Varicoceles, or varicose veins in the scrotum, affect a significant proportion of young men, and many men are able to have children with no problem with varicoceles.
Can a man with varicocele get a woman pregnant without surgery?
In principle, if the varicocele is not severe and does not affect sperm production, he should not have any problems getting his partner pregnant. However, if the varicocele is grade two or three and has caused damage to the testicle, male fertility problems may arise.
What percent of men with varicoceles are infertile?
Summary. Varicoceles are identified in 35-40 percent of men with primary infertility and 81 percent of men with secondary infertility (men who were able to father a child in the past).
What happens if varicocele is left untreated?
However, many men with varicoceles will maintain satisfactory levels of testosterone throughout their lives without treatment. In rare cases, however, varicocele could lead to severely low testosterone, with its associated complications including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and osteoporosis.
Can I still have a baby with varicocele? – Related Questions
How does varicocele effect sperm?
Decreased sperm count, decreased motility of sperm, and an increase in the number of deformed sperm are related to varicoceles. Some experts believe that blocked and enlarged veins around the testes, called varicoceles, cause infertility by raising the temperature in the scrotum and decreasing sperm production.
How long after varicocele surgery does sperm improve?
Sperm After Treatment
While you can return to normal sexual activity within 1-2 weeks after varicocele embolization and 4 weeks after surgery, it will take time, typically around 3 months for there to be any noticeable improvement in sperm count and quality.
Can varicose veins affect sperm?
They may cause some discomfort or pain, but they often result in no symptoms or complications. A varicocele may cause poor development of a testicle, low sperm production or other problems that may lead to infertility.
Can varicocele surgery increase sperm?
Surgical varicocele repair improves semen parameters in terms of sperm number and motility (both progressive and total).
How painful is varicocele surgery?
After surgery, you may have slight pain in your groin for 3 to 6 weeks. Your scrotum and groin may be bruised and swollen. This will go away in 3 to 4 weeks. You will probably be able to return to work or your normal routine in 2 to 3 days after microscopic surgery, depending on your job.
Should I get my varicocele removed?
A varicocele often doesn’t need to be treated. For a man experiencing infertility, surgery to correct the varicocele may be a part of the fertility treatment plan. For teenagers or young adults — generally those not seeking fertility treatment — a health care provider may suggest annual checkups to monitor any changes.
How long after varicocele surgery did you get pregnant?
Duration and severity of varicocele may be a risk factor for infertility related with age in patients with varicocele (7). The mean time for semen improvement and spontaneous pregnancy after surgery is approximately five to seven months, respectively (8).
What are the chances of getting pregnant after varicocele?
Following varicocelectomy, 26-43% of couples become pregnant. The pregnancy success rate after varicocele embolization is 30-50%.
How often do varicoceles cause infertility?
Infertility is not all that uncommon — it affects about 1 in 6 couples. Varicoceles occur in 15% of all men, and are thought to be involved in up to 40% of cases of infertility.
Does varicocele come back after surgery?
The truth is 1 in 10 men who undergo a surgical procedure for varicocele will have a recurrence. This statistic remains the same regardless of which type of surgery you have, whether it’s an open procedure, microscopic, or laparoscopic.
How can I reduce varicocele naturally?
Kegel Exercises
Some believe that Kegel exercises can help in alleviating the symptoms of varicocele. These are easy-to-do pelvic exercises that, when done consistently, can improve and restore muscle tone and blood flow. They are thought to relieve issues like incontinence and varicoceles.
Does removing varicocele improve fertility?
The Benefits of Varicocele Surgery
Varicocele surgery can lead to improved fertility in that it may achieve the following: Sperm count and sperm quality may improve. Testosterone levels may return to normal. Pain related to a varicocele may be improved.
Does exercise make varicocele worse?
Exercise to avoid varicocele
While exercising can be very beneficial for your condition, you should avoid straining your body too much as it may aggravate the pain and inflammation. Avoid lifting weights because it increases pressure on the veins in your legs, which can make your condition worse.
What is the main cause of varicocele?
Varicoceles are believed to be caused by defective valves in the veins within the scrotum, just above the testicles. Normally, these valves regulate the flow of blood to and from the testicles. When normal flow doesn’t occur, the blood backs up, causing the veins to dilate (enlarge).