According to the Russian Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, 4.5 million men in the Russian Federation suffer from infertility. Many researchers say these data are underestimated and approximate. For its part, the WHO lists about 30 causes of male infertility, among which varicocele accounts for up to 40 percent of cases. Among adolescents aged 14-18, this disease occurs in every fifth examined patient.
Importance of Early Diagnosis of Varicocele in Adolescents
Adolescents are the demographic potential of any country, so to preserve the ability to have children in the future, it is very important to identify the disease at an early age. It is for this reason that early diagnosis and treatment methods for varicocele attract so much attention not only from the perspective of medicine but also sociology and demography. Recent studies indicate a trend of deterioration in the main reproductive indicators in men: the number of andrological diseases is increasing and sperm production is decreasing.
Every Fifth Couple is Infertile
Currently, about 15-20 percent of families in Russia face the problem of infertility. Data from countries around the world show statistics of up to 30 percent. To one degree or another, one in five couples faces the inability to conceive a child. In half of the cases, the problem lies with the man. At the same time, doctors distinguish between complete and relative infertility.
For conception, male sperm must contain a sufficient number of spermatozoa with normal motility and structure. It is very important that spermatozoa can freely move out of the testicle to reach the vagina and uterus unimpeded. If one of these conditions is violated, doctors diagnose infertility.
Why You Can't Become a Father
Among the main factors that reduce the likelihood of becoming a father, doctors highlight the following:
Dilation of veins in the scrotum, or varicocele. With the development of the disease, blood flow is disrupted and sperm production and quality decrease. It is observed in 40 percent of men diagnosed with infertility.
Blockage of the sperm-carrying structures or ducts. It prevents male germ cells from exiting. Some men genetically lack the vas deferens.
Alcohol abuse reduces testosterone production and increases estrogen production. Alcohol in large doses leads to a decrease in sperm quality and sperm motility. Source: Varicocele Forum