Treating a common testicle problem early may save fertility

Treating testes trouble early may save fertility: "NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Infertility is probably the last thing on teenage boys' minds. However, a new study out of Brazil suggests that early treatment of a common testicular condition could preserve future fatherhood potential for some adolescents.

A varicocele is like a varicose vein in the scrotum which houses the testicles and is estimated to affect 15% of men over 15 years of age. In men diagnosed with primary infertility, however, over 33% of men are found to have a varicocele.

Although varicoceles may not be the sole cause of infertility in all those cases, the close association with infertility and apparent worsening of the effect over time suggest early surgical correction of the flawed veins could have important benefits later on

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