the left testicular vein follows a slightly different path than the right vein — a path that makes a problem with blood flow more likely on the left.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/varicocele/diagnosis-treatment/drc-
20378772
