Im 24 M I had Subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy 2 months ago i had grade 3 in my left and grade 2 in my right. The pain is normal before surgery the pain was unbearable but now its less but is it still normal for veins to get dilated after surgery. Also the vein on my penis gets big not very big but its visible. Anyone else had this type of experience?

I notice that sometimes after sex or masturbating, I occasionally get a clump of veins on the right side of my scrotum.

Should I get checked for varicocele by a GP?

I do not experience pain and have only noticed this for around a year, and it shows up rarely.

22M

Has anyone here had surgery with Dr. Raman Tanwar? If so, please share your experience and opinion or anything.

A bit of backstory, I have had a varicocele on my left testicle since my early teens. It has got bigger over the years but hasn’t ever caused me any pain. However, over the past few years I have had difficulties with low libido (very low virtually no interest or urge to have sex) , poor sleep and more recently I have gained a little bit of weight and struggle to get in shape no matter how I eat or workout. I am slightly overweight but consider myself fairly active and energetic, despite the other issues. I’m 30 Y/o 5’11 and 200 lbs . But I don’t see the results I’d expect from my lifestyle.

I was referred to a Urologist for a testicular cyst on the right side, for which I had surgery carried out. The urologist also identified the varicocele on the left side but advised me not to have surgery on this as “it doesnt have any effect on sperm production or testosterone levels” I have since found out that is not the case and that a Varicocele can have a significant impact on both of these things.

So I have started to connect the dots and wonder if the varicocele is causing my issues. I had my testosterone level checked this week which came back as 14.4 Nmol (414 ngdl). Which isn’t classed as low but is on the borderline.

I am considering going back to the Urologist and requesting treatment. I’d just like to know if anyone else had similar levels and symptoms to me prior to surgery and if surgery resulted in a noticeable improvement ?

Hi everyone,
I'm 18 years old and I've been dealing with testicular and sexual problems for almost two years. I'm looking for experiences from people who have gone through something similar, especially after varicocele embolization, because despite multiple medical examinations and consultations, I still don't have clear answers.
March 2024: I started experiencing pain in my left testicle for about a month. The pain eventually disappeared, but the veins around my testicle remained much larger than before.
September 2024: I started experiencing erectile dysfunction, a significant decrease in libido, and a lower semen volume. These symptoms gradually got worse.
July 2025: I underwent embolization for a left-sided varicocele. A few days after the procedure, I started smoking again and didn't really rest properly, and I subsequently experienced significant pain. In August, imaging showed that the varicocele was no longer visible. I temporarily started getting morning erections again, and my libido, erections and semen volume improved somewhat. However, the veins were still visible.
Late 2025: My symptoms started fluctuating. I sometimes experienced improvements in libido and erections, followed by major relapses, particularly after drinking alcohol or smoking. Even when I stopped these habits, improved my diet, slept 7–10 hours a night and walked more than 10,000 steps a day, the symptoms kept coming back.
Early 2026: Despite several testicular and abdominal scans that showed no varicocele, my symptoms continued. I went through periods of several months with practically no spontaneous erections, almost no libido, very low semen volume, and sometimes burning sensations radiating toward my upper thighs and lower abdomen. I also experienced periods of significant fatigue and changes in sleep and motivation.
In July 2026, for several weeks, I was producing almost no visible semen when ejaculating, mainly a clear fluid, sometimes accompanied by pain above my penis and in my lower abdomen.
September 2026: A CT scan eventually confirmed that the varicocele had recurred on both sides.
What worries me most now is the apparent reduction in the size of one of my testicles. It looks incredibly small, sometimes almost smaller than a grape. I haven't had its exact volume measured yet, so I can't confirm the extent of the shrinkage, but the visual difference is very significant. My testicles also often feel cold.
Regarding my blood tests, my total testosterone was around 15.8–16.1 nmol/L, with FSH at 2.2, LH at 5.1 and prolactin at 19.9, which was flagged as slightly elevated. My urologist told me there was no significant hormonal imbalance. However, my sexual problems persist. I haven't had a recent semen analysis, so I don't know the current state of my fertility.
I should also mention that I used drugs a lot start a 15 , including cannabis and other substances, but I stopped around a year ago. I have also smoked tobacco and consumed alcohol. I lift weights and sometimes train with heavy loads. I've wondered whether any of these factors could have contributed, although my symptoms began around the time my varicocele first appeared. I don't want to jump to conclusions without evidence.
I also tried tadalafil 5 mg once, without any obvious effect initially. After another dose, I noticed that erections became easier to achieve.
At this point, I'm even starting to wonder whether there could be another underlying problem besides the varicocele, especially because my symptoms continued even when imaging showed no visible varicocele. I don't understand how I can have so many problems at 18 when my hormone tests are considered reassuring.
I'm still under medical care, but appointments and investigations take a long time. Given

23 M. I noticed this strange thing on my left testicle. When I'm standing up it goes back to normal, but when I lie down at a certain angle it appears. I feel zero pain or discomfort. If relevant, I also had a fungal infection on my scrotum recently. Thank you for your help.

