[Southpaw41]

Hi everyone I am new to this site and would appreciate your knowledge/input/advise on an issue I have had for a while. My vericocele has recently been bothering me and I’m looking for some help and advice. I am now 22 years old and have had the vericocele (left side, grade 2) since puberty and don’t know what to do. My vericocele has never caused me any pain or discomfort that I can recall but it’s something I would like to live without if possible. When I was 16 I got my first ultrasound and got it checked by a urologist. He said it was nothing to worry about but if it ever caused any pain or discomfort to come back. Fast forward to last summer (I was 21) when a vein appeared across the side of my right testicle which got me worried. I again got an ultrasound and visited my urologist who again stated my testicles were both the same/normal size and the vein on my right testicle was nothing to worry about. I asked him then if surgery was an option but he told me I shouldn’t consider surgery if I wasn’t having difficulty having children (again im 22 and single so this is not on an issue although I would like children someday). Recently (about one year since my last visit on this matter) I decided to get a second opinion from a more experienced urologist in the area. I met with this doctor’s PA who looked at my previous reports and told me the surgery was an option for me if I wish. The treatment they offer is a varicocelectomy which he stated was a simple and common operation the urologist performs for these conditions…

This issue has been on my mind now for the past month or so and is driving me nuts. I’m at a point where I feel I should either act on it or learn to live with it again. It bothers in the sense that I know its there and it’s not pleasant to look at (the bag of worms). More so I know the possible risks with letting it go (damage to testicle over time, can lead to lower testosterone, possible infertility etc.) I am meeting again tomorrow with the urologist (not his PA) who would actually be doing my surgery for a Q and A session. I want to pick his brain on what type of surgery it will be (retroperitoneal, conventional inguinal, laparoscopic, microscopic inguinal), what recovery is like, other patient’s outcomes, etc. to weigh my options. I do not take surgery lightly (especially on this area of a man) and want to do my homework before making a decision.

My biggest concern at the moment is what post surgery will be like. Like I said before I am in no pain at the moment and would like to keep it that way. I’ve hear many stories online of these surgeries leading to pain, reoccurrence, hydrocele, lowered sexual stamina etc.

I am also concerned that if I wait to have this treated I will lower my probablility of a successful operation since I am still young.

I would consider myself to be pretty active and have been lifting since I was in high school. I feel if all these years of lifting/running hasn’t brought pain to my vericocele (or damage to my testicles) it probably wont (for a while at least).

A big concern I have is reoccurrence. What are my options if this happens?

Also what effects does this surgery have on my sexual function? Does this surgery cause any pain or discomfort while aroused?

I’m sorry if I am rambling but this condition is really worrying me and I would greatly appreciate any input from your own experiences.

Thanks so much.