Is Varicocele Surgery Covered By Insurance?

Local anesthetic and “twilight” sedation are used for the surgery. It isn’t a particularly unpleasant procedure.

Recovery Time

After the procedures, you will be discharged and allowed to go home after a 1-2 hour recuperation period. Patients are advised to spend the day at home resting peacefully. Limit heavy physical activities over the next 72 hours. Otherwise, you can return to your normal routine the next day. Low-grade fever, pelvic body aches, and overall weariness are frequent side effects that might last 5-7 days.

Will I have a scar?

No incisions are made in or near the testicles during varicocele embolization. Instead, a small nick in the leg is created to introduce a catheter (a small tube). The catheter is then advanced to the belly and inserted into the varicocele vein. The catheter is withdrawn after the treatment, and no stitches are required.

What are the risks or complications of the procedure?

Minor problems including bruising at the catheter site, nausea, or low-grade backache are possible but rare. A low-grade temperature, pelvic body aches, and overall weariness are possible side effects that might last up to a week.

Will the procedure improve my semen analysis?

Varicocele repair has been found in several studies to significantly improve sperm analysis. However, there is no guarantee that everybody who undergoes this surgery will see a major improvement. It is well known that pregnancy rates in infertile couples improve by 30% to 50% after varicocele surgery.

Will insurance pay for varicocele embolization?

Insurance companies, in general, will cover varicocele embolization if they cover varicocele surgery.

Please review your insurance coverage and/or contact your insurance provider for more information. Each strategy is unique.

If you require insurance authorization after your appointment, our specialized in-house precertification specialist will assist you with the precertification and authorization process.

Does insurance cover varicocele repair?

Varicocele Embolization is a minimally invasive method that can be used instead of surgery. Before considering whether varicocele embolization is best for you, here are nine factors to consider:

• Embolization is a non-surgical procedure performed in an outpatient setting by an interventional radiologist. Throughout the surgery, you will be connected to heart and lung monitoring devices to assess your condition.
• The varicocele embolization operation usually takes one hour to complete.
• Embolization does not leave any permanent scars. To insert a tiny catheter, a nick in the skin in the groin area is all that is required.
• The doctor will inject a dye into the damaged vein after inserting the catheter to identify the failing veins on x-rays during the treatment.
• Small metal coils and/or a sclerosing solution are introduced through the catheter into the defective vein to impede the flow of blood once the correct veins have been identified.
• The discomfort is negligible. You may be given local anesthetic and/or a moderate sedative by the radiologist. Some people do well with no anesthetic or sedation during the surgery. When the radiologist inserts the catheter, you may feel some pressure, but most men who have this surgery report no substantial pain or discomfort. ii
• Blood flow is almost immediately taken over by healthy veins. Blood flow is re-routed to other healthy veins after the defective veins are cut off, restoring normal circulation.
• After the procedure, the pain is relieved quickly. This is a huge help for folks who suffer from varicocele discomfort.
• The time it takes to recover following embolization is substantially shorter than it is after surgery. Surgical procedures require a one to two week recovery period for normal activities and a four-week recovery period for sexual activity. Varicocele embolization usually takes 1–2 days to heal. Sexual activity can be resumed anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks after embolization, depending on your doctor’s recommendation.
• Most insurance plans cover varicocele embolization. During your visit, you should inquire about the cost of varicocele embolization.

Men seeking varicocele surgery should be aware that it is not the only therapeutic option available. For various reasons, embolization is a good option to varicocele surgery. It eliminates the need for surgery’s incisions and stitches, as well as a quicker recovery period, less pain, and a lesser risk of problems. Before deciding on a treatment strategy for your varicocele, it’s critical to do your homework and get all of the information you can on Varicocele Treatment Options.

How much does varicocele surgery cost without insurance?

A Varicocelectomy costs between $4,282 and $7,134 on MDsave. Those with high deductible health plans or those who do not have insurance might save money by purchasing their procedure in advance with MDsave.

Is surgery the only option for varicocele?

