varicocele

Varicocele is a condition of the scrotum. It is an enlargement of the spermatic veins which is noticed as a bulge in the spermatic cord above the testicle, which can be enhanced by the valsalva manuever.

They typically occur on the left side, are sometimes found on both sides, and only rarely involve just the right side. They are rare under age 10, but are seen with increasing frequency in older males, so that by adulthood, about 15% of males have a varicocoele. In some instances, these are painful. Surgery is sometimes recommended for these if they are painful, or if they interfere with testicle growth, or to improve chances for normal fertility.

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