5 days post bilateral varicocele embolization, still have low libido and ED. Has anyone experienced this?
I’m 24M and wanted to share my situation and hear from anyone who has gone through something similar.
About 2 years ago, I had left-sided Grade 3 varicocele microsurgery. Unfortunately, it recurred about 3 months later, and the recurrence was actually worse and more painful than before the surgery.
After the microsurgery, I also developed:
Very low libido
Erectile dysfunction
Low testosterone
High LH
High prolactin
Other abnormalities on my hormonal panel
I waited about 2 years and eventually decided to try embolization instead.
Before the procedure, ultrasound showed that I still had a Grade 3 varicocele on the left, and I was also found to have a Grade 1 varicocele on the right, which I hadn’t previously known about. So I decided to have bilateral embolization.
What was done during the embolization
My interventional radiologist spent around 2.5 hours on the procedure because he was carefully looking for collateral veins and reflux.
On the left, he used Azur CX 18 detachable coils, which he described as a newer-generation detachable coil, with glue above the coils.
On the right, he used coils from the lower part upward and then 3% polidocanol foam at the upper edge.
The final venography reportedly showed complete occlusion with no residual reflux.
Now, 5 days later
Right side: basically no pain at all.
Left side: around 2–3/10 pain/discomfort, especially with touching.
Libido: still very low.
Erections: still basically absent.
Has anyone here experienced low libido/ED immediately after varicocele embolization and then improved later?
If so, how long did it take before you noticed a meaningful improvement in:
Libido
Spontaneous/morning erections
Erectile quality
Testosterone/LH/prolactin
Overall energy
I’m particularly interested in experiences from people who had recurrent Grade 3 varicocele after failed microsurgery and then underwent embolization.
Thanks.