Varicocele is a pathological expansion of the veins in the testicles, which provokes a deterioration in blood circulation in them. Often, such a violation is combined with other lesions of the venous system, for example, with hemorrhoids.
This is one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases and occurs in about 35% of men. Often, varicocele is found in reproductive age and in adolescents. With the course of the pathology, the normal functioning of the venous valves localized on the inside of the vein is disrupted. Since the disease can be asymptomatic, this can lead to the development of complications, in particular, infertility.
Feature of the disease
The scrotum is an organ under the skin of which the testicles are located, as well as the vessels that supply them with blood. Varicocele is a venous pathology that doctors compare with varicose veins in the legs. The disease can provoke a violation of sperm production and a significant deterioration in its quality. As a result, infertility may develop.
Squeezing can provoke a similar pathologytesticles. Varicocele occurs in 15% of men. Cases of morbidity are often recorded during active puberty. The left side is most commonly affected.
Bilateral lesion is very rare. Not always pathology is accompanied by complications. However, in some cases, surgery is required. Removal of education is performed in different ways. Sometimes the disease can recur.
Leak rates
Depending on the causes of the disease, the disease can be primary and secondary. The degrees of varicocele differ in the symptoms and severity of the disease. At zero degree, visual manifestations are not detected, and it is also impossible to determine the presence of pathology during palpation. It can be detected only during additional diagnostics.
In the first degree, the veins are not visible or palpable when lying down, but they may be noticeable if the man is standing and the disorder can be detected by palpation.
Varicocele grade 2 is characterized by the fact that varicose veins are clearly visible and palpable in absolutely any position. The size of the testicle does not change in any way, but the pathological process spreads to nearby veins.
With grade 3 varicocele, pronounced varicose veins are observed, regardless of the position of the man's body. This affects the entire lower part of the testicle, which becomes softer to the touch, decreases in volume and size, which indicates its onset atrophy.
Main reasons
Before diagnosing a varicocele, it is necessaryyou need to know exactly what causes provoke the occurrence of this disease and how exactly it manifests itself. The disease has many different mechanisms of development, which explains the complexity of its treatment and the frequent occurrence of relapses. Among the main provoking factors, it is necessary to highlight such as:
- change in renal vein compression;
- congenital absence or insufficiency of testicular vein valves;
- violation of the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels;
- peculiarities of intrauterine development.
When squeezing the renal vein, a reverse outflow of blood through the vessels occurs, which leads to the occurrence of varicose veins of the ovarian vein. That is why left-sided lesion often occurs.
The secondary form of the disease is formed during the course of malignant neoplasms of the kidneys and abdominal cavity. The disease can be diagnosed during an examination by a urologist. The nature of its course is specified using additional research methods. After that, a decision is made regarding the need for the operation.
What are the symptoms
When diagnosing varicocele, it is necessary to take into account the existing symptoms and the degree of the course of the disease. With the course of the first degree of pathology, no special signs are observed. The disease is often discovered quite by accident during a routine examination of the patient.
With grade 2 varicocele, dilated veins become visually visible, which descend like a bunch of grapes at the bottom of the testicle. During the examination, certainasymmetry. On the affected side, the testicle descends, respectively, one half of the scrotum sags somewhat. A person may be disturbed by varicocele pain after urination, when walking. The patient also complains of deterioration in sexual function.
At grade 3 varicocele, the veins greatly expand and thicken. In addition, there are constant pains, an increase in the size of the scrotum, since the veins are very much lowered. This stage is almost always accompanied by a violation of spermatogenesis. This provokes a deterioration in the quality of sperm production. Therefore, the consequence of the disease will be testicular atrophy and infertility.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of varicocele is often straightforward. Often, only a visual examination and palpation of the scrotum is sufficient. In this case, the patient is in a standing and lying position.
Additionally, the doctor can do a Valsalva test. This is a study of the veins during straining, resulting in an increase in intra-abdominal pressure and increased filling of the testicles with blood. If, when carrying out all these research methods, the doctor cannot determine the cause of the formation of varicose veins, then an additional diagnosis of varicocele in men is required.
To determine the stage of development of the disease, x-rays are prescribed. You will also need an ultrasound diagnosis of varicocele. In this case, dopplerography of the scrotum is performed, which is done standing and lying down. When conducting an ultrasound diagnosis of varicocele in children, it is possible to determine the peculiarity of the development of blood vesselsseminal canal.
You can detect pathology by conducting thermography using a special device - a thermal imager. In this case, you can determine the cause of varicose veins. You may need not only ultrasound diagnosis of varicocele, but also ultrasound of the kidneys, as well as the organs of the retroperitoneal space.
Sexually mature men are required to prescribe a spermogram. Based on its results, sperm activity is assessed, and the presence of defective male cells is also determined.
Features of treatment
Treatment is prescribed only after the diagnosis of varicocele, as this allows you to determine the nature and extent of the course of the disease. At the initial stage, no special therapy is required. During this period, you must strictly observe the regimen prescribed by the doctor. This will prevent the subsequent development of pathology.
To reduce congestion in the pelvic organs, you need to reduce the load, wear comfortable compression underwear, and get rid of constipation. If a varicocele is suspected in children and adolescents, venotonics should be taken to help normalize the overall venous blood flow. However, it is worth remembering that only therapeutic methods do not guarantee a complete cure.
They only help to eliminate unpleasant symptoms. To reduce pain, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, and it is also recommended to wear comfortable and soft underwear. However, surgery will be required in any case.
Folk techniques
After the diagnosis, the treatment of varicocele should be started immediately. It implies an integrated approach, as this will achieve much better results. Folk methods are widely used in combination with taking medications and performing an operation. It is worth noting that in the case of male infertility, alternative medicine cannot replace surgery. Only this will normalize sexual functions.
