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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
04:15
Combined Supine and Standing Imaging for Varicocele: An Improved Diagnostic Approach
Published on: November 22, 2024
975
Varicocele and its effect on testosterone: implications for the adolescent.
Ahmed Alkaram1, Andrew McCullough1
1Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA.
Translational Andrology and Urology
|January 28, 2016
Summary
Varicocele treatment in adolescents is debated. Early surgery may be indicated for testicular hypotrophy/atrophy, with potential links to hypogonadism requiring further research in teens.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Adolescent Endocrinology
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- The management of varicoceles in adolescents remains a contentious issue.
- Unlike adults, fertility assessment in adolescents is often impractical, making treatment decisions challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the current controversies surrounding varicocele treatment in adolescents.
- To investigate the potential link between varicoceles and hypogonadism in teenagers, drawing parallels with adult evidence.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current evidence on varicocele treatment in adolescents.
- Analysis of the principal surgical indication: hypotrophy/atrophy of the left testis.
- Exploration of emerging research suggesting varicoceles as a cause of hypogonadism in adults and its potential applicability to adolescents.
Main Results:
- The primary indication for surgical intervention in adolescents is testicular hypotrophy/atrophy associated with varicocele.
- Emerging evidence suggests varicoceles may contribute to hypogonadism in adults.
Conclusions:
- Further research is crucial to determine if varicoceles cause hypogonadism in adolescents.
- Establishing this link could support early surgical intervention for varicoceles in teenagers.
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