Varicocele: what it is and symptoms
The varicose veins are superficial veins that, due to an insufficient elasticity of the walls, can dilate or shrink, altering the normal blood flow of nourishment of the body districts and / or of venous return.
Varicocele is a particular type of varicose vein that affects the veins that carry blood from the testicles to the heart, causing venous stagnation of the testicles themselves.
Varicocele is often asymptomatic, and is diagnosed following fertility investigations: infertility is in fact one of the consequences of varicocele. In some cases, however, the symptoms are present and annoying, such as:
> testicular pain;
> testicular swelling;
> pain during urination.
Varicocele: the causes
The main causes that can cause varicocele are:
> in the case of idiopathic varicocele the cause is a malfunction of the valves that control the flow of blood: the valves allow venous return from the periphery to the center, so when they have problems to function regularly the blood can stagnate at the periphery, without flowing properly towards the heart, creating a swelling of the veins themselves;
> in the case of secondary varicocele the cause is external compression, due to cellular or other masses, which go to crush the vein and alternate normal blood transport function.
The reasons why the valves and vein walls have a reduced functionality are to be found, with the exception of cases of congenital venous insufficiency, in a sedentary lifestyle, with an unbalanced diet, lack of movement, excess of polluting agents such as smoke and alcohol, excess of drugs and overweight.
In essence the varicocele has the same genesis and the same course of the varices that can affect the lower limbs.
Garments that are too tight and compress the area of the scrotum, excess abdominal fat and obesity, even slight, sedentary life with lack of adequate aerobic physical activity that can activate circulation and dispose of excess calories, a diet rich in fat, sugars, processed and refined products, cheeses, meat, which leads to thickening of the vascular walls, lack of fiber and flavonoids in the diet, constipation and intestinal dysbiosis, lymphatic and fluid stagnation, are all contributing factors that can cause varicocele problems.
In some cases the varicocele can manifest itself after traumas in the pelvic part, even after some time: even when the pain of the trauma and of the contusion has disappeared, it is possible that the circulation has been compromised.
The diagnosis of varicocele is made by careful and specific medical supervision, if neglected it can lead to infertility and testicular atrophy.