Deciding whether to treat a varicocele is up to you. A varicocele is a common condition that can affect males at different ages and stages of life. A varicocele is an enlarged vein in your scrotum. They’ll monitor your health and may order additional tests to make sure your treatment is effective. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have varicocele symptoms, including an inability to get your partner pregnant. This redirects blood flow to other healthy veins in your scrotum. A varicocele (VAIR-ick-oh-seal) is a common disorder that enlarges the veins in your scrotum. A healthcare provider can diagnose a varicocele and recommend the proper treatment. However, they’re a common cause of infertility. Prospective, long term, randomized trials are needed to help elucidate the benefit of varicocele repair on hypogonadal adolescent males. Consideration should be given to measuring T levels in adolescents with a varicocele. In 2011, Goldstein published a series of 110 infertile men with clinical varicoceles in whom pre- and post-operative T measurements were available. A meta-analysis by Li et al. which included most of these studies, evaluated the effect of surgical varicocele repair on improving Leydig cells function. In particular treating infertile men with clinical varicocele, abnormal semen parameters, or otherwise unexplained infertility in a couple in which the female partner has a good ovarian reserve, to improve the fertility rate, is considered a strong recommendation. The impact of varicocele on semen production and fertility is known, but the relationship between clinical varicocele and impaired hormonal production is not clear. If left untreated over many years, varicoceles can sometimes cause the testicle to shrink or affect testosterone levels . While varicocele is the most common surgically correctable risk factor for male infertility, not all males with varicocele experience infertility. A varicocelectomy can repair a varicocele and sometimes improve your fertility. Medical experts don’t understand what role varicoceles play in infertility. Your healthcare provider may not recommend treatment if you have a small varicocele that doesn’t bother you or cause fertility issues. Some studies show that people who receive varicocele treatment may still sometimes fail to achieve an erection, but not as often. In some people, a varicocele may cause infertility. The surgical treatment of the adolescent varicocele is controversial and debated. Six of 18 men (33%) with pre-operative subnormal T levels decreased after the repair (28). Yet not all men with subnormal T levels improved after repair. Treatment often improves sperm count, motility, and quality. After that, you can gradually return to normal activities . Afterward, there may be mild discomfort for a day or two, easily managed with pain medication . Despite these findings in this infertile population, spontaneous pregnancy rates were identical in men with or without varicoceles (7). "the surgical correction of a varicocele is probably only effective as a prophylactic measure against damage which might ensue with passing years. The potential impact of the varicocele on fertility was first described by Hotchkiss in 1944. The correction of varicoceles has been reported in the scientific literature for over 100 years (2-5). The varicocele and its association with testicular damage, "in as much as its (the testicle’s) nutrition was defective," was described by Celsus in 24 AD (1). Yet a hormonal profile has not been considered standard in the assessment of the adolescent varicocele. Other indications for intervention include testicular pain or embarrassing fullness or swelling. Microsurgical varicocelectomy usually ranges from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000. If fertility is a concern, we might also do a semen analysis to check sperm count and quality . But if you have pain, testicle shrinkage, or fertility concerns, it is time to consider treatment regardless of the grade . In fact, most men with varicocele have normal spermatogenesis. Talk to a healthcare provider about your treatment options, including how surgery may affect your fertility. Some people who have varicoceles have fertility issues. And the old days of only having big surgery with weeks of recovery are long gone. If you have a Grade 1 varicocele with no symptoms, your doctor might simply suggest watching it. Supportive care or minimally invasive treatment Usually no pain or very mild discomfort This matters because treatment often depends on how advanced your condition is . Others feel pain, heaviness, or notice a lump. The veins stretch and enlarge, like varicose veins in your legs . He was worried about surgery and recovery time affecting his job. A varicocele was found on his left side. Tests showed his sperm count was low.