Varicocele

by **jivan** on Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:11 am

Hi,

I was diagnosed with variococele on my left side (later it turned out I also had a minor one on my right, but this is very small) when I was about 14 or 15, and have lived with it ever since. I went through a minor operation where they entered the affected veins and put something there to stop the blood (I hope I explained it so you understand. It was not a regular surgery, at least). This operation did not really make any difference though.

The problem is actually more of a aesthetic nature than about function. It is that my left testicle is very often hanging way further down than my right one. I do not have any pains, and I can work out without worrying about this. I am only 21 years old, so I do not know anything about fertility and stuff. But after reading some posts here I must say I have become quite worried about this. But to the point. However, I might describe the varicocele first:

The size of the variococele changes depending on circumstances. When standing in the shower in warm water, for instance, the size of it is about as big as the testicle, and it feels quite heavy. On the other hand,
when it is cold and the skin around the testicles tightens up, I can hardly feel it. I cannot really say that it becomes bigger when exercising, even though I worry about this. When laying down, I can't feel it at all (almost), and it is always a very clear difference between laying down and standing.

So, the difference between the testicles in height varies also. But when it is the highest, the left one probably hangs something like 3-4 centimeters further down than the right one. This is not very beautiful, and not very comfortable either I might add When the skin around the testicles tightens up, like when it's cold, the difference is not as big though. Doctors have been telling me that variococele can have an impact on this, and I have read at least one post about people who had similar problems. I know that there is a difference between the testicles naturally, but this just seems too much. And when I stand up after been sleeping an entire night the difference is almost always close to nothing.

I have been in contact with doctors about this. An operation is up to me and how much it bothers me, they tell me. But I would like to hear if anyone has had similar problems. And I do not if it is worth risking anything thing for a problem as vain as this. Oponions anyone?

Thanks for all help!

by **mk379941** on Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:38 am

It sounds like you went through the embolization apporach to fixing the varicocele. I would see a fertility urologist / specialist, and let him do a scrotal ultrasound to see whats happening. The embolization is a popular approach since it is quick healing wise, but from what I have read its not without some problems. 1. the coils can dislodge which is used to block up the veins causing problems. 2. the failure rate is higher in that procuedure. I am not a doc but if the varicocele is still there they will probably tell you to have the micro-surgical ligation of the varicocle. Either way I would definatly contact a fertility urologist and get it checked out.

by **jivan** on Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:01 am

Thanks for the answer, I'll be sure to contact an urologist about a fertility test soon. So did you go through the "micro-surgical ligation" operation? Did it work out for you? And did you have any problems with one testicle hanging further down or being heavier or something like that?

by **mk379941** on Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:42 am

I did have one testicle that was smaller then the other, and had a low on each part of the semen analysis. Sperm count of 1.5 million. I did have the micro-surigcal ligation of the varicoceles. So far I feel alot better. The size of the testicles have increased one of them over 30%, the other 25%. Even my wife noticed. The first test / 3 month mark I took it over a week to early which was my mistake. The results were 2 million on the count but the morph went from 20% to over 65% and the fast swimmers went from 25% to over 75%. Which is very good to test that way so early. What the doctor said was since I took it early to wait for the 6 month one which he is expecting to see the count also go up. For the first week after the surgery i felt like there was a bell hanging from below, but after the pain subsided i realized i had the dull ache that can accompany varicoceles. I had it for so long I didnt even realize it anymore. After the surgery it just felt quite good. I find out next week what the 6month numbers are. Hope that helps.

by **jivan** on Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:11 am

Thanks for the answer! Also glad to hear that the surgery seems to have worked out for you. How much of a difference can you feel around the testicles now? Can you feel the varicocele at all or is some of it still there? Is there any difference between laying down and standing? I hope I am not boterhing you with too many questions.

by **mk379941** on Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:47 pm

Its no bother. I wish people had responded to my questions before my surgery it would have eased my own concerns. I do feel that the sides by where my testicles, they have shrunk down. Never knew they were related just thought it was an exercise weight thing. Also the testicles themselves are alot larger then they were prior. When standing up and sitting down there is no more pain. I feel like a new person after the surgery. I am very happy I went through with it.

by **jivan** on Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:12 pm

Ok, thank you very much for your answers! You have been very helpful, and I am glad to hear that the surgery worked out for you, this also makes a little bit less concerned about it. I'll see whether I'll go through with it or not, I want to be certain that I don't do it to no avail.

by **mk379941** on Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:07 am

I got my 6 month results back.

My initial count was 1.5 million low everything else (after sperm wash only 100,000 was alive). This time its 4.4 million and perfect on the other areas. My testicular size has increased again as well. My urologist is putting me on clomid. He said it should give my system that last boost to get my count up, but he said the surgery was definatly a success. Prior he said the odds of dna fragmentation in my sperm was very high. I find out the results based on the clomid in 3 months.

by **BlueKnite1981** on Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:12 am

Ligation is what I'm going for. After reading the procedures and researching them, mk379941 is right on.

When speaking with my Uro, he said that atrophy has a chance to reverse if it is not too severe. Also when the veins get blocked, after Ligation, the veins do shrink.

Definitley get an ultrasound and see where your coil went.

by **ben358** on Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:49 pm

Hey, sorry to dig up an old thread. What you've described is almost exactly what I'd of written, except I'm 20. Can you tell me how things went? - what sort of surgery did you choose and how did it go? What were the results of the fertility test? how are things now?

Thanks very much for your time, I'd really appreciate your reply,
Ben