Hallo,

I was scheduled for a bilateral varicocele embolization using coils in germany.

Has anyone undergone bilateral varicocele embolization? How were their outcomes? Did it improve libido and erection or removed pain?

Thank you a lot and wish you all a good health.

I am so scared

It feels like I lost sensitivity nothing I do works and I am panicking.

I was hit in my testicles very strong , I was immediately sent to the ER at a hospital , they performed an ultrasound and supposedly the results came back”normal” now almost a week of the incident the pain is gone but can’t get erect nothing nothing works. WTF do I do now

30M

34 male - 8 days post left varicocele embolisation. Is it normal to have quite intense pain in the testicle and sharp shooting/spasmy pain going from testicle through veins up to groin/lower abdomen? Pain is quite intense and is same pain as before surgery. Is this normal? Thanks

Hi, 21M. About 5 years ago I had varicocele surgery on my left side, done without a microscope. Five years later it came back, this time on both sides. My ultrasound, blood tests, and semen analysis were really bad, so my doctor recommended a bilateral redo with microsurgery, which I had 3.5 months ago.

Since then my semen analysis has improved significantly, and I’ve had several ultrasounds whenever I felt discomfort, all showing zero reflux. But the symptoms haven’t gone away: lumpiness, heaviness, and a pulling feeling, especially after sex or the gym. My veins are still 4.8 mm, which worries me.

The discomfort is really wearing on me. When it flares up, it distracts me, keeps me anxious, and basically puts my life on pause.

My doctor says it takes time for the blood to re-route, but I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been through this. Did it eventually go away for you? Are the wider veins what’s causing the heaviness and puffiness? And if my veins never shrink, does that mean it’ll feel like this forever?

Can someone please interpret this?
I am 19 with very clear G3 varicocele, and it was done laying down. Am I cooked?

18m. I know like your not supposed to question your doctor, it’s only coz info online is differing from what he says. On my ultrasound my right testicle is 14.4ml and the left one is 10.9 ml(left one is effected by a Varicocele . Is this a normal difference coz I’m not sure what to think?

29M. I had varicocele embolization 1 month ago. I had stopped taking finasteride 1mg since the day of procedure just to avoid any risk of complication that can happen.

Is there any link between varicocele and fin 1mg I need to be aware of? Do you guys know something about this?

This is my result of my ultrasound. I'm 25 years old soon to be 26. My urologist consider this as normal and say nothing to worry about just come after 6 month for another ultrasound. What should I do?

Hi All,

We’ve been married for over 5 years, my wife is almost 34, and we don’t have kids yet. As part of our fertility workup, I recently had a semen analysis done. The numbers came back poor, and a follow-up ultrasound revealed bilateral varicocele (in both testes).

Up until a couple of days ago, I had never even heard of a varicocele. I’ve had zero noticeable physical symptoms or pain—if not for the semen analysis, I never would have known. Since getting the ultrasound results, I’ve been dealing with a lot of anxiety. It feels like everything is moving very fast, and I have an appointment with an andrologist in a couple of days.

I’m trying to walk into that consultation informed and prepared. A few questions for anyone who has been through this:

Overall health impact: Does an asymptomatic varicocele affect long-term general health, or is the concern strictly limited to fertility?

Semen quality & lifestyle: While waiting for next steps, what evidence-based remedies, supplements, or lifestyle shifts actually make a measurable difference?

Surgery & conception odds: I’m concerned the doctor will recommend surgery (varicocelectomy/embolization). For those who had bilateral repair, what did your improvement look like, and what were your odds of natural conception afterward?

Would appreciate any insight, personal experiences, or specific questions you wish you had asked your doctor during your first visit. Thank you.

Hello guys, first time posting here after discovering this subreddit.