Varicoceles can be treated in a safe and effective manner. When most men start researching their treatment options after a varicocele diagnosis, one of the first terms they come across is varicocelectomy. What is a varicocelectomy, and how does it work? It’s the surgical treatment of varicoceles, to put it simply. The veins that provide blood to the varicocele are tied up during surgical varicocelectomy treatments. While it is the most common phrase, it is vital to understand that it refers to a surgery and that there is also a non-surgical treatment option for varicoceles. An interventional radiologist performs varicocele embolization, which is a minimally invasive technique. Varicocele embolization is a non-surgical method of treating varicoceles.

Varicoceles are prevalent, however they don’t necessarily require treatment. When certain conditions present, treatment of a varicocele is often indicated. The varicocele should be treated according to standard guidelines when the varicocele:

• Is suspected of playing a role in male factor infertility, as the couple has been unable to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse.
• In circumstances where the female spouse is infertile or has a curable cause of infertility, it contributes to infertility.
• Is present, and aberrant sperm has been discovered, perhaps affecting male fertility.

More About the Types and Effectiveness of a Varicocelectomy

Several surgical methods can be used to conduct varicocelectomy. The effectiveness and danger of problems of each approach differ. The operation’s efficacy is determined by the likelihood of a recurrence of the varicocele, whether sperm quality and quantity improves, and the percentage of spontaneous pregnancies that occur following the procedure.

Open varicocelectomy – An open varicocelectomy is a surgical technique that involves a groin or inguinal incision. Varicoceles are caused by varicose veins that are tied off. Because some veins may not be accessible during this procedure, the recurrence rate is considerable, up to 15%. Following the procedure, there is an increased risk of developing a hydrocele, which is an accumulation of fluid around the scrotum.

Microsurgical Varicocelectomy – In a microsurgical varicocelectomy, an incision in the groin is made in the same way as in an open procedure, but a microscope is used to help identify the blood veins. This method has a decreased likelihood of recurrence (about 1%), as well as a very low chance of hydrocele formation (less than 1%). When compared to other approaches, this procedure takes longer to complete.

Laparoscopic Varicocelectomy – A scope (a sort of camera) and surgical equipment are used to visualize and obtain access to the veins that feed blood to the varicocele through many small incisions in the belly. This method has a 4.3–6.1% incidence of recurrence and a 2.84 percent chance of hydrocele development. This surgery necessitates the use of general anesthesia, or being rendered fully unconscious, which adds to the procedure’s risk.

Consider All Effective Treatment Options Before Deciding on Varicocelectomy

Choosing a varicocele treatment choice is a personal decision. If you don’t think surgery is the best option for you, varicocele embolization may be an option.

Varicocele Embolization – An interventional radiologist will make a nick in the skin and insert a tiny catheter into a vein, generally in the groin, during this treatment. Small metal coils and/or a sclerosing chemical are then inserted into the dilated veins using this catheter. As a result, blood flow is restricted in the faulty veins, forcing blood flow to be rerouted to healthy veins and restoring blood flow to the circulatory system. Other difficulties caused by varicocele are resolved once normal blood flow is restored. Testosterone levels can be raised to normal levels, and sperm quantity and quality can improve, although it can take 3–4 months to see these results.

Effects of Varicocelectomy and Varicocele Embolization on Fertility

Infertility is a common reason for varicocele treatment, as you probably already know. Varicoceles can cause sperm production and health to suffer. Varicocelectomy and varicocele embolization can enhance sperm count while also improving sperm quality. Because there are so many variables to consider when trying to conceive, this does not always imply that your chances of becoming pregnant will improve. The following are the pregnancy rates after each procedure:

• Varicocele Embolization – The pregnancy rate following a varicocele embolization is comparable to that following varicocele surgery.

An interventional radiologist can help you assess if varicocele embolization is a realistic choice for treating your varicocele if you’re interested in this minimally invasive treatment option.

How is a varicocele repair done?

To see and fix the varicocele, your surgeon creates a small incision in your abdomen and inserts a tiny instrument through it. This operation necessitates the use of general anesthesia. Percutaneous embolization is a type of embolization that occurs via the skin. A radiologist places a tube into a vein in your groin or neck to allow tools to pass through.

How can I get rid of varicocele without surgery?

