Male Infertility A child of my own - Andrology Australia

APPENDICESVARICOCELEdone as a day procedure but at the most may needan overnight stay in hospital.Alternatively, an embolisation (closing of the vein)can be done under local anaesthetic. A catheter(very fine long flexible tube) is inserted into a veinin the groin and guided through a network of veinsand into the left testicular vein. A small coil or aplug is passed through the catheter to block theblood flow and stop the varicocele from forming.Dye may also be injected into the testicular vein toclearly show the location of the varicocele.Is treatment for varicoceles helpful?The benefits of both these varicocele operations arenot clear. Improved semen quality and increases inpregnancy rates after varicocele surgery have notbeen proven.What are the risks with varicocele treatment?Both procedures have a small number ofrisks. Sometimes the wounds bleed after theoperation. The blood supply to the testis can alsobe affected in these procedures, which can causepermanent testis damage and increase the chancesof infertility.In some men, a hydrocele (collection of fluid ina sac around the testis) can happen as a result ofsurgery but this does not affect testicular function.MALE INFERTILITY 80