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Original poster

Anyone had varicocele surgery?

37 replies

decor340 · 16/04/2023 11:34

My partner has a low sperm count caused by a varicocele (they couldn't find any other reason).
We had ICSI to conceive my son in 2021. I also have PCOS and ovulate irregularly but my cycles are regular when I take metformin.
We are thinking of trying naturally first but not sure how much point there is trying due to the low sperm count. I can't remember off the top off my head the exact numbers but think it was 5 million total count.
He was offered surgery for the varicocele but didn't take the offer (I was pregnant at the time so was last thing he wanted then).
Just wondering if anyone/anyone's husband has had the surgery and it has improved sperm count?
Or any supplements that might help?
Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
marshk · 16/04/2023 16:47

Hi @decor340 - my husband has just recently had the surgery in early March so not sure if it's improved anything yet so would be interested to hear from others! He's taking proxeed everyday but again no idea if it has made any difference. It's all just a waiting game for us at the moment which we are both finding frustrating!

Dochas12111 · 17/04/2023 06:53

Hi, my DH had the surgery and count improved by about 5 mil so still not enough to conceive naturally. It did bring down his DNA frag significantly and prior to this we hadn’t been able to make any embryos

marshk · 17/04/2023 09:51

Dochas12111 · 17/04/2023 06:53

Hi, my DH had the surgery and count improved by about 5 mil so still not enough to conceive naturally. It did bring down his DNA frag significantly and prior to this we hadn’t been able to make any embryos

Hi @Dochas12111 - out of interest, how long did you leave it in terms of deciding whether or not it would help to conceive naturally?

Dochas12111 · 17/04/2023 13:11

@marshk overall post varicocele we tried naturally for 3 years in between rounds of ivf. Never even had a late period!

Hope20232023 · 06/06/2023 11:25

Hello, just wanted to send a note here to hopefully share some hope. My DH had a grade 3 varicocele causing extremely low sperm count and had an embolisation surgery in October 2022. Fast forward 3 months, I fell pregnant (naturally) in Feb 2023. His count improved from an extremely low base to a still low count but enough to achieve pregnancy. We were under the care of Dr. Jonathan Ramsay for whom I have no enough words of gratitude. What an exceptional doctor and human being, I would heartly recommend him to anyone in this forum struggling with male fertility issues. Please send me a private message if I can help anyone going through a similar situation, this forum has helped me tons so anything I can do pls reach out.

marshk · 06/06/2023 14:13

Hope20232023 · 06/06/2023 11:25

Hello, just wanted to send a note here to hopefully share some hope. My DH had a grade 3 varicocele causing extremely low sperm count and had an embolisation surgery in October 2022. Fast forward 3 months, I fell pregnant (naturally) in Feb 2023. His count improved from an extremely low base to a still low count but enough to achieve pregnancy. We were under the care of Dr. Jonathan Ramsay for whom I have no enough words of gratitude. What an exceptional doctor and human being, I would heartly recommend him to anyone in this forum struggling with male fertility issues. Please send me a private message if I can help anyone going through a similar situation, this forum has helped me tons so anything I can do pls reach out.

Hi @Hope20232023 - do you mind me asking what it increased from and to?

Hope20232023 · 06/06/2023 16:41

Sent a PM :)

toriistrying · 24/07/2023 21:43

Hey @Hope20232023 I've posted a few threads on MFI.

Congratulations, that is amazing news 💙

We are under the care of DR Ramsay.

DH had his ultrasound today. Grade 3 in the left. How do I DM you?! Xx

Hope20232023 · 25/07/2023 08:06

Hi! You are under the best care. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

SocialPR · 15/09/2023 15:04

Hello - out of interest did they go through the neck or groin @marshk - can't find much online and worrying about the best route to go?

toriistrying · 17/09/2023 09:38

@SocialPR hi - I created this thread. DH went through the groin. He ended up having a 6mm varicocele. He is 5 weeks post surgery and doing well! No side effects here. Any questions let me know.