Healing herbs can only increase the effectiveness of therapy. It is worth remembering that before using any alternative therapy, you should definitely consult a urologist. Phytopreparations only help to improve the tone and general condition of the vascular network. When taking decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs, there is a positive effect on the venous walls, helping to strengthen them, increase elasticity and activate general blood flow.
To prepare a medicinal collection, you need to mix crushed strawberry leaves, birch, dandelion roots, oat straw and sweet clover in equal proportions. Then brew 1 tbsp. l. the resulting mixture 0.7 liters of boiling water and leave to infuse under the lid for 30 minutes. Then filter and take 50 ml in 15 minutes. before food intake. The therapeutic course is 21 days. If necessary, repeat the therapy.
Horse chestnut is a good remedy. For treatment, leaf compresses are applied to the scrotum. You need 2 tbsp. l. dried horse chestnut leaveschop, pour 1/3 tbsp. boiling water, leave to infuse. Then wrap the cooled mass in several layers of gauze and apply on the scrotum for 2.5 hours. The therapeutic course lasts 3 weeks.
It is also useful to take a tincture of horse chestnut flowers. To do this, grind a little fresh flowers of the plant, completely fill the bottle with them, pour vodka on top, cork tightly and leave to infuse in a dark place for about 20 days, shaking constantly. You need to take the finished product 5 ml before eating.
Apple puree helps thin and purify the blood. You need to take it in the morning on an empty stomach and before going to bed, 50 ml each. To give more taste and useful qualities to the prepared remedy, you can add a little natural honey.
St. John's wort oil will help improve the condition of the veins. To do this, carefully grind a fresh or dried plant, pour it into a bottle, pour any vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:10 and heat it in a steam bath for at least 3 hours. Then leave the mixture for 8 hours to infuse, filter. Lubricate protruding veins with the resulting product several times a day.
Operating
Varicocele is treated only by surgery. Its main task is to isolate the affected vein and redirect blood to he althy ones. There are no conservative methods that would help to completely get rid of the disease. The operation is prescribed according to the indications and after the ultrasound diagnosis of the varicocele. Among the main indications, it is necessary to highlight:
- severe soreness in the groin andscrotum;
- reduction in testicular size during puberty;
- presence of venous plexuses;
- deterioration of existing spermogram parameters;
- infertility.
There are several different treatments for varicocele, such as:
- classic Ivanisevich operation;
- microsurgical revascularization;
- endoscopic intervention;
- Operation Marmara.
When performing an open operation according to Ivanisevich, the surgeon performs a small incision in the iliac region and only after that ligates the veins that go to the testicle. Such an operation requires the use of severe anesthesia and a long recovery period.
Endoscopic intervention implies that the doctor performs a puncture in the navel and inserts a mini-camera into the resulting incision. Mini-scissors and clamps are inserted into the other 2 punctures. With their help, the operation is performed. This varicocele operation has the most positive reviews, since it practically does not provoke the occurrence of complications. Of the minuses, only the presence of 3 skin punctures should be highlighted.
During microsurgical testicular revascularization, the varicose vein is completely replaced with a he althy one, which leads to improved blood flow. The operation is performed using a special microscope.
Marmara varicocele operation deserved good reviews. Its essence lies in the fact that the doctor makes a miniature incision about 1 cm long right at the basepenis. To find the right vein, the urologist needs one small incision. With a small microscope, the doctor can properly ligate the veins while maintaining the integrity of the nerve endings, arteries and lymph nodes.
Consequences of the disease
If treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, the consequences of the course of the disease in men can be very serious. In addition to discomfort during walking and sexual intercourse, they include an irreversible change in the affected tissues of the organ, which leads to infertility. If the operation was not scheduled, an annual follow-up with a urologist is required. This will help to timely detect the progression of varicose veins and the deterioration of the spermogram.
After the ligation surgery, the following consequences can be observed:
- redness, pain and swelling;
- testicular atrophy;
- accumulation of lymph fluid;
- drawing pains.
It is worth noting that timely microsurgical operations practically do not provoke complications. Recovery of he alth after them is very fast and almost does not cause a relapse.
Forecast
In men, varicocele is completely cured by surgery. The prognosis during therapy is the best even in advanced cases. An irreversible process can begin only with the onset of testicular atrophy.
That is why, when the very first signs of the course of the disease occur, you should definitely contact a urologist or surgeon. Timely techniquesOperations help to completely get rid of varicose veins without complications. After the intervention, the functioning of the testicles and the reproductive function of the man will be fully restored.
Prophylaxis
Very important is the treatment and prevention of varicocele, as it allows you to normalize sexual function in men. Preventive measures should be carried out throughout life, regardless of the age of the man. It should be noted that existing congenital pathologies or anomalies in the development of the venous network cannot be prevented. However, there is a set of general measures that will help reduce the likelihood of disease progression and the formation of varicocele.
It is very important to conduct a periodic preventive examination by a urologist of all men aged 19-20 years to exclude the formation of congenital varicose veins. This is due to the end of puberty and the formation of the genital organs by this period, so it is much easier to detect varicocele in them than in children and adolescents. In addition, it is necessary to carry out the prevention of an existing disease, so as not to provoke the occurrence of complications and prevent relapses. Prevention measures include:
- exercise control;
- constipation treatment;
- diet for weight loss.
During the day, you need to try to move as much as possible, as this will normalize blood microcirculation and prevent congestion. In addition, it is required to maintain a regular sexual life, refuse to consume alcohol.drinks.
A mature man should stop using stimulating ointments and creams that are used to stimulate orgasm. Their frequent use leads to stagnation of venous blood and the formation of varicose veins.
Men who are at risk should always keep their feet warm, avoiding hypothermia.
