Varicocele removal - best option?

[2021Hope]

Heya ladies We’re currently exploring treatment for varicocele and been presented with 2 options 1) embolization or 2) laproscopic surgery which treatment have you gone for? The consultant has said both are great options so it’s up to us. I’m thinking embolization potentially first and if that doesn’t make a difference then laproscopic as a back up? Any insight is so appreaciated! Thank you x

[Catsnkidsistheplan]

Hi, my hubby had a varicocelectomy about 2 weeks ago. This was favoured by surgeon plus an embolisation privately is 6k. So we went for the varicocelectomy at just under 3k. All in all he's recovering all fine. Just hope it improves his fertility so we are playing the waiting game at mo

[Catsnkidsistheplan]

Forgot to say, it's 3 incisions or 'ports' thru the stomach / belly button area

[Mar6]

Hello,
Could you please tell me where you did the treatment?
I’m looking for a clinic but the quotes are all over 5 k which is so expensive.
Also did your husband see any improvement in dna fragmentation after the surgery?
Your help is much appreciated,
😊
Marijana

[try9ng]

Sorry for jumping on your thread, y partner has been diagnosed with varicocele but consultant said not to treat as operation is too risky. His sperm count is very very low and we are contemplating whether he should get it treated. Do you think it was worth the operation, were u told it was risky? We are booked in for ICSI in August, but really wish we could get his count up enough to do things naturally

[Catsnkidsistheplan]

Hi both
We used a urologist at Manchester so paid £3k for procedure.
On results, we have been told to wait 6 months before next SA. So crunch time is mid July for us.
Hubby had only 26 sperms in his sample last year. Was a massive blow. He's had genetic testing but came back all fine. So can only assume it's the varicocele but who knows!Varicocele is a huge grade 3 so we were advised that is was worthwhile to treat by urologist. Results are spectrum based. Some men respond well and can go onto father kids naturally post surgery. The urologist has had one patient where the op did not improve or help. So I'm taking that as a positive! We did get told it was maybe worth banking sperm before the op in case the op interfered with the sperm and drops to zero or something horrific like that. But we decided against it just because it was so so bad at 26 so we thought what's the point. But that's our decision I suppose!

[try9ng]

Thanks for your reply. I think my partners count was something similar they just said there were very few motile sperm wouldn't give us an actual number. His varicoceles are 3mm but they definitely feel like they are overheating. Maybe 3mm isn't big enough to make a difference. All other tests came back normal so I don't know what else could be affecting sperm count so badly. Sometimes I don't know of the fertility consultants automatically just want patients to do ivf as they are making money out of it. Did yoi try cooling them? My partner is doing the icing method to cool then, we're just so desperate at this point

[Catsnkidsistheplan]

Nope, we haven't tried to actively cool them. No one advised us to do so either. I've put him on some male fertility supplements. He's on 2 tabs daily. And tried to help his diet. He's not overweight. Doesn't drink or smoke. We are a boring couple lol. He's fairly active. It's a proper head scratcher. But he admitted the lump or varicocele in his groin he has felt it since he was a teen! He thought it was normal! He's now 37 so I kinda worry about damage over time! But we will hopefully see what the plan is next month. Hoping for some improvement. Anything has got to be better than 26! Surely! At least it shows he's producing something and up to now with testing, only the varicocele has been found and it's a biggy.

[try9ng]

We're a boring couple too lol, he did smoke but has quit and has started taking vitamins and cut of coffee. It's really frustrating not knowing how to solve the problem. Hopefully it hasn't done any long lasting damage and the repair reverses any harm done. Hope you get some good results from the next sperm test

[Catsnkidsistheplan]

Thanks @try9ng! I cannot get my hubby off coffee. He doesn't drink a lot of it and I feel a bit tight asking him to give up even more stuff. He must feel like an experimented on guinea pig. I'll post back when we get results/next steps. There's mixed results and opinions on varicoceles in general on the web/people's experiences so happy to share and help others out there in this crappy situation

[K8dferXdder]

Hi all, following up to see what options have you explored for treating bilateral varicocele? My husband is currently awaiting for a private appointment. Hope there was a positive outcome after all, I can see it’s been over a year of this discussion. Would like to get any opinions on costs, clinics etc. any help is beneficial really. Thank you 😊

[alt22]

