How to Treat Hydrocele

A hydrocele is the appearance of a fluid-filled sac in a man’s scrotum – essentially, an accumulation of fluid around one or both testicles. ^{[1] X Research Source} This is a fairly common situation. An estimated 1-2% of boys in the US are born with this condition. ^{[2] X Reliable Source Mayo Clinic Go to the source} In most cases, hydroceles are harmless and usually clear up on their own without treatment, but swelling in the scrotum should always be seen by a doctor Examination and evaluation to rule out other causes. Treatment of persistent hydroceles often requires surgery, although there are many home remedies that can also help.

Table of Contents

Understanding and Treating Hydrocele

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Recognize signs and symptoms. The first sign of hydrocele is a large but painless swelling of the scrotum, indicating a buildup of fluid around one or two testicles. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} Newborns rarely experience complications from hydroceles, and in the vast majority of cases, the condition goes away on its own before the baby is 1 year old. no treatment needed. In contrast, hydrocele in adults can lead to discomfort as the scrotum swells and becomes heavy. This condition can make it difficult for the person to sit or walk/run in severe cases.

The degree of pain or discomfort is often related to the size of the sac – the larger the fluid, the more uncomfortable the patient.
The cyst is usually smaller in the morning (when you wake up), then gradually enlarges. ^{[4] X Source of Study} Stress can increase the size of the vesicles.
Babies born prematurely have a higher risk of hydrocele. ^{[5] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Be patient with hydrocele. In the vast majority of cases in infants, adolescents, and adult men, hydroceles usually resolve on their own without any specific treatment. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} An obstruction near the testicle usually resolves on its own, the hydrocele will drain and be absorbed by the body. So, if you notice that your scrotum is swollen but not painful or causing problems with urination or sex, let it go away on its own.

In newborns, hydroceles will gradually disappear within a year of birth.
In adult men, hydroceles usually resolve within 6 months, depending on the cause. Larger cysts may take longer to heal, but usually not more than a year without medical intervention.
However, in boys and teenagers, hydroceles can be caused by a number of things, such as infection, trauma, testicular torsion, or a tumor, so these conditions should be checked and ruled out by a doctor.
Hydroceles are similar to fluid-filled lymph nodes that form in tendon sheaths near joints, then gradually disappear.

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Use bath therapy with Epsom salts. If you notice that your testicles/scrotum are swollen but not painful , you can take a very warm bath with at least a few cups of Epsom salt. ^{[7] X Source of Study} Relax in the bath for about 15-20 minutes, sitting with your legs slightly apart so that the water surrounds the scrotum. The warmth of the water can stimulate the circulation of body fluids (which can clear congested areas), and salt can draw fluids out of the body through the skin, thereby helping reduce swelling. Epsom salt is also a good source of magnesium, which relaxes muscles/tendons and soothes pain.

If the hydrocele is accompanied by pain, bringing warm water to the scrotum (or any source of heat) can cause more inflammation and possibly worse symptoms.
Do not make the bath water too hot (to prevent burns) and do not sit in the bath for too long (to prevent dehydration).

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Avoid trauma to the testicles and sexually transmitted diseases. The cause of hydrocele in newborns is unknown, although it is thought that the position of the fetus in the womb causes poor circulation, which in turn leads to fluid accumulation. However, in older boys and adult men, the cause is often related to trauma to the scrotum or infection. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} Injuries can be caused by wrestling, martial arts training, cycling, and sexual activity. Infections of the testicles/scrotum are often associated with sexually transmitted diseases; ^{[9] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the source} so it’s important to protect your scrotum from injury and use protection when having sex.

If you often play contact sports, you should always wear protective clothing, including genital protectors, to avoid injury.
Always use condoms when having sex to greatly reduce the risk of infection. STDs don’t always infect the testicles, but they’re not uncommon either.

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Know when to seek medical treatment. You should seek medical attention for your newborn baby boy if he has swelling in his scrotum that doesn’t go away after a year or continues to get bigger. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} Adult men should see a doctor if hydroceles persist for more than 6 months or swell to the point of causing pain/discomfort or disfigurement.

