Varicocele is a disease characterized by varicose veins covering the spermatic cord and testicle. This disease is most common among men. The most dangerous consequences of varicocele are male infertility.
The mechanism of the formation of the disease is as follows: the blood from the testicle rises through the veins of the scrotum up to the heart. If the veins of the reproductive system are in a normal state, then the valves of their walls prevent the return outflow of blood. But with the development of the disease, they simply do not work. The result is a violation of the normal blood supply to the testicle and inhibition of its function. Later symptoms of the disease begin to manifest.
Causes of occurrence
One of the reasons contributing to the formation of this disease is congenital weakness of the vascular wall, due to the genetic predisposition of the body.
The second most common cause of varicocele is an increase in normal blood pressure of the scrotal veins and / or pelvic veins. A vein passing through the testicle is sometimes constricted by other vessels, which, in turn, causes a narrowing of its lumen and, accordingly, an increase in pressure. The testicle seems to be surrounded by a network of enlarged venous vessels.
This provokes a violation of the thermoregulatory function of the scrotum, the temperature inside the testicle is significantly higher than normal. Consequences: varicocele inhibits spermatogenesis.
The reasons that can not be directly attributed to the main provocateurs of the disease, but contributing to its development, can be called the following: too much strength training, weight lifting, chronic constipation or, conversely, diarrhea.
Symptoms of the disease
The disease is almost asymptomatic and only in a neglected state can manifest itself externally. A man can observe such consequences of varicocele as scrotal prolapse, precisely from the side of the formation of the disease. There is also an unpleasant sensation in the groin, aggravated by sexual arousal or physical stress.
Varicocele: treatment
It does not belong to the group of life-threatening diseases and the main indicator for surgical intervention is only male infertility, persistent pain in the testicles and aesthetic defect of the scrotum.
Most often, the microsurgical operation of varicocele is used as a surgical method. The consequences of this intervention are not negative: the risk of developing such a frequent postoperative complication as dropsy of the testis is practically absent. As a rule, reproductive male function is fully restored.
Probable complications
But even with a correctly performed surgical procedure for varicocele, the consequences after surgery can be expressed in the occurrence of various complications.
1. Lymphostasis . The most common complication. It develops in the first postoperative day: there is a painful swelling of the scrotum, disappearing within 2 weeks after the surgery.
2. Pain . In a small percentage of cases, pain in the testicle may persist for a fairly long time.
3. Dropsy of the testicle . It is characterized by the accumulation of interstitial fluid in the testicle.
4. Testicular atrophy. The most dangerous complication. Leads to absolute infertility.
After a successful operation, a small scar will remain as the only consequence of the varicocele. But, as you know, scars only adorn men.