Male Infertility A child of my own - Andrology Australia

APPENDICESVARICOCELEWhat is a varicocele?A varicocele is a swelling of the veins above thetestis. It usually happens on the left side and iscaused by a lack of normal valve function whichwould normally stop the backward flow of blood.Blood pools in the veins around the testis, whichforms a varicocele.These ‘varicose veins of the testes’ are quitecommon. About three in 20 men who have nofertility problems have varicoceles.To check for varicoceles, the man has to beexamined standing up. The testis below avaricocele is usually smaller than a testis wherethere is no varicocele.How does a varicocele affectsperm production?Men with varicoceles often have a lower thanaverage number of sperm, poorer spermmovement and an increase in the number ofabnormally shaped sperm. Even so, some menwith varicoceles can also have normal spermcounts and many men with varicoceles havefathered children. There is some scientific researchthat shows that the temperature of the testes witha varicocele is higher.How are varicoceles treated?Varicoceles can be surgically removed undergeneral anaesthetic by a urologist. This is oftenMALE INFERTILITY 79