Varicocele embolization is a less invasive method that can be used to treat varicocele as an alternative to surgery. Only a little incision or nick in the skin is required for the treatment, and no sutures are required. Despite the fact that both embolization and surgery have been demonstrated to be effective therapies for varicoceles, embolization has a few advantages over traditional surgery, including:

• The fundamental advantage of adopting interventional radiology procedures is that large surgical incisions are avoided, and it is also very safe because the damaged organ can be visualized in real time.
• The procedure is less painful than surgery since it is minimally invasive, requiring only a small nick and no stitches.
• There is no need for general anesthesia because the surgery is performed under local anesthetic.
• It is the preferred therapeutic option for people who have varicocele recurrence following surgery.
• Recovery time is reduced, and a person can return to their regular schedule in a much shorter period of time.
• There is a lower chance of infection and the development of a hydrocele, which is a collection of fluids surrounding a testicle, because the incision is tiny and there is minimum tissue manipulation.
• It is done as an outpatient procedure, which reduces the amount of time spent in the hospital and allows the patient to recover at home.

Can you have a baby with varicocele without surgery?

Although many men with varicoceles have normal fertility, there is some logic in correcting them in men who are infertile. Many varicoceles can be eliminated without surgery using radiological approaches.

What happens if you dont treat varicocele?

A varicocele is a specific type of varicose vein that only males suffer from. It happens when a varicose vein in the testicles or scrotum develops.

Varicoceles affect about 10-15% of all males, and for the most part, they are not painful. If symptoms do occur, they can range from mild discomfort to severe scrotal pain. This pain worsens for some men after lengthy periods of standing or sitting, after activity, or throughout the day.

Varicoceles have more than just pain as a side effect. They can induce testicular atrophy if left untreated (shrinkage of the testicles).

There’s also a substantial link between varicoceles and infertility in men. Varicoceles have been associated to sperm count and motility declines, as well as an increase in the number of malformed and useless sperm. Many experts believe that infertility occurs as a result of the blocked and swollen varicoceles raising the temperature in the scrotum, which reduces sperm production.

There are one-way valves in healthy veins that allow blood to return back to the heart. A varicocele is a condition in which the valves in the scrotum malfunction, causing blood to flow backwards and pool in the veins.

Except for being male, there are no unique risk factors for varicoceles.

Veins in the scrotum that are visibly swollen or twisted (commonly characterized as looking like a “bag of worms”)

The pain in your testicles is dull and persistent, and it may get better when you lie down on your back.

Diagnostic methods for varicoceles are straightforward and painless, so don’t be afraid to seek medical help. Varicoceles can now be treated with minimally invasive techniques thanks to recent technological advancements.

Is varicocele surgery safe?

Varicocelectomy is a relatively safe treatment that has a good probability of enhancing your fertility and minimizing the risks of obstructed blood supply to your reproductive organs.

There are dangers associated with any operation, and this procedure may not be able to totally restore your fertility. Consult your doctor to determine whether this procedure is essential and whether it will affect your sperm count or quality.

What is Microsurgical Varicocelectomy?

Varicoceles, or swollen scrotal veins, can cause male infertility, discomfort, and testosterone production problems. To understand more about varicoceles, go here. If your surgeon thinks you’re a good candidate for microsurgical varicocele correction, here’s what you should expect:

To obtain the highest success rates with the fewest adverse effects, a microsurgical varicocelectomy is conducted under a high-powered operating microscope.

Microsurgical varicocelectomy can be done in two ways: inguinal or subinguinal. The inguinal approach is frequently utilized to gain access to the ilio-inguinal nerve, which can be severed to give lasting pain relief. Inguinal incisions are a little higher in the groin than subinguinal incisions (anatomy art insert). After cutting the skin, the surgeon dissects down to the spermatic cord, where aberrant veins are discovered. Each vein is dissected circumferentially and then tied off to stop blood flow and allow blood to drain away from the testicle into the inner thigh and pelvic. Interrupting every vein, leaving every artery intact, leaving the vas deferens intact, and leaving lymphatic drainage intact are the keys to a successful operation. The testicle might be damaged if an artery is severed. Sperm might be stopped if the vas deferens is damaged. If the lymphatics are damaged, the scrotum can fill with fluid, necessitating another surgery to empty it. The microsurgical method has been found to lower all of these risks statistically.

Varicocelectomy Surgery Time

The procedure takes about 30 minutes per side, so a right and left varicocelectomy should take about an hour. This technique is usually done as an outpatient procedure.