🇫🇷 FR 🇬🇧 EN
Cochin Hospital · AP-HP · Université Paris Cité
← IR Home🇫🇷 Français
Cochin AP-HP

Varicocele Centre — Paris, Cochin AP-HP

Interventional Radiology · Cochin Hospital AP-HP · Paris

️ ri.cch@aphp.fr +33 1 58 41 46 12
IR Home›Varicocele Centre — Paris, Cochin AP-HP
🏥 Centre of Excellence · Urology

Varicocele Centre — Cochin AP-HP, Paris

Percutaneous embolization · Male infertility · Bilateral in one session · No surgery · 100% reimbursed

Our Varicocele Centre

The Varicocele Centre at Cochin Hospital AP-HP is one of the most active in the Île-de-France region for percutaneous varicocele embolization. We treat scrotal varicosities (varicoceles) via femoral venous access under local anaesthesia, without surgery, as an outpatient procedure.

Varicocele is the leading correctable cause of male infertility, present in up to 40% of men presenting for fertility assessment. Embolization and surgical ligation have equivalent efficacy for sperm parameter improvement. Key advantage of embolization: both sides can be treated in a single session, with immediate return home and 24–48h recovery. Fully covered by French national health insurance — no patient fees.

Who should be treated?

  • Male infertility with varicocele and abnormal sperm parameters (oligospermia, asthenospermia, teratospermia)
  • Chronic scrotal pain or heaviness, worsened by standing
  • Recurrent varicocele after previous surgical ligation — embolization is the technique of choice for recurrence
  • Bilateral varicocele — both sides treated in a single session
CriterionEmbolization (Cochin)Surgical ligation
AnaesthesiaLocal ✓General
Bilateral in 1 sessionYes ✓Difficult
ScarNone ✓2–3 small scars
Recovery24–48h ✓1–2 weeks
Recurrence10–15%5–10%
Sperm improvement50–70%55–75%
Reimbursement100% ✓100% ✓

FAQs

The spermatogenesis cycle takes 72 days. A first sperm analysis is performed at 3 months, with maximum improvement expected between 3 and 6 months after embolization.
Yes — this is actually the preferred indication for embolization. Collateral veins responsible for recurrence can be selectively embolized, which is not possible with re-operation.
Correct. Cochin AP-HP is a French public hospital. Varicocele embolization is fully reimbursed by French national health insurance (equivalent to NHS). No out-of-pocket expenses.

Frequently asked questions

A varicocele is an abnormal dilation of the veins in the scrotum, similar to varicose veins, most often on the left side. It can cause discomfort, a heavy sensation, or be found during a fertility work-up.
Embolization is our first-line approach: a day-case, local anaesthesia procedure with no scrotal incision, with success and recurrence rates comparable to surgery.
Yes. At Cochin AP-HP (a French public hospital), procedures are covered by national health insurance with no out-of-pocket fees. Contact ri.cch@aphp.fr or +33 1 58 41 46 12.

Related pages

Why this page is trustworthy

Written by the Interventional Radiology team at Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité. Medically reviewed by an interventional radiologist of the department. Last updated: August 2026.

🏥 Le service 📰 Actualités 🔬 Recherche & essais cliniques