SocialPR · 17/09/2023 10:40

Hi @toriistrying thank you so much! Really appreciate the message. How long did the procedure take? Thank you again

Tiredkittens · 17/09/2023 13:02

My partner had surgery for a large varicocele early this year. He'd been diagnosed with OATs (sperm low on all parameters). It was a quick and easy procedure and recovery, and by mid-summer his sperm was much better, up to normal levels across all parameters. I had hoped we could avoid IVF, but we still haven't got pregnant, unfortunately.

We were also told that it was very likely that the varicocele would come back at some point. But it still feels worth it (although we did it privately so also had to balance with the expense).

SocialPR · 17/09/2023 19:22

@Tiredkittens thank you for reaching out. Just such little information online and so glad to hear the positives it has brought to you. The same it has to be done private and not much information about either neck or groin. Hoping it all works out for you on the next chapter ahead x

Tiredkittens · 17/09/2023 22:23

You're welcome, I'm glad it helps. My partner had it done via the neck but we would have gone with whatever the consultant suggested. It was very straightforward. My partner said he did have some achiness afterwards but it wasn't too bad and was back to normal after a couple of weeks.
Good luck with yours x

toriistrying · 17/09/2023 22:59

DH op took 30 mins through the groin. X

toriistrying · 17/09/2023 23:01

Sorry, I got confused on this thread. I'm not sure if you can see my other threads on the topic?

Next tests are mid November!

Swirls346 · 18/09/2023 16:42

Tiredkittens · 17/09/2023 13:02

My partner had surgery for a large varicocele early this year. He'd been diagnosed with OATs (sperm low on all parameters). It was a quick and easy procedure and recovery, and by mid-summer his sperm was much better, up to normal levels across all parameters. I had hoped we could avoid IVF, but we still haven't got pregnant, unfortunately.

We were also told that it was very likely that the varicocele would come back at some point. But it still feels worth it (although we did it privately so also had to balance with the expense).

Could you tell me more about the surgery please, I think my partner is going to have it, we are just waiting to be re referred.

Tiredkittens · 19/09/2023 16:45

@Swirls346 I'm not sure how much more detail there is tbh. It didn't take long, about an hour, or less. He had some sedation I think but no general anaesthetic. It was performed by a radiographer, they run a very fine tube down from a tiny incision in your neck and then plug the veins that are causing the problem with tiny metal coils and some kind of foam?

We went home after an hour or so recovery and he didn't have much discomfort from it at all.

SocialPR · 19/09/2023 20:53

@Tiredkittens thanks so much for letting me know! So much to consider and really appreciate the info - any after care advice? Thanks again x

toriistrying · 20/09/2023 11:10

my DH didn't exercise for two weeks and took it easy in terms of lifting things. x

Tiredkittens · 20/09/2023 11:58

@SocialPR there wasn't much aftercare required either, it was just not exercising or heavy lifting for a couple of weeks, as @toriistrying said too... He was back to running long distances after a fortnight so didn't really slow him down much

SocialPR · 20/09/2023 21:10

@toriistrying thanks so much! All really helps as just want the best recovery! Seems to be like a very simple procedure with minimal pain - thank you all for being so honest and open means so much as online hardly any info! Xx

SocialPR · 20/09/2023 21:11

@Tiredkittens wow and that’s amazing! Thank you for all the advice and guidance really means so much to me! I’m a worrier so really puts my mind at ease x

toriistrying · 20/09/2023 21:28

I know what you mean.

About 8 weeks ago we received our results and were seen by a gynaecologist, told we had male factor infertility and to get to London and start IVF

I created a post asking for IVF clinic recommendations. A fair few women responded and told us to see a urologist. If it wasn't for them, we would probably be starting IVF.

In terms of worrying, I read so many success stories on here re the surgery - that helps. Ie they fell pregnant.

Try and remember that it takes a sperm and an egg. If we get that sperm as healthy as it can be, then surely our chances are far better than they were before.

For my DH, it was a quick op, he got a taxi home afterwards and was wfh the next day.

DH was big - 6mm and he had minimal pain.

Me telling you not to worry won't help but I'm so glad we've done it and mid November can't come soon enough.

One other thing is that the surgeon told us not to ttc for 2 months. I'm at the 5/6 week mark and ovulating today. Lol.

When is his OP?

x