In men, a varicocele is a varicose vein in the scrotum. Not only can it be unsightly but it can also lead to pain and possible other complications including infertility issues. Varicocele embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a very small catheter inserted into a major vein. The catheter is guided through the circulatory system near the varicose vein. A sclerosing agent is then released through the catheter and that causes damage to the varicose vein. This causes the damaged vein to collapse and become eliminated from circulation. Normal blood flow is restored to the area as blood is rerouted through healthy veins.
