Does anyone know the approximate cost

sweetpea1215 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007, 08:03 AM

of varicocele repair? Either surgical or embolization (sp?) DH is probably going to have one or the other and we were just trying to get an idea of the cost. Our insurance only covers the cost of "diagnosing" infertility but not towards the treatment of it.

TIA for any info you can give me.

Oatie32 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007, 04:16 PM

Sheri,

We had insurance that paid for ours.. (about the only thing they paid for ha ha ) so i'm not of much help! I'm sorry!! Does he have pain or anything ?? Maybe they can code it differently so that its coded for a reason other than infertility.. ?? Maybe they will pay for it if its a procedure to help relieve pain ?? I dunno just an idea! Sorry!!

Oatie32 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007, 04:19 PM

I found this on a website..

"The cost of varicocelectomy will vary according to where you live and your personal circumstances (for example: how severe the problem is). On average, though, the associated costs should be about $4,000. Once the necessary post-operative restrictions have been observed (including no intercourse for at least a week), couples can try to conceive naturally – free of charge."

CnB · #4 (**permalink**) 05-17-2007, 09:07 PM

$4,000 sounds about right. We also had no insurance. It was very frustrating, especially because we were one of the minority cases where it led to no actual improvement. At least it went smoothly and dh said it was not as bad as he expected.

sweetpea1215 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 04:12 AM

Thank you so much ladies! I really appreciate it! DH doesn't really have any pain from it, though it is a pretty good sized one, but I guess maybe he could say he does so it will be covered. I really hate to be dishonest though. I'll have to talk to DH and see what he wants to do. CnB, that is my fear of DH going through the surgery. I can only imagine how frustrating that would be, to have no improvement at all.

Oatie32 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 06:59 AM

My DH didn't have any improvement either after his varicocele repair. He had several that were fixed.. has two scars on each side.. Surgery was easy.. no pain for him what so ever.. so I definately recommend it..Just because you never know if its going to work!! It could be the trick for you.. that's what our old doctor thought... His count is actually less now than it was then.. 12 million now.. was 20 million then.. We did it.. We thought it was going to help.. otherwise we wouldn't have done it!! And.. I'm sure some people do have success stories from it.. Just not us!!

Good Luck!

sweetpea1215 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-22-2007, 04:33 AM

Renee, I didn't realize your DH didn't have any improvement either. How frustrating. I can't understand why his count would be lower after the surgery. I guess we're not meant to understand everything. I'm so worried about my DH's surgery not working. If this doesn't work then we will probably never have children.

The only things that are keeping me going are my faith in God and the fact that DH's varicocele seems to be pretty large and I have read numerous times that there is a higher success rate with repair of large, grade III varicoceles than with the smaller ones. I sure hope there's some truth to that.

Oatie32 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-22-2007, 05:14 PM

I'm sure there is truth to that..(large varicocele repairs) I have read success stories of people getting pregnant after they repair them.. Ours just didn't work!! And.. that's right.. Have faith and God will take care of the rest.. Like he always does!! Keep your chin up, give it to him and he'll lead you to victory!!

No Worries!! FAITH FAITH FAITH!!