Treating Varicoceles with Embolization

Varicose veins usually occur in the lower legs. Can this type of vein issue happen elsewhere on the body? The answer’s yes, and one of the places enlarged veins can occur is in an area most men prefer not to discuss. However, a swollen scrotal vein is nothing to be ashamed of, and there’s a simple solution.

According to Dr. Shawn Ahmed at Apex Endovascular in Fort Collins, Colorado, if you have a swollen scrotal vein, there’s usually no health risk. Still, you can suffer from self-confidence issues due to its appearance. Varicocele embolization can resolve your issue.

Fast facts about enlarged scrotal veins

If you or a loved one has an enlarged vein on the scrotum, you may not be informed enough about this issue, even to know the proper medical name for such a thing, or how common it is. Here are some basic facts about varicose veins “down there.”

Enlarged veins on the scrotal sac are called varicoceles

While an enlarged vein on the leg is called a varicose vein, a similar condition on the scrotum is properly called a varicocele. The vein develops a defect that allows blood to flow backward through what should be a one-way passage, causing blood to pool and enlarge the vein so that it stands out under the skin. 

Around one out of every four to five men has a varicocele

It’s easy to assume that a twisted, ropy vein that stands out on your scrotum is a horrible, rare type of deformity, but around 20% to 25% of men have this common issue. For most, it’s only a mild cosmetic problem.

Varicoceles can contribute to male infertility

Around 40% of men with primary infertility have varicoceles. It’s not completely certain how varicoceles can impact fertility, but it’s suspected that it has to do with how veins wrapped around the spermatic cord affect sperm temperature and health. Addressing the varicocele can improve semen quality.

Varicocele embolization

The most popular option in cases of painful varicoceles or infertility in a man with varicoceles is embolization. The vascular embolization process usually starts with a physical examination and possibly a testicular ultrasound to locate exactly where to perform the procedure.

Embolization is typically an outpatient process that only takes about an hour and is done under “twilight sedation” (meaning you’re never fully unconscious but won’t feel pain or remember much about the procedure).

Once you’re in the twilight state, Dr. Ahmed creates a little nick in your skin and inserts a thin, flexible tube (catheter) through a vein in your groin using X-ray (fluoroscopic) guidance until it reaches the site of the varicocele. 

He injects a tiny metal coil or a liquid substance into the varicocele to block blood flow – blood automatically redirects through the venous system to another, healthy vein nearby. He withdraws the catheter, and closes the incision with a small bandage or a medical adhesive.

You can go home later in the day, and return to work in a few days. Full recovery usually takes several weeks, but a painful varicocele will typically be resolved and semen quality will improve after embolization, eliminating the need for open surgery.

To learn more about varicoceles and embolization, schedule a consultation with the team at Apex Endovascular by calling 970-508-8439 or by booking an appointment online.