Clinical versus subclinical varicocele: venographic findings and improvement of fertility after embolization.

Venography and coil embolization of the left internal spermatic vein and/or right internal spermatic vein was performed in 75 patients with clinical or subclinical varicocele. Venograms of clinical varicocele were compared with venograms of subclinical varicocele. A major difference between the two groups was the degree of reflux. However, in terms of spermatologic improvement and restoration of fertility, embolization treatment appeared to be about equally effective in clinical and subclinical varicocele.