The Silent Testicular Enemy

We’re frequently starting to see young men with infertility problems and low testosterone symptoms. There can be numerous reasons for these issues including metabolic diseases, obstructive sleep apnea, and even certain medications. Here at The Y Factor one of the first things that come to mind is a mostly asymptomatic problem known as varicoceles.

Varicose veins, often seen in the people’s lower extremities, are enlarged blood vessels that have defective valves allowing blood to pool around the testicles. Varicoceles are varicose veins within the scrotum, these varicose veins are a part of the pampiniform plexus. The pampiniform plexus is responsible for regulating the temperature of our testicles. When we have faulty veins within the pampiniform plexus this will cause a heating effect that results in testicular hypofunction aka decreased testosterone production and abnormal sperm production.

While we can increase your testosterone with medication, preserving your testicular function is a priority here at The Y Factor. After a thorough examination and occasionally an ultrasound, you might be diagnosed with a varicocele.  Treatment is a surgical procedure called a Varicocelectomy. Surgery results in 60-80% improvement in testes functional (improvement in testosterone and fertility) with a 90-99% success elimination of the varicocele!

If you are experiencing low testosterone or have been trying to conceive without success, schedule a visit with The Y Factor team at one of our six locations across the greater Houston area. Your provider will obtain detailed medical information, perform a physical examination, get a scrotal ultrasound, blood work, and semen analysis using our new at home semen analysis kit. Once we have received all your results, our experts will create a personalized treatment plan to address the underlying problem.

References

Cayan, S., Akbay, E., Saylam, B. & Kadioglu, A. (2020). Effect of varicocele and its treatment on testosterone in hypogonadal men with varicocele: Review of literature. Balkan Medical Journal. doi: 10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2020.2020.1.85

The American Urological Association. (2020). What are varicoceles?. Retrieved from https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/v/varicoceles

Practice Committee of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. (2014). Report on varicocele and infertility: a committee opinion. Americaan Society for Reproductive Medicine. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.10.007