Varicoceles are an abnormally enlarged complex of veins in the scrotum. They can commonly present with a bulge or mass in the scrotum, also referred to as “bag of worms”. In some cases, there may be pain, and at times they may affect the quality of the sperm with resultant infertility. For minimally symptomatic cases, no treatment is required. However, if your evaluation shows significant or symptomatic varicoceles, you may consider a number of minimally-invasive treatment options that we offer at West Coast Urology.
We commonly perform outpatient microscopic surgery as the preferred treatment for varicoceles. This procedure allows for accurate mapping out of the critical structures, and isolation of the relevant veins to be treated. Robotic assisted varicocele repair is another option for the properly selected patients. All these procedures are performed through small and cosmetic incisions for enhanced recovery, and do not require a hospital stay. Percutaneous embolization by interventional radiology may be offered in complex recurrent cases.
For more in depth information on Varicoceles, please refer to this Urology Care Foundation™ link:
Varicoceles: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment