Varicoceles

This video contains a visual explanation of varicoceles, aimed at helping students of medicine and healthcare professionals prepare for exams.

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[HaroldK]

Hey, guys, I probably won’t be saying anything that anyone else hasn’t said already but just wanted to talk about my experience with my varicocele recently in hopes that if someone has a flare-up they can be guided out of it without jumping to surgery immediately (which is obviously totally fine if it comes down to that).

It started about 3 months ago after a particularly tough case of epidydimitis that I had. I didn’t even know the varicocele was what was causing all the pain-I just believed my epidydimitis wasn’t fully healed. Turns out, after getting an ultrasound, what i was experiencing was a (probably stage 2 or stage 3) varicocele flare-up.

The pain following this was pretty excruciating at moments but for the most part seemed to present itself mostly as dull and ever-present-not terrible but a constant nagging uncomfortable awareness of that part of my body. Not fun. I’m a pretty avid runner and i wasn’t even able to run for the first three weeks when it started to show up. So here’s what I did:

I ditched my loose-fitting boxers and got some breathable cotton tights that hug my legs and keep everything secure down there; noticed a huge difference already. Cold showers made were a game-changer as well, for obvious reasons. I started drinking much more water and laid off coffee. More leafy greens and anti-oxidant rich fruits like blueberries help open the vascular system up. I looked up kegel exercises-wall sits, clenching and unclenching exercises, and hip thrusts while laying down have been the ones i’ve found to be most helpful. I started being able to run a mile again, then after a week two miles, now i’m up to four and a half with no pain. The benefits of this regarding opening up my vascular system have lead to the pain being significantly reduced in the last three weeks. I can spend more than 20 minutes driving again with no pain.

Your overall mental state is extremely important in all of this-if you’re in a period where you’re depressed and isolated try to find ways to get out into the world and be around people again. If you’re going through a stressful transition with a job, moving towns, enduring the loss of a loved one, etc. all of these things can lead to lifestyle changes and make us hold tension in parts of our bodies that we otherwise don’t usually. Don’t despair, don’t be afraid to ask for help-taking care of your head is just as important as all the other things I’ve mentioned that have to do with taking care of your body. Hope this helps-everything’s gonna be alright I promise.

[waelfadlallah]

Very much comprehensive, i was anticipating the release today and thank you for remembering me. Much appreciated Tom and god bless you :)

[Schpit]

Amazing work as always. Your notes have helped me so much understand topics for my exam.

[girmaasfaw]

Great explanation. Well done. It will be excellent if differentials included

[vengeful_beemoe]

Thank you for this video. Have had this problem since I was 12. Now I know why.

[RayRayRay]

I absolutely love these videos. Great work! Can't wait to see more.

[bugloverspiderlover]

I have a huge one in my left scrotal sac, it doesn’t usually bug me, but it can sometimes get painful at times.

[HeatherBDentureDiVa]

My son has this. Have urology appointment in two weeks. But I feel so bad bc he is in pain. We use icepacks. Helps tremendously. He is only 13. It comes and go. I did notice when he isn't steadily active it causes it

[askeladd]

I had a laparoscopic varicoelectomy 2 months ago. Still have swelling and onflamation. Yeaterday i went to the doctor and did ustra sound, they said i have a spermatic cord inflamation and that this is normal becuse i still didnt recover from the surgery in full. Did anyone had the similar experience?

[aga]

Wow ! great detail. That's nuts !

[donnyl]

As a Sonographer for 35 years, it’s not uncommon to find bilateral varicoceles. A right sided varicocele in isolation should also be investigated for obstructing mass

[joshpaget]

I’ve just had laparoscopic surgery for varicocele repair, it’s been a little over 3 months and I had a morphology problem at 0% so basically infertile. Sometimes I feel my testicle and i can no longer feel varicocele but sometimes feel hard lump where varicocele was but hoping this is where they clipped the veins off etc. I’m 31 years old and actively now trying for a baby

[andrewd]

Today I was diagnosed with this. I have pain in my left inginal side, first I thought it may be a hernia or apendicita. My doctor said it will go away in a few weeks. Any thoughts?

[rimaboussoffara]

Your prayers please I should pass the year!!!

[gregfeelynegsyourfavoriteverse]

I’ve had this since I was 10, I’m 19 now. Been thinking about going to a urologist because it’s been aching a lot recently even though it usually doesn’t.

[ponzo]

I was diagnosed at 12, i have 3 children including twin boys. Other than some occasional pain it hasn't seemed to affect my life other than the last five years i feel like my testosterone is 0 im having that check in two weeks 🤞

[rbnsnmb]

Also one risk factor for varicocele is constipation long term, if you have it you're at risk
I've had IBS for past 2-3 yrs which have been aggravated since 1 year

Now i have this

[stevenr]

My scrotum is turning purple when I’m standing up to backs to normal if I lay down. My doctor didn’t take it seriously when I seen him.

[roastedman]

had it since 12 -13 years old, got embolization at 16 ... i'm 18 now .... i had a pretty big varicocele on my left side now it's just a bit of vein above my scrotum and when i'm tired or warm the skin gets elastic and i can see the remains of it better... when it was big it was always causing heat making it always loose which caused irritation, now it's all good and i think i have a normal level of testosterione ( it sometimes fluctuates, i'm telling this out of personal experience, sometimes i'm more depressed and unmotivated ) but in the end i'm overall fine those periods of uncertainty may be due to my age and hormones, i still have back acne and all of those signs of puberty.I WAS ALL my life very active in sports and i still am so that may be a cause of it showing up.

[Hayk_InterstellarGrooves]

Thank you for this medical information