@Catsnkidsistheplan

Hi both
We used a urologist at Manchester so paid £3k for procedure.
On results, we have been told to wait 6 months before next SA. So crunch time is mid July for us.
Hubby had only 26 sperms in his sample last year. Was a massive blow. He's had genetic testing but came back all fine. So can only assume it's the varicocele but who knows!Varicocele is a huge grade 3 so we were advised that is was worthwhile to treat by urologist. Results are spectrum based. Some men respond well and can go onto father kids naturally post surgery. The urologist has had one patient where the op did not improve or help. So I'm taking that as a positive! We did get told it was maybe worth banking sperm before the op in case the op interfered with the sperm and drops to zero or something horrific like that. But we decided against it just because it was so so bad at 26 so we thought what's the point. But that's our decision I suppose!

Hi @Catsnkidsistheplan - I was just wondering how you got on ?

[Catsnkidsistheplan]

Hi, count didn't improve however quality did. We still needed ivf icsi but after one round, we conceived. My daughter is now 6 months and happy and healthy!

[alt22]

@Catsnkidsistheplan

Hi, count didn't improve however quality did. We still needed ivf icsi but after one round, we conceived. My daughter is now 6 months and happy and healthy!

@Catsnkidsistheplan oh how lovely! Congratulations! xx

[Catsnkidsistheplan]

Aww thanks. She was definitely worth all the pain and waiting despite how stressful the whole infertility diagnosis was

[AnaB123]

Hi @try9ng I know this is an old thread but wondered if you would mind sharing whether your partner had surgery in the end, or if you just went for ICSI? My other half has a varicocele on both sides and was told surgery would be particularly tricky on one side due to previous hernia op. His numbers are terrible (less than 1 million) so I'm not confident surgery would improve numbers enough for natural conception. We previously had ICSI and it was successful but I'd like to avoid more of this in the future if we decide to try for more... Really difficult to know what to do!

[try9ng]

@AnaB123 he didn't go for the surgery, his numbers are very poor but have managed to get some frozen and we are starting our new cycle now. Due to my age we didn't want to wait for recovery before having a cycle in case it didn't help. Hopefully this cycle works, if so I think he will go after for operation. It is really hard to decide what to do

[AnaB123]

@try9ng thanks for responding. Ugh, the waiting is so frustrating and its a shame we have to factor in how long everything takes... That triples the stress/anxiety IMO! Wishing you so much luck on this next cycle, got everything crossed for you!

[marshk]

Hi @AnaB123 - my husband has just had the surgery to try and sort his varicocele out. He only had it 3 weeks ago so it's just a waiting game for us now to see if it's helped at all! x

[try9ng]

@AnaB123 it really does add to the stress, so many decisions to make and so little time. Thank you, I hope everything works out for you whatever way you decide to go x

[AnaB123]

@marshk Oh I hope it proves successful!

[K8dferXdder]

just a bit of an update from me - my partner started the process with varicoceles embolisation and had it done in January 2023. His count was 3mil and he was on Impryl vitamins and Clomiphene 50mg every second day. One day before his embolisation, my pregnancy test was positive… but he still did it and we are yet to find out whether his count improved. Although as some said, even if count doesn’t improve, maybe the quality improves.
on the day of the embolisation, the intervention doctor said he doesn’t see anything wrong on the right side, so he only did the left side. He said this is normal because at NHS whoever said he has it on both sides, they are not specialists and sometimes they can’t give proper diagnosis.
If the left side didn’t work, probably his right side was working so never stop trying because you never know.
the procedure went well and he was able to walk straight away. The doctor also told him that with time, he may stop producing sperm, so it was also in his interest to go ahead with the procedure. We did it all through the private medical insurance.
the plan was to do IMSI 3 months after the procedure.
Let me know if you have any questions.

[AnaB123]

@K8dferXdder wow, that's great re your positive test! We have a few blastocysts in the freezer so still not sure whether my partner will go for the surgery but I hope he will!

[K8dferXdder]

Hi @AnaB123 , is it surgery what they proposed him or embolisation? Embolisation is a very easy procedure and if they do it even on one side only, it can have a positive effect for him and overall for future family plans. We were told surgery carries more risks hence embolisation was offered. In any case hope all works well for you 😊

[AnaB123]

@K8dferXdder I think they said surgery (because they previously attempted embolization and had trouble accessing) :-/ thanks for the good wishes :)