What is a Varicocele?
A varicocele is when veins in the scrotum become abnormally large. A varicocele can feel like a ‘bag of worms.’ Some men describe a dull ache in the scrotum that gets worse with standing. Varicoceles can also cause infertility.
How is Varicocele Embolization done?
Varicocele embolization is a minimally invasive procedure to block off the abnormal veins. After numbing the skin, the clinician passes a tiny plastic tube into a vein in the neck or upper thigh. The clinician uses moving x-rays to guide the tube into the abnormal veins coming from the scrotum. The clinician then injects coils, foam or other materials to block off the veins.
Varicocele Embolization
1. The clinician numbs the skin of the neck or upper thigh.
2. They use moving x-rays to guide a thin tube into the abnormal veins coming from the scrotum.
3. The clinician injects special materials into the abnormal veins to close them off. After, they remove the tube and put a bandage over the pinhole in the skin.
What are the risks?
Varicocele Embolization is generally a safe procedure when done by a specialist.
1 to 4 in 100 men
experience bleeding
develop infection
experience pain and inflammation of the scrotum or testes
What are the alternatives?
Your treatment options depend on your preferences and your unique conditions.
Alternative 1 No treatment. The varicocele and problems it is causing will likely not go away. It may also contribute to infertility.
Alternative 2 Surgery. A urologist can make a small cut in your scrotum and tie off or remove the abnormal veins. This is just as effective as embolization. It has a slightly longer recovery.