The swelling is almost always in your left testicle. But you can get it on the right side or in both testicles at the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Evers JL, Collins JA.
Surgery or embolisation for varicocele in subfertile men (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ Sometimes a varicocele is big enough for you to see the swelling, although it might disappear when you lie down. And sometimes varicoceles can't be seen at all.

You may find a varicocele if you feel your testicles. You should always see a doctor if you find a lump or swelling. It's probably just a varicocele, but there's a chance it could be cancer. But this is rare. A varicocele isn't cancer, and it doesn't usually give any serious problems.

Because a varicocele is caused by swollen

 

 

 

 

 

veins
Veins are blood vessels that carry blood back to your heart after your blood has delivered oxygen and food to the tissues.

 

 

 

 

 

veins, it can feel like a bunch of swollen tubes. Some men describe it as feeling like "a bag of worms." You can have a varicocele that's quite small, so you might not be able to feel it at all. Or you may only find out that you have a varicocele if you're having trouble starting a family, and your doctor examines you.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
James Brady Buchanan Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Varicocele.
Available at http://urology.jhu.edu/infertility/varicocele.php (accessed on 14 January 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

²

Some doctors think that having a varicocele can make it harder to have children.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Dubin L, Amelar RD.
Varicocelectomy: 986 cases in a twelve-year study.
Urology. 1977; 10: 446-449.

 

 

 

 

 

³ There hasn't been enough research to be sure. But we do know that men who have sperm problems (such as abnormally shaped sperm), are more likely to have a varicocele.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
World Health Organization.
The influence of varicocele on parameters of fertility in a large group of men presenting to infertility clinics.
Fertility and Sterility. 1992; 57: 1289-1293.

 

 

 

 

 

⁴

If you have a varicocele you may get pain or an ache in your testicles.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
James Brady Buchanan Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Varicocele.
Available at http://urology.jhu.edu/infertility/varicocele.php (accessed on 14 January 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

² This may be worse on days when you've been standing for a long time or exercising a lot. Some men don't like how the swelling looks. But varicoceles aren't dangerous. Apart from the effect they might have on having children, they don't cause serious problems.

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