What is Varicocele?
Varicocele, pronounced “vari-co-seel,” is when veins in the male scrotum swell and become enlarged, similar to a varicose vein in the leg. The exact cause of varicocele isn’t known. It could be a problem with blood flow in the spermatic cord. If valves inside the veins don’t work like they should, the blood backs up and the veins get wider. Most cases of varicocele are present in the left testicle.
Varicocele is more common than one would think and usually affects younger men. Ten to fifteen percent of the male population is affected by this condition.
Treatment of Varicocele
Not all varicoceles require treatment. Several cases go unnoticed until a doctor identifies the condition at a routine checkup.
Treatment is recommended if:
- There is pain
- There are fertility issues
- If a young boy’s left testicle is growing smaller than the right
Treatment at Association of Alexandria Radiologists (AAR)
If treatment is required, AAR can help with a minimally invasive procedure called varicocele embolization. Varicocele embolization uses imaging guidance and a catheter to place a tiny coil and/or embolic fluid in a blood vessel to divert blood flow away from a varicocele. It’s less invasive than conventional surgery and can relieve pain and swelling, and may improve sperm quality.
With this minimally invasive procedure, normal activities can usually be resumed after 24 hours.
AAR’s interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians who specialize in image guided, minimally invasive targeted treatments for vascular disease, cancer, aneurisms, uterine fibroids, infertility, pain management and many other complex medical conditions that once could only be treated with conventional surgery.
Our Interventional radiologists perform thousands of procedures annually at our partner hospitals, and many have consistently been voted by their peers to be ‘Top Doctors’ in Northern Virginia and Washingtonian Magazines.
Schedule a Consultation for Varicocele Embolization
For more information on varicocele treatment or to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online. please call one of our partner hospitals listed below:
Inova Alexandria Hospital – 703-504-7950
Inova Mount Vernon Hospital – 73-664-7462
Sentara No Va Medical Center – 703-523-1980
