Patient's question:
After two years of marriage, still no childrenDoctor's answer:
Patients with varicocele may be completely asymptomatic and only discovered during a physical examination. The affected scrotum or testis may have a sense of fullness or, with scrotal enlargement. When standing, the affected scrotum and testis are higher than the healthy side, and the surface of the scrotum shows dilated, tortuous veins. A soft, earthworm-like mass can be felt upon palpation, and symptoms may be reduced or disappear when lying down. Patients may also experience neurotic symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and hyperesthesia. Some patients may have sexual dysfunction. Varicocele can sometimes affect fertility. The left spermatic vein is longer and enters the renal vein at a right angle, encountering certain resistance to blood flow. The left spermatic vein near the left renal vein lacks valves, making it easier for blood to flow backward.