Information about varicose veins

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Question
My partner has been diagnosed with a large varicose vein in one testicle (which has probably been there for 10 to 15 years) and is waiting to be referred to a consultant.

What is the likely treatment and the implications of this condition?

It is a great achievement that he has actually made it to his GP but neglected to find out much detail due mainly to his embarrassment.

Answer
The male sex are often somewhat reluctant to approach their GP about any problems, especially those usually hidden by underwear!

The veins are the blood vessels that transport blood back to the heart and they contain one-way valves every so often to assist the journey against the pull of gravity.

If these valves become defective and leak, the pressure of the blood within the vein concerned prevents proper drainage and the vein becomes enlarged and disfigured or varicosed.

Varicosed veins can occur in the scrotum and are often associated with a dull ache, especially on standing and in some patients may interfere with erectile function and fertility (reduced sperm quality and quantity of sperm production). The exact cause is not always apparent.

Varicose veins can be familial and can also follow on from previous injury to the vein or prolonged standing. Here is some evidence to suggest that sport training might cause scrotal varicose veins (varicocele ) by some mechanical effect of exercise.

If the symptoms are thought to be significant, or the size of the vein(s) give cause for concern, a varicocele removal (varicocelectomy) is performed.

This involves an operation under a local or a general anaesthetic. An incision is made in the scrotum and the abnormal veins are cut and tied, the tortuous dilated vein being removed.

Soluble sutures are used to close the skin. The procedure is often performed as a day case and recovery is usually complete within one week.

Yours sincerely

Dr John Pillinger, GP

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