Varicocele. Thermogram of an anterior view of a human scrotum showing a varicocele hemi-scrotum (at left). The temperature scale runs from red (warmest) to yellow, green, cyan and blue, to mauve (coldest). A varicocele is a collection of dilated veins in the spermatic cord which is often associated with a low sperm count. Here the scrotum shows an asymmetrical temperature distribution, in particular an elevated temperature in the left hemi-scrotum. A high scrotal temperature will adversely effect spermatogenesis (sperm production). See photo P608/083 for a thermogram of a healthy human scrotum.