Hi,I felt a vein on the lower back side of my left testicle and I'm worried it might be a varicose vein again. I've had one of those before (I don't remember on which testicle--I was a bit younger) and so I know it must be treated.But is every vein you can feel there "below" a varicose one? When I google it, you see those big, crooked and swollen veins that "stick out" of the skin, if you know what I mean, and that isn't the case, though I can feel it, and that worries me.What should I do? All help is greatly appreciated
-
Vein on Testicle Troubles Me
-
You need to google "varicocele" which is the varicose veins specific to inside the scrotum. It may just be your epidydimis you are feeling on the back side of your testicle. Large varicoceles usually feel like a bag of worms in your scrotum, and are easy to identify, especially when the right side doesn't have them. Even if you do have a varicocele, it may not be necessary to treat it. The general policy is if the varicocele isn't causing you pain or discomfort, if it isn't causing your left testicle to atrophy (shrink in size), or if you aren't having any fertility problems (low sperm count, trying to get pregnant, etc.), then the best policy is to just leave it alone. Many guys have varicoceles that are never treated and don't cause problems.
-
Hm, I googled it for images and I have to say I can see nothing like that on mine, but that is maybe because those cases are more severe, or because I don't have a good view at the back-side of my testicles, lol.When I was younger--as mentioned before--I had the same thing and back then I had an operation. But sadly, seeing as I was younger, I don't remember how it looked like, so I can't compare.My left one (the one I suspect has the varicocele) does hang a bit higher than the right one, but I don't think it's smaller, though that's hard to know for sure.If I leave it, can it cause a staying effect? Would it be a difference if I had the operation now or in, let's say, 10 years? I know that if I have doubt, I should just tell my parents, but then my dad would want to take a look before calling the hospital, cause he doesn't want to make an appointement if it's not needed. So I would rather avoid telling my parents if not needed...
-
I hate to bump, but I'm kind of worried... I hope it's okay.
-
In reply to: My left one (the one I suspect has the varicocele) does hang a bit higher than the right one, but I don't think it's smaller, though that's hard to know for sure.Well, usually a varicocele will cause the testicle to hang lower, not higher. This is because the extra weight of the blood pooled in the varicose veins makes it heavier and drags it down, eventually stretching the scrotal skin. I still have a bit of extra scrotal skin on the left side from when I had my varicocele (since corrected with surgery). In reply to:If I leave it, can it cause a staying effect? Would it be a difference if I had the operation now or in, let's say, 10 years? No, with the exception if the varicocele is very large like mine was, and is causing circulation problems to and from the testicle, causing it to atrophy. If the testicle shrinks in size too much because of this, it could permanently be damaged and could cause a permanent drop in sperm count. The biggest health risk with varicoceles is fertility related. No one has ever died from a varicocele. The worst it can do to you is cause infertility. Still, you should have a doctor check it out to be sure that is what the issue is, and not something more problematic. Do you get regular physical exams?
-
I had a physical exam last year with school, but I got the impression the person doing it didn't pay any attention (and hardly checked for anything).If I can't see it well, and (as far as I know) it doesn't shrink it, am I in the "safe zone"? EDIT: also, thanks for the help, I really appreciate it!
-
Well, that is assuming it is a varicocele, then yes. It it may be something else, and without a physical exam by a doctor, you'll never know for certain.