Patient's question:
What tests are needed to diagnose varicocele? Doctor, I suspect I have varicocele, but I'm not entirely sure. I want to go to the hospital to check my body. I want to understand what tests are needed to diagnose varicocele? What tests are needed to diagnose varicocele?Doctor's answer:
Varicocele is the abnormal dilatation, elongation, and tortuosity of the pampiniform plexus of veins within the spermatic cord. The incidence of this condition in the general male population is approximately 20%, while in infertile males, it is around 40%. This disease is more common in young and middle-aged men, with relatively fewer cases in adolescents. The overall incidence rate of varicocele among adolescents aged 6-19 years is 10.76%, but the severity is generally higher, mostly classified as degree III. Varicocele can be diagnosed through physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, its relationship with scrotal discomfort, pain, infertility, and androgen levels remains uncertain. Therefore, it is important to consider the possibility of other diseases that may cause these symptoms, especially psychological disorders manifesting as somatic symptoms. There are many treatment methods for male urological conditions, but the diagnostic approach varies depending on the patient's symptoms. Hence, it is recommended that patients