Exercising Causes Varicocele (+ Important Treatments)
Contents
- Increase in Testicular Blood Circulation
- Testicular Blood Pressure
- Testicular Temperature
- Physical Damage
- Inflamation and Irritation of Muscles and Organs
- Postural Imbalances
- Important! Great Resources
1. Increase in Testicular Blood Circulation
How it Works: The science clearly demonstrates that sports, physical activities, and exercise cause an increase in testicular blood circualtion post-activity. In some men, this can significantly contribute to and worsen varicocele.
Relevant Sports/Activities: All
Effective Treatments Post-Activity: 3-5 minute cooling treatment (ideally a cool to cold shower), resting, and napping
Relevant Sports/Activities: All
Effective Treatments Post-Activity: 3-5 minute cooling treatment (ideally a cool to cold shower), resting, and napping
2. Testicular Blood Pressure
How it Works: Many sports, physical activities, and exercises increase systemic, intra-abdominal, and testicular blood pressure. This means increased testicular blood pooling.
Relevant Sports/Activities:
Effective Treatments Pre- and During-Activity: During exercise: Practice perfect posture, wear fitted (not tight) clothing, avoid eating a big meal pre-workout, avoid ejaculation pre-workout (e.g., sex, masturbation, or porn use)
Relevant Sports/Activities:
- Jumping sports: E.g., basketball, volleyball, etc.
- High-intensity activities: E.g., weight lifting, powerlifting, football, martial arts, etc.
- Long-Duration activities: E.g., running, biking, etc.
- Over-head activities: E.g., shoulder press, volleyball, basketball, etc.
Effective Treatments Pre- and During-Activity: During exercise: Practice perfect posture, wear fitted (not tight) clothing, avoid eating a big meal pre-workout, avoid ejaculation pre-workout (e.g., sex, masturbation, or porn use)
3. Testicular Temperature
How it Works: The body naturally heats up during physical activity. Unfortunately, the body heating up also increases testicular temperature. Moreover, friction between the legs and insolation from regular underwear and pants prevent proper heat ventilation.
Relevant Sports/Activities: Long duration activities (jogging, running, biking, cardio machines, cardio exercises, etc.), hot yoga, most sports (especially sports that require specific clothing/attire/uniforms), jockstraps, etc.
Effective Treatments During- and Post-Activity: Make sure to wear proper cooling underwear like Stud Briefs during activity, avoid wearing excessive layers, and choose thinner breathable fabrics and shorts. Post-activity, perform a 2-5 cooling treatment (cold water over testicles or icing) until your testicles feel nice and cool and pull up and tight against your body.
Relevant Sports/Activities: Long duration activities (jogging, running, biking, cardio machines, cardio exercises, etc.), hot yoga, most sports (especially sports that require specific clothing/attire/uniforms), jockstraps, etc.
Effective Treatments During- and Post-Activity: Make sure to wear proper cooling underwear like Stud Briefs during activity, avoid wearing excessive layers, and choose thinner breathable fabrics and shorts. Post-activity, perform a 2-5 cooling treatment (cold water over testicles or icing) until your testicles feel nice and cool and pull up and tight against your body.
4. Physical Damage
How it Works: Physical damage to the testicles occurs to varying degrees. The highest risk activities for physical damage to the testicles include:
Relevant Sports/Activities:
Relevant Sports/Activities:
- Microtrauma from saddle activities (e.g., biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, saddling, etc.)
- Rubbing and tugging from sports like basketball, hockey, football, etc.
- Blunt-force trauma from being hit in the groin in sports like baseball, cricket, martial arts, skateboarding, etc.
5. Inflamation and Irritation of Muscles and Organs
How it Works: Extreme abs or hip flexor training, high-intensity activities, and heavy lifting can cause inflammation of the abdominal organs, abdominal muscles, and flip flexors. These can aggravate the Nutcracker Syndrome and cause a hip-level Nutcracker Effect that impairs blood from leaving the testicles.
Relevant Sports/Activities: Heavy deadlifts, bench press, squats, and abdominal training. Heavy hip flexor-engaging workouts, biking, running, etc. Martial arts, American football, and rugby (higher risk of putting a muscle or being struck in the abdominal region).
Effective Treatments During- and Post-Activity: Expect aggravated condition for 1 day to 2 weeks depending on how severe the irritation is. Rest is critical. Make sure to discontinue the above high-risk activities. Take a de-loading or active rest break for 1-2 weeks. At the early stage of healing, icing the hip flexors may help if they are irritated. At the later stage of healing, contrast and heat therapy are more beneficial than cooling.
Relevant Sports/Activities: Heavy deadlifts, bench press, squats, and abdominal training. Heavy hip flexor-engaging workouts, biking, running, etc. Martial arts, American football, and rugby (higher risk of putting a muscle or being struck in the abdominal region).
Effective Treatments During- and Post-Activity: Expect aggravated condition for 1 day to 2 weeks depending on how severe the irritation is. Rest is critical. Make sure to discontinue the above high-risk activities. Take a de-loading or active rest break for 1-2 weeks. At the early stage of healing, icing the hip flexors may help if they are irritated. At the later stage of healing, contrast and heat therapy are more beneficial than cooling.
6. Postural Imbalances
How it Works: All of the following postural imbalances can increase intra-abdominal and hip pressure, causing increased varicocele toxic blood pooling: Forward head posture, rounded shoulders, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, forward lean, cross syndrome, etc.
Relevant Sports/Activities: All
Effective Treatments During- and Post-Activity: See a physical therapist or high-quality personal trainer to help identify your personal muscular imbalances and regularly work to correct them. Train to promote posture (e.g., reduce the load on your strength and focus more on your weaknesses). Stretching post-exercise is essential.
Relevant Sports/Activities: All
Effective Treatments During- and Post-Activity: See a physical therapist or high-quality personal trainer to help identify your personal muscular imbalances and regularly work to correct them. Train to promote posture (e.g., reduce the load on your strength and focus more on your weaknesses). Stretching post-exercise is essential.
