Varicoceles are a relatively frequent finding in the scrotum of men. They are often found incidentally or may be diagnosed as men may complain of a dull ache or pain. They are enlarged or dilated veins from the testicle and therefore similar to varicose veins found in legs.
Having an operation to clip, tie or cut these veins to improve the blood flow from the testicle has been shown to improve the quality and number of sperm. This was thought to improve the chances of conception for these men. However, this conclusion remains controversial still as recent evidence questions any improvement in fertility for men undergoing varicocele surgery.
It is therefore recommended that you discuss the options with your urologist in detail before making a decision on whether or not to have varicocele surgery. A further complicating matter is the fact that other procedures are now available to directly retrieve sperm from the testes, thereby reducing the need for varicocele surgery.