Should i have veins on my testicles

This is because a guy's body is organized so that blood flow on that side of the scrotum is greater, so varicoceles happen more often in the left testicle than the right. Although it's less common, they can sometimes happen on both sides.

In most cases, guys have no symptoms at all. A guy might not even be aware that he has a varicocele. When symptoms do happen, it's usually during hot weather, after heavy exercise, or when a guy has been standing or sitting for a long time.

It's a good idea to get a testicular exam regularly, which is normally part of a guy's regular checkup. Besides visually checking for any unusual lumps or bumps, the health care provider might feel the testicles and the area around them to make sure a guy's equipment is in good shape and there are no problems.

A testicular exam may be done while a guy is standing up so that the scrotum is relaxed. Some abnormalities like a varicocele can be more easily felt in a standing position. The doctor checks things like the size, weight, and position of the testicles, and gently rolls each testicle back and forth to feel for lumps or swelling.

The doctor also feels for any signs of tenderness along the epididymis , the tube that transports sperm from the testicles. The spermatic cord is also examined for any sign of swelling. If the doctor thinks there might be a varicocele, he or she might do an ultrasound, which can measure blood flow and identify veins that aren't working correctly.

Most varicoceles need no special treatment. A varicocele is usually harmless and more than likely won't affect a guy's ability to father a child later in life. But if there is any pain and swelling, the doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medicine to relieve it. If the varicocele causes discomfort or aching, wearing snug underwear like briefs or a jock strap for support may bring relief.

If the doctor thinks the testicle is being affected by the varicocele or if there's still pain and support doesn't help, a type of surgery called a varicocelectomy may be recommended. The recurrence rate with embolization is on par with surgery. But there are cases where embolization is preferred over surgery. Semen quality improves in about 6 out of 10 infertile men after varicocele repair.

This treatment should be thought about along with other fertility treatment choices. In teens, where the main reason for surgery is slow testicular growth, catch-up growth may or may not occur. Majority of males with varicocele will not have problems. One out of five males with varicocele will experience difficulty fathering children. Semen analysis is highly recommended after age 16 years to determine if varicocele repair is needed.

If a semen analysis is normal it is recommended to have a repeat analysis every 2 to 3 years as with time the quality of sperms may decrease. Fertility issues may come up years later, even if not seen earlier. Treatment of teens depends on each case.

It's of great value to talk about choices with a urologist or pediatric urologist. Varicocele repair in a teen may be a good choice if there is pain, if one testicle is much smaller than the other, or the teen has an abnormal semen analysis performed at age 16 years. Some choose repair so they won't have to worry about fertility issues in the future. Semen analyses can be done in older teens to see if repair would help.

As a rule, varicoceles with no symptoms are not repaired. Most health care providers do not believe these varicoceles cause health problems if not treated. If there's worry about fertility, semen analysis can be done to see if the varicocele is harming sperm quality.

Supporting the scrotum with a jockstrap or briefs-style underwear can help varicocele pain. Lying on your back helps the varicocele drain, and often eases pain.

Taking pain killers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen may also help. You can also talk with your urologist about varicocele repair. Semen analyses are often done three to four months after the procedure. Semen quality often improves within six months, but it may also take as long as a year. Abnormalities in the male reproductive tract may show up as a mass in the scrotum. Masses could be nothing to worry about and may have little effect on your health. Or they could be a sign of life-threatening illness.

It's of great value to find out what is causing your mass. One type of mass may be testicular cancer. This would be cause for concern and calls for quick action. It's vital to see a doctor when you find any lump or bump in your testicle.

Read the latest issue of Urology Health extra, the Urology Care Foundations patient-focused magazine. This web site has been optimized for user experience and security, therefore Internet Explorer IE is not a recommended browser. Thank you. Urology A-Z Varicoceles. What are Varicoceles?

What Happens Normally? See More See Less The male reproductive system makes, stores, and moves sperm. Diagram of the Male Reproductive Organs Enlarge. Are Varicoceles Common? Often, varicoceles are not treated. Treatment is offered for males who have: fertility problems problems fathering a child pain the left testicle growing more slowly than the right Abnormal semen analysis There are no drugs to treat or prevent varicoceles.

Surgery is done under general anesthesia. The two surgical approaches used most commonly are: Microscopic varicocelectomy: With this technique, the surgeon makes a 1 cm incision above the scrotum.

Using the microscope, the surgeon ligates all small veins and spare the vas deferens, testicular arteries and lymphatic drainage.

The procedure takes 2 to 3 hours to complete and patient is discharged home on the same day. Laparoscopic varicocelectomy: With this technique, the surgeon inserts thin tubes in the abdomen and perform vein ligation. Because there are fewer veins to ligate in the abdomen the procedure is shorter and takes approximately minutes to complete.

Patient is discharged home on the same day. Surgery Results Since surgeons have started using smaller cuts through the muscle for open surgery, healing time and pain are about the same with microscopic and laparoscopic surgery. Sources: i Stanford Health Care. Symptoms of varicocele. Male infertility and varicocele: Myths and reality. Overview of the vascular system. Varicose veins. What is a varicocele? Tanrikut, M. Goldstein, J. Rosoff, R. Lee, C.

Varicocele as a risk factor for androgen deficiency and effect of repair. Low testosterone and your health. Percutaneous embolization of varicocele: Technique, indications, relative contraindications, and complications.