Varicocele - literature review

Introduction and objective   Varicocele is the most common reversible cause of male infertility. This article describes the entire disease entity, in particular the pathophysiology and potential methods of treating this condition.   Review methods A literature review was conducted using t...

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Main Authors: Wojciech Sowiński, Wiktoria Walentyn, Maria Wachowska, Marek Molenda, Oliwia Woszczyńska, Paweł Rycąbel, Mateusz Romaniuk, Mateusz Paniak, Marta Szymura, Agnieszka Wojciechowska, Michał Krawczyk, Michał Zdybel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń 2025-04-01
Series:Quality in Sport
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Online Access:https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59540
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author Wojciech Sowiński
Wiktoria Walentyn
Maria Wachowska
Marek Molenda
Oliwia Woszczyńska
Paweł Rycąbel
Mateusz Romaniuk
Mateusz Paniak
Marta Szymura
Agnieszka Wojciechowska
Michał Krawczyk
Michał Zdybel
author_facet Wojciech Sowiński
Wiktoria Walentyn
Maria Wachowska
Marek Molenda
Oliwia Woszczyńska
Paweł Rycąbel
Mateusz Romaniuk
Mateusz Paniak
Marta Szymura
Agnieszka Wojciechowska
Michał Krawczyk
Michał Zdybel
author_sort Wojciech Sowiński
collection DOAJ
description Introduction and objective   Varicocele is the most common reversible cause of male infertility. This article describes the entire disease entity, in particular the pathophysiology and potential methods of treating this condition.   Review methods A literature review was conducted using the PubMed database to gather knowledge about varicocele. The main search terms were ,,varicocele” , ,,varicocele pathophysiology”, and ,,varicocele treatment”.   Description of the state of knowledge Varicocele is usually asymptomatic, and in other cases may cause nonspecific symptoms, such as discomfort or pain in the scrotum. Diagnosis is based on physical examination, and in doubtful cases, ultrasound can be used. There are several theories about the development of varicocele. These include the anatomical, nutcracker, embryological, or valve-related theories. Impaired blood flow from the testicles leads to oxidative stress and hyperthermia, which affects the deterioration of sperm quality. The most common indication for treating varicocele is difficulty getting pregnant. In such cases, non-pharmacological treatment is used.   Conclusions The surgical techniques used differ in the frequency of complications, their type, and the percentage of improvement in semen parameters. Despite numerous successes in the treatment of varicocele, there remains a large group of patients who still have problems having children.
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publisher Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
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series Quality in Sport
spelling doaj-art-a596ab59ef9e472db4c1f2e48597fe212025-08-20T02:08:31ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-04-014010.12775/QS.2025.40.59540Varicocele - literature reviewWojciech Sowiński0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2267-4773Wiktoria Walentyn1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5649-5340Maria Wachowska2https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2069-9469Marek Molenda3https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7900-4970Oliwia Woszczyńska4https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7724-544XPaweł Rycąbel5https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4039-8312Mateusz Romaniuk6https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1486-5522Mateusz Paniak7https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0110-9634Marta Szymura8https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2776-8974Agnieszka Wojciechowska9https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3344-9115Michał Krawczyk10https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9697-6548Michał Zdybel11https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9037-43501st Military Clinical Hospital with the Outpatient Clinic, Lublin, PolandMedical University of Lublin, Medical Department, Al. Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, PolandPodhale Specialist Hospital named after St John Paul II in Nowy Targ, ul. Szpitalna 14, 34-400 Nowy Targ, Poland4th Clinical University Hospital in Lublin, ul. Kazimierza Jaczewskiego 8, 20-954 Lublin, PolandIndependent Public Health Care of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs, ul. Kartuska 4/6, 80-104 Gdańsk, PolandIndependent Public Health Care Center of the Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration in Lublin, ul. Grenadierów 3, 20-331 Lublin, PolandIndependent Public Health Care Center of the Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration in Lublin, ul. Grenadierów 3, 20-331 Lublin, PolandCardinal Stefan Wyszyński Province Specialist Hospital in Lublin, ul. al. Kraśnicka 100, 20-718 LublinIndependent Public Healtcare Center No.1 in Rzeszów, ul. Tadeusza Czackiego 2 35-051 Rzeszów Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Province Specialist Hospital in Lublin, ul. al. Kraśnicka 100, 20-718 LublinPediatric Cardiac Surgery Department of Mikołaj Kopernik Hospital in Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandFryderyk Chopin University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów, ul. Fryderyka Szopena 2, 35-055 Rzeszów, Poland Introduction and objective   Varicocele is the most common reversible cause of male infertility. This article describes the entire disease entity, in particular the pathophysiology and potential methods of treating this condition.   Review methods A literature review was conducted using the PubMed database to gather knowledge about varicocele. The main search terms were ,,varicocele” , ,,varicocele pathophysiology”, and ,,varicocele treatment”.   Description of the state of knowledge Varicocele is usually asymptomatic, and in other cases may cause nonspecific symptoms, such as discomfort or pain in the scrotum. Diagnosis is based on physical examination, and in doubtful cases, ultrasound can be used. There are several theories about the development of varicocele. These include the anatomical, nutcracker, embryological, or valve-related theories. Impaired blood flow from the testicles leads to oxidative stress and hyperthermia, which affects the deterioration of sperm quality. The most common indication for treating varicocele is difficulty getting pregnant. In such cases, non-pharmacological treatment is used.   Conclusions The surgical techniques used differ in the frequency of complications, their type, and the percentage of improvement in semen parameters. Despite numerous successes in the treatment of varicocele, there remains a large group of patients who still have problems having children. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59540Varicocelevaricocele pathophysiologyvaricocele treatment
spellingShingle Wojciech Sowiński
Wiktoria Walentyn
Maria Wachowska
Marek Molenda
Oliwia Woszczyńska
Paweł Rycąbel
Mateusz Romaniuk
Mateusz Paniak
Marta Szymura
Agnieszka Wojciechowska
Michał Krawczyk
Michał Zdybel
Varicocele - literature review
Quality in Sport
Varicocele
varicocele pathophysiology
varicocele treatment
title Varicocele - literature review
title_full Varicocele - literature review
title_fullStr Varicocele - literature review
title_full_unstemmed Varicocele - literature review
title_short Varicocele - literature review
title_sort varicocele literature review
topic Varicocele
varicocele pathophysiology
varicocele treatment
url https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59540
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AT wiktoriawalentyn varicoceleliteraturereview
AT mariawachowska varicoceleliteraturereview
AT marekmolenda varicoceleliteraturereview
AT oliwiawoszczynska varicoceleliteraturereview
AT pawełrycabel varicoceleliteraturereview
AT mateuszromaniuk varicoceleliteraturereview
AT mateuszpaniak varicoceleliteraturereview
AT martaszymura varicoceleliteraturereview
AT agnieszkawojciechowska varicoceleliteraturereview
AT michałkrawczyk varicoceleliteraturereview
AT michałzdybel varicoceleliteraturereview