Which is a better procedure for varicocele- open or laparoscopic?

The gold standard for varicocele repair is open surgery which involves a 2-3 inch incision. The surgery can be done under local or general anesthesia and the varicocele is repaired. The only drawback of open surgery is a long recovery period. The pain is easily controlled with over the counter pain medications and exercise should be avoided for at least 7-10 days. All individuals are asked to refrain from sexual intercourse for at least 1-2 weeks. For those who have the procedure to reverse infertility, the sperm is analyzed in 3-4 months to determine if the surgery has made any difference.

Today, a couple of minimally invasive procedures are available. A tiny incision is made and the varicocele is repaired. However, this procedure always requires general anesthesia. The procedure is associated with a higher chance of recurrence than the open procedure.