Varicocele

[chandrashekar]

My son of age 12 years has developed vericocele and doctors sugested to go for minor operation. Since he is very young is it required to go for oeration or can i wait for some more time. how well he can deverlop physically after operation, is there any problem with sexual problem after this, please give me suggessions.

[drkaufman]

Varicoceles are extremely common (found in 15-20% of all men) and typically become apparent at puberty. The only indication for surgical intervention at this time is if the pediatrician or pediatric urologist feels that the associated testes (usually the left) is atrophic (smaller in size) than the right testes. However, in the majority of boys this is not the case and surgery can be postponed. The most common reason for intervention in adult men with varicoceles is an abnormal sperm count. I advise most parents whose sons have not exhibited testicular atrophy to discuss the situation with their child when he is a young adult and remind him of this diagnosis. I would suggest to these young men that they obtain a semen analysis to establish a baseline and repeat it every few years as varicoceles seem to have a cumulative negative effect on sperm count. If the sperm count is initially not consistent with fertility, then strong consideration to varicocelectomy would be warranted at that time. Having said this, I believe the vast majority of men with varicoceles never have any problem with fertility and will never require surgery for this condition.