Orchitis is not the same as hydrocele, but it can cause secondary hydroceles. Orchitis is very painful and requires treatment because of the increased risk of infertility. You should seek medical attention if your scrotal swelling is accompanied by a fever.
You also need to see a doctor if hydroceles affect the way you run, walk, and sit.
Hydrocele does not affect fertility.

Medical treatment

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Go to the doctor for a checkup. If hydroceles last longer than usual or cause pain and other symptoms, you should see your doctor to be examined and to rule out relatively serious conditions that present similarly: an inguinal hernia: an inguinal hernia , varicocele, infection, benign tumor or testicular cancer. ^{[11] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the Source} Once a hydrocele has been diagnosed, your options will essentially be surgery. Medicines will not work in the treatment of hydrocele.

Your doctor may use diagnostic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, or computed tomography to get a better picture of the inside of the scrotum.
Transscrotal light can show whether the fluid inside the scrotum is clear (indicating hydrocele) or cloudy, possibly blood and/or pus.
Blood and urine tests can help rule out infections such as epididymitis, mumps, or sexually transmitted diseases.

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Withdraw the translation. Once hydrocele has been diagnosed, the least invasive procedure is to use a needle to drain the fluid from the scrotum. ^{[12] X Source of study} After local anesthesia, the doctor will insert a needle into the scrotum, pierce the fluid sac, and withdraw the clear fluid. A fluid filled with blood and/or pus indicates an injury, infection, or possibly cancer. The procedure is very quick and does not require a lot of recovery time – it usually only takes a day.

Drainage is not commonly used because fluid often accumulates again and requires multiple treatments. ^{[13] X Research Source}
Sometimes the doctor will insert the needle through the groin (groin) area if the sac is higher in the scrotum or partially outside.

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Surgery to completely remove the sac. The most common and effective way to treat persistent and/or symptomatic hydroceles is to remove the sac and its contents – called a hydrocelectomy. ^{[14] X Research Source} With this method, there is only 1% chance of recurrence of hydrocele. ^{[15] X Source of Study} The surgery will be performed with a scalpel and laparoscope, a device with a tiny camera attached to a long cutter. Cataract surgery is usually performed in an outpatient hospital and under general anesthesia. Recovery can take a week or more, depending on whether an incision is made in the abdominal wall.

For infants, surgery is usually an incision in the groin area to drain the fluid and remove the sac, and then sutured to strengthen the muscle wall—basic as well as surgical repair of a hernia.
In adults, the surgeon usually makes an incision in the scrotum to drain the fluid and remove the sac. ^{[16] X Research Source}
After surgery, you may have a tube inserted into your scrotum to drain excess fluid for a few days.
Depending on the type of hydrocele, your doctor may recommend surgical repair to reduce the risk of the hernia being cut off from the blood supply.

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Relax while you wait for your recovery. Most cases of hydrocele surgery have a fairly quick recovery time. Healthy adults can go home a few hours after surgery – rarely an overnight hospital stay. ^{[17] X Research Source} Children should limit their activity (no vigorous activity) and get plenty of bed rest for about 48 hours after surgery. Adults should also follow this recommendation and abstain from sexual activity for about a week to be safe.

The majority of hydrocele surgery patients can resume normal activities after 4-7 days. ^{[18] X Research Sources}
Possible complications from surgery include: an allergic reaction to the anesthetic (breathing problems), non-stop internal or external bleeding in the scrotum, and the risk of infection.
Signs of infection include pain, inflammation, redness, a foul odor, and possibly a low-grade fever.

Advice

Don’t be afraid to check your scrotum from time to time. This is a good way to find problems (such as hydroceles) before they progress to more serious problems.
Although uncommon, hydroceles can form as a result of infection with lymphatic filariasis (parasites) in the testicles, leading to swelling and elephantiasis.
To reduce discomfort after cataract surgery, you can use a scrotal support belt and apply crushed ice (wrapped in a thin cloth) to reduce swelling.
Hydroceles are sometimes associated with inguinal hernias; Usually one surgery can treat both conditions at the same time.

Warning

If the scrotum is painful and begins to swell rapidly, you need to see a doctor immediately.

Steps

Understanding and Treating Hydrocele

Medical treatment

Advice

Warning

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