My doctor says i have a varicocele. What is a varicocele?

Varicocele is a collection or engorgement of veins in the scrotum. These veins normally take the blood away from the testes into the abdomen. A varicocele is very similar to varicose veins which develop in the legs. It is estimated that at least 20% of men have varicoceles and the figure may even be higher because many men do not even known if they have it. In those men who are sterile, the incidence of varicoceles has been reported to be as high as 40%.