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varicocele surgery
My son was just diagnosed with varicocele at 13 years old. Doctor suggests surgery. Concerned that an active 13 year old who likes to play sports may encounter something such as hydrocele and end up with more complications from surgery. Is it better to wait and watch? Or is it important to not to delay surgery because of his age?
Hi,
Whether or not a varicocele causes infertility is a contentious issue.
Varicocele is usually harmless except in cases of infertility. If surgery is required because of infertility or testicular atrophy, the outlook is usually excellent. Removal of varicocele can lead to normal testicular temperatures and an increased sperm production.
Varicoceles may be managed with a scrotal support (e.g. jockstrap, briefs). However, if pain continues or if infertility or testicular atrophy results, the varicocele may need to be surgically ligated (tied off). A vasotonic drug is preferred in addition to the scrotal support.
Varicocelectomy, the surgical correction of a varicocele, is performed on an outpatient basis. Ice packs should be kept to the area for the first 24 hours after surgery to reduce swelling. The patient may be advised to wear a scrotal support for some time after surgery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varicocele#Treatment
You could discuss this with the surgeon and he / she will tell you about the details of the operation.
Let me know if you need any other information.
Regards.
Whether or not a varicocele causes infertility is a contentious issue.
Varicocele is usually harmless except in cases of infertility. If surgery is required because of infertility or testicular atrophy, the outlook is usually excellent. Removal of varicocele can lead to normal testicular temperatures and an increased sperm production.
Varicoceles may be managed with a scrotal support (e.g. jockstrap, briefs). However, if pain continues or if infertility or testicular atrophy results, the varicocele may need to be surgically ligated (tied off). A vasotonic drug is preferred in addition to the scrotal support.
Varicocelectomy, the surgical correction of a varicocele, is performed on an outpatient basis. Ice packs should be kept to the area for the first 24 hours after surgery to reduce swelling. The patient may be advised to wear a scrotal support for some time after surgery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varicocele#Treatment
You could discuss this with the surgeon and he / she will tell you about the details of the operation.
Let me know if you need any other information.
Regards.
Good morning,
I won't go in to a medical lesson on varicoceles or the repair of them, I'll just share an experience I had with one. I am 24 years old and found out in 2005 that I had a varicocele that was causing pain in my groin and lower back. The problem with mine was that it came about as the result of an orchiopexy to repair undescended testicles shorly after my birth and went unnoticed until I was 22. By this time my left testicle was pretty much dead. My urologist told me the best way to eliminate the problem was to perform an orchiectomy (remove the testicle), which I consented to. After the surgery, he told me that the testicle was in face about the size of my thumbnail and had probably been dead for many years. What caused it to flare up all of a sudden after I turned 22 is anyone's guess. A few months after the surgery I began experiencing a new type of pain where the testicle used to be. After visits to a few urologists and neurologists, I was told that my left Ilioinguinal Nerve had become entrapped in scar tissue from the surgery. The only cure for this in my case is a removal of the nerve, which on the good hand will eliminate the pain that it causes, but on the other hand with leave me with no feeling in the area serviced by that nerve. Not exactly my first choice right now! For now, and probably the rest of my life, I am under the supervision of a pain management doctor and take Methadone and Norco and must also rub an anti inflammatory cream on my scrotum three times per day to control the pain that is caused by this one little nerve. Along with that, I also take antidepressants, anxiety meds, cholesterol meds, laxatives, acid blockers, sleep medication, migraine prevention medication, and acne medication. All stemming from the original problem! Not trying to scare you one way or the other, just wanted you to know what's out there. Personally, I would not let that thing go one more day. Get rid of that varicocele. Much better to have that done now than to end up with an atrophied testicle ten years from now and have to have it taken out, and possibly end up with a nerve entrapment. At the same time, it never hurts to get a second opinion on these matters, for your son's sake. Even if you have to pay out of pocket for an office visit. I have found that usually no two urologists will say exactly the same thing.
I'm sure some other's will post with their opinions and experiences as well. In the mean time, if it were my son, I would schedule an appt. with a second provider, if possible, just for his or her opinion on the matter, and make sure your boy knows what is going on down there. Have the doc give him an anatomy lesson if he hasn't already so he knows where the problem is and what the surgery will do to him. I hope everything works out well for the both of you. I'm sure the chances of something going wrong with a surgery like this are next to nothing. Please keep up updated and come back for more info if you need it. Good Luck!
Turbo
I won't go in to a medical lesson on varicoceles or the repair of them, I'll just share an experience I had with one. I am 24 years old and found out in 2005 that I had a varicocele that was causing pain in my groin and lower back. The problem with mine was that it came about as the result of an orchiopexy to repair undescended testicles shorly after my birth and went unnoticed until I was 22. By this time my left testicle was pretty much dead. My urologist told me the best way to eliminate the problem was to perform an orchiectomy (remove the testicle), which I consented to. After the surgery, he told me that the testicle was in face about the size of my thumbnail and had probably been dead for many years. What caused it to flare up all of a sudden after I turned 22 is anyone's guess. A few months after the surgery I began experiencing a new type of pain where the testicle used to be. After visits to a few urologists and neurologists, I was told that my left Ilioinguinal Nerve had become entrapped in scar tissue from the surgery. The only cure for this in my case is a removal of the nerve, which on the good hand will eliminate the pain that it causes, but on the other hand with leave me with no feeling in the area serviced by that nerve. Not exactly my first choice right now! For now, and probably the rest of my life, I am under the supervision of a pain management doctor and take Methadone and Norco and must also rub an anti inflammatory cream on my scrotum three times per day to control the pain that is caused by this one little nerve. Along with that, I also take antidepressants, anxiety meds, cholesterol meds, laxatives, acid blockers, sleep medication, migraine prevention medication, and acne medication. All stemming from the original problem! Not trying to scare you one way or the other, just wanted you to know what's out there. Personally, I would not let that thing go one more day. Get rid of that varicocele. Much better to have that done now than to end up with an atrophied testicle ten years from now and have to have it taken out, and possibly end up with a nerve entrapment. At the same time, it never hurts to get a second opinion on these matters, for your son's sake. Even if you have to pay out of pocket for an office visit. I have found that usually no two urologists will say exactly the same thing.
I'm sure some other's will post with their opinions and experiences as well. In the mean time, if it were my son, I would schedule an appt. with a second provider, if possible, just for his or her opinion on the matter, and make sure your boy knows what is going on down there. Have the doc give him an anatomy lesson if he hasn't already so he knows where the problem is and what the surgery will do to him. I hope everything works out well for the both of you. I'm sure the chances of something going wrong with a surgery like this are next to nothing. Please keep up updated and come back for more info if you need it. Good Luck!
Turbo
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