“Can varicocele cause abnormal sperm?”
I have varicocele and abnormal sperm test results. Can varicocele cause abnormal sperm?
5 Answers
First of all a varicocele is an enlarged varicose vein in the scrotum. It can be small and not need any treatment or very enlarged and can cause pain and swelling in the scrotum. Technically it could cause abnormal sperm due to the varicose vein but not necessarily. Your best bet would be to schedule an appointment with a Urologist so that they can do an ultrasound of your scrotum and sperm analysis then they can better decide if you need surgical intervention or not.
Severe varicocele decrease sperm count and can be a cause of male infertility in some cases.
Yes
Yes, it can, but at a pretty low rate for an infertile man (in the case of a varicocele, the problem is usually abnormal or defective sperm, rather than no sperm). Usually they do a semen analysis, and if it is normal, you don’t have to worry. If it is abnormal, they may recommend surgical removal, a very minor procedure, but that is not a guarantee of a return to fertility, but it is something to try. The problem is believed to be caused by excessive blood flow, which generates excess heat, and the heat can damage the spleen.
Colin Kerr, MD
Colin Kerr, MD
Yes and decreases fertility
