Varicocele is the leading cause of male infertility diagnosed in couples. In this article, I discuss how varicocele causes infertility through physiological mechanisms.
Elevated Testicular Temperature
Sperm production requires an environment 1.5 - 2 degrees cooler than body temperature. Dilated veins act as a radiator heating the testes, disrupting sperm maturation and count.
Venous Blood Stasis and Oxidative Stress
Slowed venous flow causes poolings of toxic metabolites. This environment induces oxidative stress, damaging sperm motility, shape (morphology), and increasing sperm DNA fragmentation.