Patient's question:
Patient is male, 42 years old, diagnosed with varicocele during the recent examination. I would like to consult about what are the common causes of varicocele.Doctor's answer:
Varicocele refers to the tortuous and dilated expansion of veins in the spermatic cord due to impaired venous (backflow obstruction). It is a common disease among young and middle-aged adults, characterized by the dilatation, tortuosity, and elongation of the pampiniform plexus (veinous vascular plexus) in the spermatic cord caused by venous stasis. Factors leading to male varicocele include:Physical factors: Young and middle-aged adults have a more active sexual function and abundant blood supply to the contents of the scrotum. Therefore, some varicoceles may gradually disappear with age. Additionally, prolonged standing and increased intra-abdominal pressure are contributing factors.
Other factors: Retroperitoneal tumors, renal tumors, hydronephrosis, and other conditions that compress the veins within the spermatic cord can lead to symptomatic or secondary varicoceles.