In healthy veins, one-way valves keep the blood flowing the right direction – from the testicles and scrotum back to the heart. But in a varicocele, the valves malfunction and become “leaky,” allowing blood to flow in the reverse direction, which causes the affected veins to become enlarged.

One of the most common symptoms of varicoceles is an aching pain, often felt when standing or sitting for an extended time, allowing pressure to build up in the swollen veins. This pain is sometimes brought on or made worse by lifting heavy objects.

Another symptom of varicoceles can be infertility or subfertility. Although no direct cause-and-effect relationship has been proved, one study found that 40% of men who were subfertile had varicoceles. Other studies have found that the presence of varicoceles can be linked to decreased sperm count, decreased sperm motility, and an increase in the number of deformed sperm. The mechanics of this link have not been determined, but one theory is that the varicoceles raise the temperature of the testicles and thus hinder sperm production. Some studies have shown that men with fertility problems often see an improvement in sperm quality and quantity after treatment to repair the varicoceles. As a third symptom, untreated varicoceles can result in impaired blood flow and the shrinking or atrophy of one or both testicles.

Varicoceles are often diagnosed during a physical examination, because the presence of the swollen veins can make the scrotum appear lumpy. A suspected diagnosis of varicoceles can be verified via noninvasive imaging such as color flow ultrasound.

Traditional treatment of varicoceles has usually involved invasive surgery, which involves general anesthesia, incisions and stitches, and often a long and painful recovery period. Varicocele Embolization provides a minimally-invasive varicocele treatment that is as effective as surgery, but with less risk, less pain, and much less recovery time.