Right, I am 27 to be soon atm, I’m looking for some advice and to hear from people with similar experiences, as I’ve been feeling quite anxious about my varicocele and fertility lately.
I first discovered my left-sided varicocele when I was around 14–15 years old. At the time, I had intermittent testicular pain, and the enlarged veins could be felt by touch. However, the pain gradually disappeared when I was around 17, and I haven’t really experienced it since.
I was supposed to have surgery shortly before COVID(doctor said if you wanna get it sorted we can do it, the reason was just that) but it was postponed because of the pandemic. I never followed up or chased the surgery afterwards, partly because the pain had gone away.
Around the COVID period, I had a semen analysis, and I was told the results were moderately okay. Unfortunately, I no longer have the report or remember the exact numbers.
I recently had another scrotal Doppler ultrasound. The report says:
Both testicles are normal in size.
The testicular tissue and both epididymides appear normal.
No abnormal enlargement of the veins was seen on the right side.
On the left, the veins reach 3.6 mm during the Valsalva manoeuvre (straining), with venous reflux lasting 2 seconds.
I’m now planning to have another semen analysis in about three months. My girlfriend and I have only recently started trying for a baby, around three weeks ago, so we haven’t been trying for long.
However, finding out that the varicocele is still there has made me anxious. I keep wondering whether leaving it untreated for so many years could have affected my sperm quality or fertility, even though the pain disappeared and my testicles are still normal in size.
I know three weeks of trying is nowhere near enough to conclude that there’s a fertility problem, but I’m struggling not to worry about the years I left it untreated.
For those of you with a long-standing varicocele:
Have you had normal semen analysis results despite having it for many years?
Can a varicocele remain stable without affecting fertility?
Has anyone had normal-sized testicles on ultrasound but abnormal semen analysis results?
Would you recommend seeing a urologist now rather than waiting for the next semen analysis?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences.
Sorry for the ultrasound report if there are any grammar mistakes as it was translated from my own language.

I don’t know my t levels, but I tend to have sex 25 times a month, and had really low issues with erection. For my variccole, I think I can feel the bag of worms so grade 3 probably?

And I am in the UK atm, based here, any guidance on how to tackle this here? Anyone with experience will be appreciated.

Thanks for your guidance already.

Estoy totalmente cagado por que me tengo que operar de Varicocele y me da miedo que algo salga mal, Tengo 20 casi 21 y me la bajo mucho esto, a todos les fue bien en sus operaciones

Hi all just want to know i have accepted to have my varicocele embolization done through my urologist years in making i have now received a letter to have a telephone consultation with my urologist anyone else had this and do you know what to expect during this phone call.

Should I still worry about infertility due to varicocele and about my hormone levels? My libido is high. I'm 19 yo male. I'm wearing a jockstrap only while lifting and have completely switched to stable isolation movements in my workouts. Before sleeping, I keep my legs on the wall vertically to drain the pooled blood for like 5 mins. What else should I be doing at this point?

Hey all, I’ve been trying my best to ignore my varicocele, but it has continued to affect my energy levels, comfortability, and mental health.

One night, I slept with my testicles between my legs. I woke up with numbness in my right testicle. I coughed, and it moved, so I tried to ignore it.

5 years later, especially on days that my body is warmer, I still notice my right testicle
-hanging lower,
-a bag of worms feeling in the hind side of my testicle,
-only my right testicle moves up towards my body when I flex my PC muscles,
-a lot more pre-cum,
-lower energy levels,
-lower libido
-more pre-cum
-apparently my testosterone levels were over 800, but I remember that was on a cold day. I would’ve be surprised if they stoop below 500 on warm days

It has taken a toll on my mental health because I don’t feel like the man I used to feel like.

I’m looking for advice from someone who has had the surgery before. Is it worth it? Would I go back to normal? Will it my right testicle still hang much lower than my left one?

31M, Left Grade 3, long-time lurker, first time poster. I thought I would share my story / experience so that others with this condition might be able to one day benefit from it. In my experience, people are more likely to post on this forum when they are having issues, and then disappear once things work out. Hopefully I can balance that out.

I have had a varicocele since I was, unusually, around 4 years old. This became clinical when I reached puberty and a doctor told me "meh, it might affect your fertility, but I wouldn't worry about it". I have never had any pain, but at its largest, you could see my varicocele from across a room.

Timeline

January 1st 2025

Wife and I start trying to have a baby

February 9th 2026 / Month 13

First semen analysis result at Clinic A (below motility and morphology reference values):

• Volume: 3.2ml
• Concentration: 29.6 million
• Motility / PR Motility: 27% / 24%
• Morphology: 3%

February 24th 2026 / Month 13

Follow up semen analysis at Clinic A to confirm male factor primary infertility (below morphology reference value):

• Volume: 3.9ml
• Concentration: 50 million
• Motility / PR Motility: 45% / 31%
• Morphology: 2%

February 27th 2026 / Month 13

Embolization procedure to embolize a "Grade 2/3 Varicocele" on the left side.

