The doctor warned about the risk of infertility in varicocele in adolescents

Varicocele, which is often diagnosed in adolescence, can have a direct impact on reproductive health in the future. Maria Shcherbakova, a pediatric surgeon, pediatric urologist and andrologist at the SM Clinic for Children, told Izvestia on February 21 about how this disease develops and why it poses a risk to fertility.

According to her, varicocele is a varicose vein of the testicle, in 90% of cases on the left, the manifestations of which often occur in adolescence. The formation of a varicocele is most often based on the features of the anatomical structure of the testicular vein, which underlie the slowing of blood flow in this vein and the formation of venous congestion in the testicle.

"Venous blood, stagnating in testicular tissues, prevents the flow of oxygen-rich arterial blood, which causes chronic hypoxia of testicular tissue and, as a result, impaired spermatogenesis. This may be the direct cause of infertility. Based on scientific data, up to 40% of childless marriages in total are associated with varicocele," the specialist emphasized.

As the urologist noted, the disease can be asymptomatic, especially in the initial stages. However, it can also be manifested by a feeling of heaviness and periodic moderate pain in the scrotum.

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According to the doctor, an asymptomatic course and grade III varicocele are periodically detected, combined with hypotrophy, that is, a decrease in size and replacement by connective tissue of the testicle on the side of the varicocele, which corresponds to a serious lesion of the reproductive organ. In such situations, the urologist understands that the disease has been going on for more than one year, and the reason for the detection of the advanced stage of the disease is the rare examinations of the urologist in adolescence.

"Grade III varicocele requires surgery — ligation of dilated testicular veins. The essence of the operation is to "disable" the function of the pathological veins of the testicle on the affected side. After surgery, other groups of veins take over the function of the affected ones, and the venous outflow from the testicle improves. Operations for varicocele are always carried out as planned, after a full examination of the patient," the doctor added.

In conclusion, the specialist noted that the boys' parents should not be afraid of surgical treatment if necessary. Modern methods of varicocele treatment are low-traumatic and well tolerated by patients.

On February 18, Artur Bogatyrev, a urologist and andrologist at the SM Clinic Center for Reproductive Health, named the most important vitamins for men's reproductive health. Then, first of all, the specialist isolated vitamin C. According to him, it is a strong antioxidant that protects cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.