Why You Should Avoid Varicocele Surgery

The Number Needed to Treat (NNT) for varicocelectomy is 7. Meaning that for every 7 people undergo surgery, only one person will benefit with a successful pregnancy [26]. So, the 30-60% semen improvement you see is very misleading. Now, mix this is the 

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• Blood clots in the legs, also known as deep venous thrombosis (DVT). A DVT can travel to the lungs, which is known as a pulmonary embolus (PE). DVT is reported in less than 5% of patients, and PE is reported in less than 1%.
• Infection at the site of the surgery. This is reported by less than 1% of patients.
• Shrinking of the testicle on the side of the surgery. This is reported in less than 1% of patients.
• Constant buildup of fluid around the testicle, also known as a hydrocele. This is reported in less than 1% patients.
• Return of the varicocele. This is reported by less than 5% of patients.
• Failure to relieve pain. Up to 15% of patients will have no relief, or inadequate relief, of pain after a subinguinal varicocelectomy.
• Onset of pain. In rare cases (less than 1%), patients who do not have pain will develop pain at a surgical site.
• Continued infertility. While some couples do get pregnant more readily after varicocele surgery, not all couples will benefit from surgery.