Varicocele Quiz
Reviewed By:
Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care Physician)
Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.
Nao Saito, MD (Urology)
After graduating from Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Dr. Saito worked at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, Toda Chuo General Hospital, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, and Ako Chuo Hospital before becoming Deputy Director (current position) at Takasaki Tower Clinic Department of Ophthalmology and Urology in April 2020.
Content updated on Dec 6, 2023
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With an easy 3-min questionnaire, Ubie's AI-powered system will generate a free report on possible causes.
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Varicocele as well as similar diseases can be checked at the same time.
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Worm-like lumps over the testicles
Pain in my scrotum
Scrotal area hurts
Testicles are swollen and purplish or red
The scrotum has a varicose vein appearance, often described as a "bag of worms"
Testicles are swollen and blue
Enlarged balls
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What is Varicocele?
A varicocele is a condition where the veins in your scrotum become enlarged. The exact cause is unknown, but experts believe that it may be due to defective valves in the veins within your scrotum. The valves regulate the flow of blood to and from the testicles. It may also occur from compression of a vein by nearby structures. Varicoceles may lead to decreased sperm production and quality as well as dull achy pain after standing for long periods.
Typical Symptoms of Varicocele
Scrotum or testicle pain
Visibly enlarged blood vessels on the scrotum
Swollen scrotum or testicles
Doctor's Diagnostic Questionson Varicocele
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
Do you have scrotal pain?
Do you have enlarged blood vessels on or in your scrotum?
Are your testicles or scrotum swollen?
Treatmentof Varicocele
Treatment for varicocele might not be necessary if it's not causing any issues. However, if symptoms such as pain, infertility, or shrunken testicles persist, surgery that seals off the affected vein to redirect blood flow into normal veins is usually recommended.
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View the symptoms of Varicocele
Diseases related to Varicocele
References
Jensen CFS, Østergren P, Dupree JM, Ohl DA, Sønksen J, Fode M. Varicocele and male infertility. Nat Rev Urol. 2017 Sep;14(9):523-533. doi: 10.1038/nrurol.2017.98. Epub 2017 Jul 4. PMID: 28675168.
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrurol.2017.98
Masson P, Brannigan RE. The varicocele. Urol Clin North Am. 2014 Feb;41(1):129-44. doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2013.08.001. PMID: 24286772.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094014313000785?via%3Dihub
Alsaikhan B, Alrabeeah K, Delouya G, Zini A. Epidemiology of varicocele. Asian J Androl. 2016 Mar-Apr;18(2):179-81. doi: 10.4103/1008-682X.172640. PMID: 26763551; PMCID: PMC4770482.
https://www.ajandrology.com/article.asp?issn=1008-682X;year=2016;volume=18;issue=2;spage=179;epage=181;aulast=Alsaikhan
Chiba K, Ramasamy R, Lamb DJ, Lipshultz LI. The varicocele: diagnostic dilemmas, therapeutic challenges and future perspectives. Asian J Androl. 2016 Mar-Apr;18(2):276-81. doi: 10.4103/1008-682X.167724. PMID: 26698233; PMCID: PMC4770499.
https://www.ajandrology.com/article.asp?issn=1008-682X;year=2016;volume=18;issue=2;spage=276;epage=281;aulast=Chiba
User Testimonials
Reviewed By:
Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care Physician)
Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.
Nao Saito, MD (Urology)
After graduating from Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Dr. Saito worked at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, Toda Chuo General Hospital, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, and Ako Chuo Hospital before becoming Deputy Director (current position) at Takasaki Tower Clinic Department of Ophthalmology and Urology in April 2020.
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Dale Mueller, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Associates