Varicoceles are enlarged varicose veins in the scrotum. Varicocele repair can help improve male fertility. The surgical procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis with local or general anesthesia. The physician makes a small incision in the abdomen near the location where the testicles originally descended through the abdominal wall. Then, the physician identifies the veins that produce the varicocele and cuts them to eliminate blood flow to the varicocele.
Percutaneous embolization, a nonsurgical procedure, can be done to repair varicoceles. With this procedure, a small catheter is inserted through a large groin or neck vein and advanced to the varicocele. The varicocele is then blocked off by a balloon, coil, or medication.
Obstruction of the ejaculatory duct is effectively treated by transurethral resection of the ejaculatory duct, or the TURED procedure. TURED is done under general or regional anesthesia in the operating room. The entire procedure is done using endoscopic instruments that are inserted through the penis as follows:
The procedure is done on an outpatient basis; the patient can go home after the anesthesia wears off. For one day after the procedure, a urethral catheter is left in place for drainage.
Vasectomy reversal is surgery that undoes a vasectomy, re-connecting the tubes that transport sperm from the testicles to the semen.
Be prepared for rapidly changing circumstances in your treatment and be ready to adjust to them quickly.
