Q: I am 20 years old male and suffering from left sided varicocele. What is the line of treatment and is it necessary to get an operation done?

A:The term varicocele specifically refers to dilatation and tortuosity of the network of veins that drain the testicle. Fifteen to twenty percent of young males may have varicocele. Most of left varicoceles are ideopathic, like varicose veins of the legs. Some, more on right side, could be secondary to an obstruction to the main draining vein while it travels up inside the abdomen. It is important to rule out secondary causes for obvious reasons. Most idiopathic varicoceles are asymptomatic and managed conservatively by scrotal support. Varicoceles may have to be treated for causing symptoms like nagging dull aching scrotal pain, when associated with infertility, or when affecting the testicular size (testicular atrophy). Varicocelectomy, the surgical correction of a varicocele, is performed by three most common approaches, inguinal (groin), retroperitoneal (abdominal), and infrainguinal/subinguinal (below the groin). Microsurgical method with subinguinal approach gives the best outcome with least complications.