Varicocele embolisation offers a minimally invasive, effective treatment for varicoceles, a condition that affects the veins in the scrotum. This vascular interventional radiology procedure can help alleviate symptoms, improve fertility, and support normal testicular development in adolescents. The Interventional Radiology Society of Australasia (IRSA) is here to assist you in finding a skilled interventional radiologist who can perform varicocele treatment in Australia or New Zealand.

What is Varicocele Embolisation?

Varicocele embolisation is an image-guided, nonsurgical procedure where varicocele specialists use medical imaging guidance to treat varicoceles, which are enlarged veins in the scrotum with abnormal blood flow. The procedure involves using a catheter (a thin plastic tube) to place tiny coils or a liquid substance into the affected vein, diverting blood flow away from the varicocele. This helps to reduce blood pressure in the vein and alleviate symptoms. This minimally invasive treatment is performed by an interventional radiologist and offers a less invasive alternative to surgery, with similar effectiveness and a shorter recovery time.

Why Would My Doctor Refer Me for This Procedure?

Your doctor may refer you for varicocele embolisation if you have a varicocele causing symptoms like dull, aching pelvic pain, discomfort in the scrotum, pelvic organ congestion, or fertility issues. Varicoceles can also affect testicular development in adolescents.

The procedure is recommended as a minimally invasive treatment that is an effective and safe alternative to surgery for treating the enlarged vein. By diverting blood flow away from the varicocele, embolisation helps alleviate symptoms and improve fertility. It is particularly suitable for patients seeking a quick recovery and less risk of complications compared to traditional surgical options. Your doctor will assess your condition to determine if this treatment is appropriate.

Varicocele Embolisation

Wondering If You Qualify for Varicocele Embolisation?

FIND A DOCTOR TODAY

About the Procedure

Diagnosis

Before the procedure, a thorough evaluation, including physical examination and imaging (such as ultrasound), will be conducted to confirm the diagnosis and assess the severity of the varicocele.

Preparation

Your doctor will provide specific instructions for preparing for the procedure. General guidelines include stopping blood thinners and other medications that can cause complications (if applicable), fasting for six hours prior, and taking any prescribed medications with a sip of water.

Procedure

Varicocele embolisation is performed in an interventional radiology suite using local anaesthesia. A thin plastic tube called a catheter is inserted into a major vein in the upper thigh or neck and guided to the veins supplying the varicocele using medical imaging guidance. A venogram is taken to map the blood vessels and confirm the abnormal blood flow and faulty veins. The interventional radiologist inserts coils or uses a liquid embolic agent to close off the affected veins and divert blood flow away from them. The procedure typically takes about 90 minutes and involves minimal discomfort.

Recovery

After the procedure, you will rest in bed for a couple of hours before being discharged. Most patients can resume normal, non-strenuous activities the following day. Full recovery usually takes just a few days.

Benefits of Varicocele Embolisation

Varicocele embolisation using interventional radiology offers several benefits over traditional surgical treatments:

  • Minimally invasive

    This interventional radiology procedure does not require general anaesthesia or large incisions, resulting in no visible scarring.

  • High success rate

    Varicocele embolisation has a success rate of around 90%, comparable to traditional surgical options.

  • Quick recovery

    As it is a minimally invasive procedure, patients typically return to normal activities within a few days, while surgical recovery may take weeks.

  • Lower risk of complications

    The procedure carries a reduced risk of infection compared to traditional surgery.

  • Same-day treatment

    Varicocele embolisation is usually an outpatient procedure, allowing patients to recover at home.

pae recovery

Risks of Varicocele Embolisation

Although varicocele embolisation is generally safe, as it is a minimally invasive treatment, there are some risks associated with the procedure:

  • Bruising or hematoma

    A small bruise may develop at the catheter insertion site on the upper thigh or neck, which usually resolves within a week or two.

  • Discomfort

    Some patients may experience mild discomfort in the groin or scrotum around the location of the faulty veins for a few days following the procedure. Pain relievers can help manage this.

  • Coil migration

    In rare cases, a coil used to close the vein may move to the lungs, causing a mild cough or chest pain. This situation is unlikely to lead to significant problems.

  • Incomplete embolisation

    If the varicocele is not adequately treated, the condition may persist or recur, necessitating a repeat procedure or surgical intervention to close off the malfunctioning veins.

  • Failure to access the affected veins

    Occasionally, it may not be possible to achieve the correct position for embolisation. In such cases, surgery may be considered as an alternative.

When Can I Expect Results?

Improvement in symptoms may be noticed within a few weeks after the procedure, but it can take up to three months for the full benefits to be realised. Patients undergoing varicocele embolisation for fertility-related concerns may observe improvements in semen quality within several months. Your interventional radiologist will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress.

Find a Doctor

Finding a qualified interventional radiologist is essential for a successful varicocele embolisation. The IRSA “Find a Doctor” tool is designed to help you locate experienced interventional radiologists in Australia and New Zealand. You can search based on geographic location and area of expertise to find the right specialist to guide you through this treatment.

Find a Doctor

FAQs

A varicocele is an enlarged vein in the scrotum that can cause pelvic pain, discomfort, or fertility problems in men and women. It is similar to varicose veins in the legs and is caused by abnormal blood flow and blood pressure in the vein. Varicocele embolisation is one of the most effective minimally invasive techniques used to help alleviate symptoms by closing off the affected blood vessels and malfunctioning veins.

Men who experience pain, discomfort, or fertility issues due to a varicocele may be good candidates for embolisation. Adolescents with varicoceles impacting testicular development may also benefit. Consult an interventional radiologist through IRSA to assess your suitability for the procedure.

Yes, varicocele embolisation is similar to the procedure used to treat pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS), which involves embolising enlarged veins in the pelvis. Both conditions are caused by abnormal blood flow in the veins, leading to symptoms such as pain or discomfort. While varicocele embolisation specifically targets varicoceles in the scrotum, a similar technique can be applied to close off faulty pelvic blood vessels in pelvic congestion syndrome, providing symptom relief. An interventional radiologist experienced in both procedures can assess whether embolisation is appropriate for treating your specific condition.

This interventional radiology medical procedure, which uses magnetic resonance imaging guidance, is minimally invasive and usually involves only mild discomfort, which is managed with local anaesthesia. Some patients may experience mild groin or scrotal pain afterward from embolisation of the affected veins, but it typically subsides within a few days.

As with most minimally invasive procedures using interventional radiology, recovery from varicocele blood vessel embolisation is typically short, with most patients resuming normal activities within a day or two. It is recommended to avoid strenuous activity for a few days to ensure proper healing.

While this medical procedure to cut off blood flow to the affected blood vessel has a high success rate (around 90%), there is still a small risk of recurrence. If the varicocele does return, it may require a repeat embolisation or surgical treatment.

The coils used in varicocele embolisation are made from inert materials designed to stay in place in the affected blood vessel permanently. They are generally safe and pose minimal long-term risk. An interventional radiologist listed in the IRSA directory can discuss this in more detail.

You can use IRSA’s “Find a Doctor” tool to locate a specialist in Australia or New Zealand who specialises in varicocele embolisation and other minimally invasive procedures. The tool allows you to search by location and specialty to find the right interventional radiology professional for your treatment needs.
Take the first step towards symptom relief and improved health by finding an experienced interventional radiologist through IRSA’s “Find a Doctor” tool today!


Download
Free Guide