A varicocele is an abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform venous plexus in the scrotum; in a woman, it is an abnormal painful swelling to the embryologically identical pampiniform venous plexus; it is more commonly called pelvic compression syndrome.

In the male varicocele, this plexus of veins drains blood from the testicles back to the heart.

[citation needed] Varicocele might be noticed as soft lumps, usually above the testicle and mostly on the left side of the scrotum.

[10] Following discovery of the sign of swelling comprising a mass, varicocele can be confirmed with scrotal ultrasound, which will show dilation of the vessels of the pampiniform plexus to be greater than 2.3 mm.

[4] Whether having varicocele surgery or embolization improves male fertility is controversial, as good clinical data is lacking.

[9] A 2012 Cochrane review (updated in 2021) found tentative but unclear evidence of improved fertility among males treated for varicocele.