How can I tell if I have a varicocele?

A varicocele is a bundle of enlarged veins in the scrotum that can feel like a bag of worms. The veins are swollen because of defects in the tiny valves that normally keep blood moving forward in the veins that drain from the testicles. In a varicocele, the valves don’t work well, so the blood collects and swells the veins. That extra blood warms the testes unnaturally. This interferes with the cells that manufacture both sperm and testosterone, which are extremely temperature-sensitive.

Varicoceles are usually relatively easy to detect -- you can usually feel them under the skin of the scrotum when it is in a relaxed state, such as after a warm shower. In fact, many men with varicoceles have "low hanging" scrotums. If you're in doubt, a health care provider or urologist can quickly make the call.