It is an unfortunate statistic but infertility affects one in six couples trying to conceive. The first thought is infertility is primarily a woman’s problem but the reality is 30 percent of infertility cases are because of male infertility.
The primary cause of male infertility in 35 to 50 percent of cases is varicocele veins.
What Are Varicocele Veins?
Varicocele veins are enlarged veins in the bag of skin where testicals are. They could be deformed, lack proper blood flow, or be damaged due to an accident. The man may not know he has varicocele veins until he attempts to have a child. They have no obvious symptoms.
Varicocele veins affect fertility in four ways:
- Sperm Count Is Low
- Testosterone is Low
- Sperm Is Damaged
- Reduced Semen Quality
How Do You Treat Varicocele Veins?
Two medically recognized treatments exist to correct varicocele veins. The first is surgery and the second is embolization.
Surgery options include open, microsurgical, or laparoscopic procedures. They either require general or local anesthesia and most require a one-night hospital stay. Surgeries tend to be more expensive than embolization.
Embolization is an outpatient procedure and can be done either with or without local sedation and has a lower cost. The recovery time is quicker than surgery and here is less pain after the procedure.
Pregnancy Success
Correcting varicocele improves the chances of getting pregnant. Data shows that 30 to 50 percent of infertile couples get pregnant after any type of varicocele treatment. . However, it still takes a while to get pregnant after treatment because it takes three to four months for semen health to improve post-treatment.
Most doctors state it can take between six months to a year to get pregnant after treatment. Doctors also state that IVF treatments are more likely to be successful if varicocele veins are corrected.
