Why Do I Have Testicular Varicose Veins?

Swollen veins usually appear on the legs as blood pools inside the affected vein. While women are more likely to develop varicose veins on their bodies, some men might find an enlarged vein in their left testicles. Those who find a swollen testicular vein might be wondering how this happens and if it’s something that needs immediate medical attention.

So why do some men have varicose veins on their testicles? Varicocele (varicose veins on the testicles) forms when there are defective valves in the veins of the affected testicle or scrotum, causing blood to pool and veins to enlarge. They don’t normally lead to serious complications. But in rare cases that they do, these enlarged veins can be treated with sclerotherapy, EVLT, embolization, or a surgical procedure.

Varicose Veins on Testes: Are They Normal?

The scrotum is the sac that holds the testicles, as well as arteries and veins that deliver blood to the reproductive organ. When an abnormal vein experiences blood flow problems, it becomes more dilated than a healthy vein. It also results in the appearance of a varicose vein in the testicle, known as a varicocele.

Varicoceles are similar to the varicose veins that appear in the legs. They’re also quite common as about 15% of the healthy male population may have them. Men with subclinical varicocele may not experience serious symptoms or complications, but others might have male fertility problems and other reproductive system issues.

It’s difficult to predict which varicocele patients might suffer from testicular function problems. But if you’re particularly worried about possible varicocele symptoms and complications, then it might help to learn more about this condition before it’s too late.

1) Symptoms of Varicose Veins on Testes

Varicoceles usually appear on the left testicle of the patient. Aside from the appearance of a dilated vein, most patients don’t often experience painful varicocele symptoms.

However, others may still feel the following varicocele indicators:

• Pain – A dull or aching pain that worsens when the patient stands. They may also experience discomfort around the area late in the day. Lying down often helps alleviate the pain.
• Mass in the scrotum – Large varicoceles may be visible above the testicles and look like a bag of worms. Smaller varicoceles might be too small to see, but they’re often felt by touch.
• Asymmetrical testicles – Aside from the appearance of twisted veins, patients with varicoceles may also notice swelling in the scrotum or a lump in one of the testicles. In some cases, the affected testicle may also appear smaller than the other one.
• Male infertility – Not all cases of varicoceles may affect sperm quality, but other patients might find it difficult to father a child because of this condition.

2) The Cause of Varicose Veins on the Testicle

Each testicle receives oxygen-rich blood through the testicular artery. In the same manner, there’s also a testicular vein that transports oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart. Inside each side of the scrotum is the network of small veins known as the pampiniform plexus. This vein network is connected to the spermatic cord and main testicular vein to return the oxygen-poor blood to the heart.

Varicoceles refer to the enlargement of the small testicular veins, but the exact cause of this condition is still unknown. There are lots of contributing factors that doctors consider during diagnosis, such as the malfunction of valves inside the affected vein. The left testicular vein follows a different path than its right counterpart, which makes it more likely to develop varicoceles.

Can High Cholesterol Cause Testicular Varicose Veins?

There’s no sufficient evidence that directly links high cholesterol to the development of testicular varicose veins. Even healthy male patients may still have them, so the best way to avoid varicocele complications is to get an early diagnosis and receive the appropriate varicocele treatment option for you.

3) Should You See a Doctor About Varicoceles?

Annual doctor visits are important for boys in their puberty to monitor the health and development of their testicles. It’s crucial to follow these schedules and consult physicians to avoid severe complications.

But for adults who already notice or feel varicose veins in their testicles, it’s best to consult a vein doctor immediately – especially if they experience painful symptoms or notice changes in the appearance of their testicles.

When consulting about varicoceles, doctors may use the following tests to diagnose your condition:

• Physical exam. Most doctors try to find varicoceles by touching or closely inspecting the scrotum. Some varicose veins in the testicles don’t show up when the patient lies down, so they’re often asked to stand up.
• Valsalva maneuver. This diagnostic technique is used for finding smaller varicoceles. During the examination, the patient is asked to stand, take a deep breath, hold their breath, and bear down as the doctor examines the scrotum.
• Scrotal ultrasound. In some cases, doctors might need to perform an ultrasound on the scrotum to measure the testicular veins. This allows them to get a detailed picture of the condition.

After diagnosing the varicocele, the doctor classifies the condition into one of the 3 clinical grades. This depends on the size of the lump in the testicle – with grade 1 being the smallest and grade 3 being the largest.

The grade assigned to a patient doesn’t affect their overall treatment. Instead, the varicocele repair treatment options for different patients are based on their infertility problem and level of discomfort.

4) How Do Varicose Veins Affect Sperm?

Most male patients with varicoceles don’t experience fertility problems, but some of them may suffer from infertility-related symptoms. According to a 2014 study, about a third of the 816 men with fertility issues also had varicoceles in their testicles. This suggests that varicoceles may sometimes be a factor in male infertility.

Varicoceles may affect male infertility by raising the temperature of the scrotum. As a result, patients may experience decreased sperm count, decreased sperm motility, and increased deformed sperm production. The doctor may recommend taking a semen analysis test to check the state of sperm production and prescribe treatments if necessary.

5) Possible Complications of Varicose Veins on Testes

Varicoceles make it difficult for the body to regulate the temperature around the testicles, leading to a buildup of toxins and oxidative stress. If left untreated, varicoceles may lead to complications like testicular atrophy and male infertility.

6) Will Removing a Testicle Fix Varicose Veins?

Since most cases of varicoceles don’t require treatment, there’s no need for patients to worry about the possible removal of their testicles. Some routine changes like avoiding certain physical activities or wearing tight underwear may help relieve the discomfort. Others may also take pain relief medications or apply ice around the private area to alleviate the pain.

How to Treat Testicular Varicose Veins

Treatments for testicular varicose veins are mostly recommended for patients who experience extreme pain or male infertility.

Depending on the patient’s condition, the doctor may recommend either of the following treatment options:

• Varicocele surgery – Surgical procedures are performed to seal the affected vein and reroute the blood flow into the nearby normal vein. The doctor may perform either laparoscopic or microsurgical varicocelectomy, but both approaches require general anesthesia.
• Varicocele embolization – This alternative to surgery uses interventional radiology to release a solution or coil in the affected vein. This causes scarring and creates a blockage in the testicular vein, preventing blood from entering the abnormal vein.

At Vein Care Center, we offer other treatment options that are just as effective in eliminating varicose veins in the testicles.

After a consultation with our experts, we may recommend the following treatment options for you:

• Sclerotherapy – This effective approach involves injecting a sclerosing agent to collapse the damaged vein. As the affected veins close, the blood is forced to flow into other normal veins.
• Endovenous laser ablation – This treatment uses a laser to heat the abnormal vein, causing its walls to close. The blood then flows to other healthy veins as the damaged vein is eventually absorbed by the nearby tissues.

Get Rid of Your Varicose Veins Safely at Vein Care Center

Varicoceles are quite common, but it doesn’t mean patients have to live the rest of their lives with varicose veins in their testicles. If the varicoceles start causing pain or fertility problems, it’s best to seek help from an expert immediately before they start leading to serious complications like testicular atrophy.

At Vein Care Center, we offer non-surgical treatment options to help patients remove the varicose veins in their testes and other body parts safely. Call us today to know more about our vein treatments and how they can help with your condition.