Varicocele Repair

A problem called varicocele happens when the veins on a man's testicle(s) are too large. This heats the testicles. The heat can affect the number or shape of the sperm.

Varicocele repair is done to improve male fertility. It can usually be done surgically on an outpatient basis using local or general anesthetic. A small incision is made in the abdomen close to where the testicles originally descended through the abdominal wall. The veins that produce the varicocele are identified and cut to eliminate blood flow to the varicocele.

Another way to undertake varicocele repair is through a nonsurgical procedure called percutaneous embolization. In this procedure a small catheter is inserted through a large vein in the groin or neck and advanced to the varicocele, which is then blocked off by a balloon, coil, or medicine.

As with many outpatient procedures you might expect to go home within 4 hours of a routine varicocele surgery. Pain medicine is prescribed for a few days after surgery. Consult with your care provider as to when you can resume normal activities.