Patient's question:
Is varicocele serious? Is surgery necessary? How long is the hospital stay if surgery is performed?Doctor's answer:
Varicocele refers to the tortuous and dilated veins in the spermatic cord due to impaired venous return. Patients with varicocele may be completely asymptomatic and only discovered during a physical examination. The affected scrotum or testis may experience a sense of heaviness, fullness, or pain. The scrotum may appear enlarged, with the affected side being higher than the healthy side when standing. The surface of the scrotum is visibly marked by dilated and tortuous veins. A soft, worm-like mass may be felt upon palpation, and symptoms may be reduced or disappear when lying down. Patients may also exhibit neurotic symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and hyperesthesia. Some patients may experience sexual dysfunction. Varicocele can sometimes affect fertility.