What are the symptoms of varicocele?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on September 19, 2024
00:00
00:00

If the patient has mild varicocele, they often have no symptoms and it is not easily detected; in such cases, no special treatment is needed. However, with moderate or severe varicocele, the patient may experience a dragging pain in the testicles, especially after intense physical activity, prolonged sitting, or standing, which makes the pain more pronounced. During a physical examination, twisted, worm-like clusters of veins can be felt within the scrotum.

Patients with varicocele should undergo further routine semen analysis to assess if the semen quality is affected. If sperm quality is impacted, it could lead to a decline in male fertility, and surgical treatment should be considered when necessary.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
49sec home-news-image

What are the dangers of bruising due to varicose vein rupture?

When varicose veins rupture and cause bruising, if the area is small, it may be absorbed on its own. If the area is large, or if there is a certain degree of fluid accumulation, this fluid can potentially lead to infection, especially if the patient has diabetes or is using steroids, which may cause the accumulated blood to become infected. Additionally, after the absorption of a bruise, some patients may experience local pigmentation. This occurs because the iron-containing hemoglobin from metabolized red blood cells remains in the area, leading to a change in color. In severe cases, if the discoloration recurs, it may darken, and further development in some people might result in the skin becoming rougher and potentially ulcerating.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
1min 19sec home-news-image

How to treat varicose veins stage II?

If you're referring to the second stage of varicose veins, I'm not sure if you mean the clinical manifestation stage two, or if it's a recurrence after one surgery. Let's first talk about stage two varicose veins, which means there are visible and tortuous vein clumps. There are several main treatment methods for this condition: First, conservative treatment, which involves wearing medical compression stockings. If symptoms include soreness, heaviness, or cramping, some medications can be taken orally. Then, if there is a desire for surgical treatment, options like vein stripping, radiofrequency, or laser treatments are available. Some may involve sclerotherapy or another method called venous angle keratin treatment, specifically for stage two varicose veins. If it's a recurrence of varicose veins, we need to assess the specific situation. Some people might have had previous endovenous closure surgeries, and their veins are still present. In such cases, we can choose to redo the closure or opt for surgery to remove them. Another scenario is if the varicose veins have recurred after surgery. We need to investigate the cause. Some people might have iliac vein stenosis, and in such cases, treatment targeted at the iliac vein is necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
55sec home-news-image

Is vein varicose treatment better with injections or surgery?

Venous sclerotherapy involves injecting a sclerosing agent and is a relatively good and minimally invasive treatment method. Its advantages include being minimally invasive and even suitable for outpatient surgery, with low costs. However, there are drawbacks; one is that the medication might enter the deep veins, causing deep vein thrombosis. If the dosage is too large, it could reach the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism. Additionally, the medication might seep into surrounding tissues, causing inflammatory reactions. Some patients may experience temporary hyperpigmentation. Surgical treatment is a more traditional method, but it depends on the specific situation. Generally, it causes more trauma than sclerotherapy and usually requires some level of anesthesia. Surgery entails a certain amount of blood loss, and like other methods, it cannot prevent recurrence.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
45sec home-news-image

Treatment methods for gastric varices

Gastric varices primarily refer to varices at the stomach base, often occurring in diseases characterized by portal hypertension associated with liver cirrhosis and as a complication of these gastric varices. For treating varices at the stomach base, if continuous hematemesis or vomiting blood occurs, there are several treatment options: The first is the injection of a sclerosing agent, which can achieve the purpose of hemostasis. Additionally, endoscopic ligation treatment can be considered. This method is very effective in preventing the rupture and bleeding of gastric varices. However, it is crucial to assess the overall status of the patient and determine whether liver cirrhosis can be prevented or treated.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xue Min
Vascular Surgery
38sec home-news-image

What happens if varicose veins worsen?

Varicose veins, when they worsen, can lead to changes in the skin, including thickening of the skin which feels woody to the touch. Additionally, the skin may exhibit pigmentation that can be severe enough to resemble the black color of a belt. More seriously, ulcers can develop, typically near the inner ankle, though they occasionally appear in other locations. These ulcers are referred to medically as “boot ulcers” and are commonly known among the general population as “continuous sore legs.” In extreme cases, these ulcers may persist for many years without healing and could potentially become malignant.