My left testicle was "below normal" at 13ml due to the presence of the varicocele through my important adolescent years.

Follow up ultrasound three months later confirms no reflux and some thrombosis of veins - though the veins remain fairly large to this day and will probably remain dilated for the rest of my life.

July 14th 2026 / Month 18

Follow up semen analysis at a different clinic - Clinic B (below morphology reference value):

• Volume: 4ml
• Concentration: 103.3 million
• Motility / PR Motility: 94% / 80%
• Morphology: 3%

September 12th 2026 / Month 20

My wife is pregnant - through natural conception - wooohoooooo!

October 12th 2026 / Month 21

Another semen analysis at Clinic A (this was supposed to be a pre-IVF / IUI screening appointment). Normal result!

• Volume: 2.7ml
• Concentration: 54 million
• Motility / PR Motility: 52% / 50%
• Morphology: 5%

What I have learned

From the numbers, varicocele embolization seems to have been well worth the investment for a large left sided varicocele. We have successfully spared my wife IVF treatment (potentially more than once over the next few years).

I wish I had done a semen analysis before starting the process of trying for a baby, as I feel I would have saved a lot of time and my wife might have fallen pregnant sooner.

I feel I should not have listened to my childhood doctor, and should have had embolized it as a teenager. This would have meant my testes would grow larger overall, and would have become more effective sperm and testosterone factories.

The prevailing medical view seems to be "who cares, we can ICSI anyway and the woman will get pregnant". But this seems very short-term thinking when varicocele treatment could potentially result in multiple consecutive natural pregnancies.

Anyway, although this experience is anecdotal, I hope this has helped someone. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Hello everyone. I am a 34M with left varicocele for 13 years.
I wanted to share my ongoing experience with varicocele. I will be updating this post step-by-step as I go through surgery, hoping my journey can serve as a helpful guide for others looking to heal.

2013: The Initial Diagnosis I was officially diagnosed with varicocele. At the time, my numbers were pretty grim: 0% morphology and a sperm count of only around 2 million.

2014: Libido and Sexual Changes I started experiencing a loss of libido, and my morning wood completely stopped. I never suffered from erectile dysfunction (ED) in terms of getting hard, but my performance changed. I was suddenly limited to just one round, and my refractory period extended significantly (before the varicocele, I was able to get an erection again in just one minute).

Pre-Marriage: The First Surprise Before getting married, I repeated my semen analysis. Even though my varicocele grade had actually increased, my sperm count miraculously jumped to 200 million, and my morphology went up to 11%. I was incredibly shocked. Shortly after, we successfully had our first child!

2020: Pelvic & Urinary Symptoms I began experiencing occasional anal cramping and a 5-10 second hesitation when trying to start urination. (Honestly, I think the urinary hesitation is psychological, because if I distract myself with other thoughts, or if I’ve had a busy day with a lot of walking, I can start peeing immediately). I visited a urologist and got an MRI. The doctor mentioned my prostate looked slightly "full" but did not diagnose me with prostatitis. He also noted a diffuse thickening of my bladder wall.

Post-2020: Baby Number Two We decided to try for a second child. I got my sperm tested once again, and the count had gone up to 360 million. We successfully had our second child.

The Last Few Years to Present: Hypersensitivity & Pain Despite having zero fertility issues, over the last few years I have developed severe pain in my testicles at the slightest touch. Even just brushing dust off my pants hurts. If my child tries to sit on my lap to hug me, I instinctively tense up to prevent the pain. I am constantly on guard. I don’t have any aching when I'm just sitting still without contact, and the anal cramping is now so rare that it doesn't really affect my life. My main issue is this extreme physical sensitivity to touch.

The Decision for Surgery I’ve finally decided I want to get rid of this varicocele. I booked an appointment with Dr. Cüneyd Sevinç for this Thursday. I've read both good and bad reviews about him online, but realistically, people who are cured usually move on with their lives and don't write reviews, whereas those who are unhappy always make sure to post about it.

Today's Update: Pre-Op and Anesthesia Today, I got my anesthesia clearance from the hospital. The doctor reviewed my results, asked if I smoked, and asked whether I preferred general or spinal anesthesia. I opted for general.
A quick tip for anyone preparing for surgery: Even though I had already received anesthesia clearance from a different hospital just a week ago, the hospital performing the surgery required me to renew it specifically with them. Be prepared for this extra step so you aren't caught off guard.
I will keep you all updated on the surgery and recovery process. Wish me luck!

Hey, diagnosed with left grade 4 varicocele 27M and done the micro surgery. The problem is the testicle got reduced to half. Any way will ir catch growth at least some?