Varicocele - the Surprise Veins

It Isn't Just Old People And Pregnant Ladies

Well, surprise, surprise -varicose veins are not limited to pregnant women and older people.  While incidents of varicose veins in young girls under the age of 18 are very rare, there is a condition which does affect young people, and young men in particular.  It can be an embarrassing situation although varicocele is not uncommon among young men ages 15 to 25.

Varicocele appears in the scrotum where the spermatic cord - a highway of arteries, veins, nerves and tubes - connect and circulate blood to and from the testicles.  Valves regulating the flow of blood into the body, ensuring there is no "backwash", are found at regular intervals in the veins which are carrying the blood.  Sometimes these valves stop working for one reason or another and the blood does wash backward in a reverse flow.  The backed-up blood then pools in the veins causing swelling and stretching.  This, simply, is called a varicocele.

What Is It and Why Does It Happen

Occurring mostly during puberty, varicocele appears in nearly 15% of young men between the ages of 15 and 25 years-of-age.  During puberty the testes grow quickly and require a larger amount of blood.  If the valves aren't functioning optimally they can't manage the extra blood flow from the testicles.  Even though most of the blood flows correctly, some begins to back up and a varicocele is created.  Interestingly, this situation occurs mostly on the left side of the scrotum, probably because of the way the male body is designed.  The blood flow on the left side of the body is greater, so varicoceles happen more frequently on the left side - although there are instances of it occurring on the right side as well.

Many young men have no symptoms at all are not even aware they have a situation to deal with.  However, symptoms tend to occur in hot weather or after heavy exercise sessions or when there has been an extended period of standing or sitting.

What Are The Signs?

Signs of varicocele are an aching in the testicle or testicles, a heavy feeling in the scrotum, dilated veins and a reduction in the size of the scrotum on the side of the swollen veins, as well as discomfort.  While there is no special treatment needed, it is still a good idea to check in with a doctor for a regular examination and also to be checked if varicocele has appeared,  especially since it has been suspected of causing some problems in sperm production for men.