Hydrocele

What is it?

A hydrocele is a benign (not harmful) fluid collection around the testicle. They are usually painless and do not require intervention or follow up, however, in some men the fluid collection is large enough to be bothersome or interfere with walking or using the restroom.

Hydroceles most often occur slowly over a period of time due to an imbalance of normal fluid secretion (too much fluid production) and reabsorption (not enough drainage). Less common, hydroceles occur due to infection or inflammation, trauma, from surgery of the groin or scrotum, or very rarely, due to a tumor.

A hydrocele is different than a spermatocele or epididymal cyst. Click here to learn more.

When treatment is required, hydroceles are most commonly removed surgically through a small incision in a short outpatient (no hospital stay) procedure. Alternative, but less durable, treatment options include aspiration of the hydrocele (removal of the fluid with a needle) and sclerotherapy (injection of a scarring agent into the hydrocele sac).