Hydrocele (hydrocele)

Hydrocele (hydrocele)

What it is?

Hydrocele, or hydrocele, (from the Greek hydor - water, liquid and kele - swelling) is a disease in which excessive formation and retention of fluid occurs in the membranes of the testicle. The volume of fluid accumulating in the corresponding half of the scrotum can vary from several milliliters to 1-3 liters (in exceptional cases). This disease is quite common and is observed in both children and adults.

Why does this happen and what happens?

Hydrocele of the testicle can be congenital (in children) or acquired (usually in adults). Until the beginning of the 20th century, the most common cause of acquired testicular hydrocele was gonorrhea. Nowadays, hydrocele often appears after an injury, but usually so minor that a person does not pay attention to it. 2-3 weeks after such an injury, a painless tumor appears in one of the halves of the scrotum, which slowly increases. The process can continue for several years, without pain or any disorders - such testicular hydrocele is called chronic.

Only when the hydrocele reaches a large size (in exceptional cases, up to the size of a child’s head) does difficulty urinating and sexual dysfunction appear. Hydrocele of the testicle can appear as a complication, for example, after a kidney transplant or treatment of varicocele.

Acute (reactive) hydrocele often occurs against the background of another, more serious disease: gonorrhea, tuberculosis or inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis).

Diagnosis

Hydrocele of the testicular membranes does not cause difficulties either in diagnosis or in treatment. When determining this disease, an andrologist conducts an initial examination of the man’s genitals. The most informative way to diagnose hydrocele is an ultrasound examination of the scrotal organs, which allows you to measure the volume of hydrocele, as well as assess the condition of the testicle and its appendage.

Treatment

In cases where hydrocele is a consequence of the development of other diseases (inflammation, gonorrhea, etc.), it is necessary to first treat these particular ailments. For all other types of hydrocele, the treatment method is surgical. The only exception: the operation is not performed on children under 1-1.5 years of age (congenital dropsy).

A small accumulation of fluid in itself does not cause any complications. However, the hydrocele can reach large sizes, making physical activity and sex life difficult. In addition, with untimely treatment of dropsy and its large volumes, testicular atrophy and irreversible disruption of sperm production are possible, which leads to male infertility.