I know there are a couple of guys here with varicoceles, so I was hoping you could provide your experiences. Pretty much every professional-level text I've read always discusses them in terms of infertility, with the side comment that "occasionally they cause pain" but little discussion of that aspect.
(1) do you notice the pain generally getting worse? I first noticed mine in my early 30s, and the level and frequency of the pain have increased, as has the size. Supposedly per some materials I've read varicoceles form during adolescence and are rumored to be pretty static.
(2) Do you notice a significant variation in the level of pain? Generally it increases throughout the day for me, but not always. Sometimes I can see an obvious correlation, such as level of support (jockstrap or tight underwear generally results in less discomfort) lifting something (or other activity that involves contracting the abs), or pressure on that side of the scrotum, but not always. Sometimes it's good and I don't know why, sometimes it's bad and I don't know why.
(3) Does it feel a bit better (generally) when you sit down? Static pressure should be the same, but I guess support might change?
(4) If you've done something (such as surgery), how bad did you let it get?
(5) What's your cover story for those days/times when it really zings you? Going down the hall and something slips and you sort of hunch over and start limping a bit... I've been asked what happened several times, so far I've said "I think I pulled something" but (a) it's lying, not even close to what's going on and (b) I get the "I don't buy that" look.
(6) what "grade" is yours? I can easily palpate mine without "pushing", so it's at least a grade 2, but I'm not sure how much visibility is necessary to be a grade 3 (I think there's a bit of a bump, but with the hair it's difficult to be sure).
Obligatory disclaimer - yes, I know what it is. It came up and was formally diagnosed during an ultrasound for something else, although I was (and had been) lying down for a while so it was listed as a small varicocele. Yes, went into the urologist about it a while ago, but managed to talk my way out of them actually looking at it, so now they just think I'm a whiner (but I got to keep my pants on! Well, that SEEMED very important at the time, especially as it was a doctor I didn't know).