Does a Varicocele Interfere with Castration?

[InkedFutureNullo (imported)]

i have a surgical consult this Thursday for a medically necessary orchiectomy based on gender dysphoria. my one worry is that i happen to have a varicocele on one side. Has anyone here been surgically castrated when they had a varicocele? Did the presence of a varicocele stop anyone's surgeon from going forward? i'm assuming it would likely get removed along with the testicles and cords, but i'm nervous. i don't want anything to prevent me from going forward, now that it's this close.

[GenChick (imported)]

My left testicle had varicocele and was removed by radical inguinal orchiectomy.

[InkedFutureNullo (imported)]

Did the varicocele require them to go inguinal, or were you already planned for inguinal anyway?

[GenChick (imported)]

Because urologist was not sure what is wrong with my testicle, decided to do radical inguinal orchiectomy. That is the procedure for suspected cancer!

[InkedFutureNullo (imported)]

Got it! Thanks for the explanation! i'm hoping that a varicocele, in itself, doesn't force the urologist to go inguinal. i have to pay for the procedure out of pocket, and inguinal would be a whole lot more expensive.

[nvrgag44 (imported)]

This site is always a learning experience. I had to look up "varicocele"

Excerpted from the Mayo Clinic website: "A varicocele (VAR-ih-koe-seel) is an enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that holds your testicles (scrotum). A varicocele is similar to a varicose vein that can occur in your leg."

[AlmostThere (imported)]

I'm curious to hear what your surgeon said about the varicocele. I have had one for 20 years on the left side, and a smaller one on the right side for at least 10. I'm MtF and have been on estrogen for a few years and can't tolerate any of the testosterone blockers that I've tried (spironolactone and finasteride). I've been looking for a way to reduce my T, but also the overall size of my scrotum since it's very hard to tuck everything in when going out in female mode. My testicles have shrunk by probably half just from being on the estrogen for so long, but I have 4 large cords on the left side that all together are ping-pong ball size on their own. The right side is about half that size, and both sides hurt with kind of a constant dull pain. It's much worse when I have everything tucked up and I try to sit.

There's no way I could go full time femme without being in horrible pain, so my doctor referred me to a urologist that is known to help trans folks with orchiectomies. I had my consult last month and the urologist said I have a pretty serious varicocele and said that it definitely needs to be fixed anyway, but since the testicles are painful as well, she has no problem ordering the removal of everything in order to stop the pain. She requested that I get a scrotal ultrasound and a CT scan just to make sure the wasn't some underlying issue (cancer, hernia, etc), but all of those tests came back normal. I'm scheduled to have a double orchiectomy next month, she will remove the everything through the scrotum. She doesn't recommend the inguinal route since that could cause hernia problems later and isn't necessary since there's no signs of cancer. I'm just looking forward to getting rid of this large painful mass that's been down there for 2 decades, as well as getting rid of the testosterone factories.

[InkedFutureNullo (imported)]

i didn't end up asking about the varicocele when i met with the surgeon yesterday. She did do a physical examination, complete with palpation, but didn't say a word about the varicocele. Her only comment was that my orchiectomy will be "very easy." i'm not sure exactly what she meant by that, other than perhaps the fact that the testicles are very much atrophied. She will be going through a vertical incision in the scrotum. i'm waiting for a phone call from her surgical scheduler now, to find out exactly when i can get this done and over with!

[GenChick (imported)]

i didn't end up asking about the varicocele when i met with the surgeon yesterday. She did do a physical examination, complete with palpation, but didn't say a word about the varicocele. Her only comment was that my orchiectomy will be "very easy. ...

Strange she did not explained it in more detail… You should have insisted on more detailed answer from her!