Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

A hydrocele is the appearance of a fluid-filled sac in a man's scrotum - basically, a buildup of fluid around one or both testicles. This is a fairly common situation. An estimated 1-2% of boys in the US are born with this condition. In most cases, hydroceles are harmless and usually go away without treatment, but scrotum swelling should always be examined and evaluated by a doctor to rule out other causes. Treating a persistent hydrocele usually requires surgery, although there are many home remedies that may also help.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Understanding and dealing with hydroceles

1. 

   Recognize the signs and symptoms. The first sign of a hydrocele is a painless swelling of the scrotum, indicating a buildup of fluid around one or two testicles. Babies rarely experience complications from a hydrocele, and in the vast majority of cases, it goes away on its own before the baby turns 1 year old without treatment. In contrast, hydroceles in adults can lead to discomfort when the scrotum swells and becomes heavy. This condition can make it difficult for the sick person to sit or walk / run in severe cases.
   • Pain or discomfort is usually related to the size of the fluid sac - the larger the fluid, the more uncomfortable the patient is.
   • The fluid sac is usually smaller in the morning (when you wake up), and then gradually becomes larger. Stress can increase the size of the fluid sac.
   • A premature baby is more likely to have a hydrocele.

2. 

   
   
   Be patient with hydroceles. In the vast majority of cases in infants, teenagers, and adult men, hydroceles usually go away on their own without any specific treatment. The blockage near the testicles usually goes away on its own, the hydrocele sac is drained and absorbed by the body. Therefore, if you notice that the scrotum is enlarged but painless or is not causing problems while urinating or having sex, let it go away on its own.
   • In newborn babies, hydroceles gradually go away within a year of birth.
   • In adult men, hydroceles usually clear up within 6 months, depending on the cause of the illness. Larger fluid bags may take longer, but usually no more than a year without medical intervention.
   • However, in boys and teenagers, hydroceles can be caused by a number of causes such as infection, trauma, testicular torsion or a tumor, so these conditions should be examined and ruled out by a doctor.
   • Hydroceles are similar to fluid-filled lymph nodes that form in the tendon sheath near joints, and then gradually disappear.

3. 

   
   
   Use Epsom salt bath therapy. If you notice swelling of the testicles / scrotum no painYou can take a very warm bath with at least a few cups of Epsom salt. Relax in the bath for 15-20 minutes, sitting slightly with your feet apart, so the water surrounds the scrotum. The warmth of water can stimulate the circulation of body fluids (which can clear blocked areas), and the salt can drain fluid from 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, contacting the scrotum with warm water (or any other source of heat) can cause more inflammation and possibly worse symptoms.
   • Don't make the bath too hot (prevent burns) and don't sit in the tub for too long (to prevent dehydration).

4. 

   
   
   Avoid testicular injury and sexually transmitted diseases. The cause of neonatal hydroceles is not known, although it is thought that the fetal position in the womb causes poor circulation, which in turn leads to fluid accumulation. However, in older boys and adult men, the cause is usually related to a scrotum injury or infection. Injuries can occur from wrestling, martial arts practice, cycling and sexual activity. Testicular / scrotum infection is often associated with sexually transmitted diseases; Therefore, you need to protect the scrotum from injury and take safe measures when having sex.
   • If you often play collision sport, you should always wear protective clothing, including genital protection, to avoid injury.
   • Always use condoms when having sex to significantly reduce the risk of infection. Sexually transmitted diseases do not always infect the testicles, but are not uncommon.

5. 

   Know when to seek medical treatment. You should seek medical attention for your newborn boy if he develops scrotum swelling that does not go away after a year or continues to get bigger. Adult men should see a doctor if the hydrocele persists for more than 6 months or the swelling becomes so painful / uncomfortable or disfiguring.
   • Testicular inflammation is not the same as hydroceles, but it can cause a secondary hydrocele. Testicular infections are very painful and require treatment due to the increased risk of infertility. Seek medical attention if you experience scrotal swelling and fever.
   • You also need to see a doctor if the hydrocele is affecting the way you run, walk and sit.
   • Hydroceles do not affect fertility.

Part 2 of 2: Medical treatment

1. 

   See your doctor for a visit. If hydroceles persist longer than usual or cause pain and other symptoms, you should see your doctor for a relatively serious condition that resembles an inguinal hernia. , varicose veins, infection, benign tumors or testicular cancer. Once you've been diagnosed with a hydrocele, your options will basically be surgery. The drug will not be effective in treating hydroceles.
   • Your doctor can use ultrasound diagnostics, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography to get a better picture of the inside of the scrotum.
   • Shining through the scrotum can tell whether the fluid inside the scrotum is clear (indicating hydroceles) or cloudy, possibly blood and / or pus.
   • Blood and urine tests can help rule out infections such as epididymitis, mumps or sexually transmitted diseases.

2. 

   Drain the fluid out. Once a hydrocele is diagnosed, the least invasive procedure involves using a needle to drain the fluid from the scrotum. After local anesthesia, the doctor will poke the scrotum with a needle, go through the fluid bag and withdraw clear fluid. Fluid filled with blood and / or pus indicates trauma, infection, or possibly cancer. This procedure is very quick and doesn't require much recovery time - usually only takes a day.
   • Drainage is not commonly used because fluid often builds up again and requires several treatments.
   • Sometimes the doctor will insert the needle through the groin area (groin) if the sac is higher in the scrotum or has an outer part.

3. 

   Surgery completely removes the fluid sac. The most common and effective way to treat a persistent and / or symptomatic hydrocele is to remove the fluid and fluid inside - called a hydrocelectomy. With this method, there is only 1% chance of a hydrocele relapse. The surgery will be done with a scalpel and a laparoscope, a device with a tiny camera attached to a long cutting machine. The opening of the cataract is usually performed in an outpatient hospital and is anesthetized. Recovery may take a week or more, depending on whether or not the abdominal wall is incision.
   • In newborns, surgery is usually an incision into the groin to drain the fluid and removing the sac, and then stitched together to strengthen the muscle wall - essentially the same as surgical treatment of a hernia.
   • In adults, surgeons often make an incision into the scrotum to drain the fluid and remove the sac.
   • After surgery, you may be inserted into the scrotum to drain any excess fluid for a few days.
   • Depending on the type of hydrocele, your doctor may recommend surgical repair to reduce the risk of a hernia in an area that is cut off from the blood supply.

4. 

   Relax while you wait for recovery. Most of the surgical cases of hydroceles recover quite quickly. Healthy adults can go home a few hours after surgery - rarely needing to stay overnight in hospital. Children should be inactive (inactive) 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 1 week to ensure safety.
   • Most people with hydrocele surgery can resume normal activity in 4-7 days.
   • Possible complications from surgery include: an allergic reaction to the anesthetic (breathing problems), persistent internal or external bleeding in the scrotum, and risk of infection.
   • Signs of infection include pain, inflammation, redness, a bad smell, and possible mild fever.

Advice

• Don't be afraid to examine your scrotum from time to time. This is a good way to spot problems (like hydroceles) before progressing into more serious illnesses.
• Although uncommon, hydroceles can result from an infection with a filariasis (parasitic) in the testicles, leading to swelling and elephantiasis.
• To reduce discomfort after cataract surgery, you can use a scrotum support belt and apply ice (wrapped in a thin cloth) to reduce swelling.
• Hydroceles are sometimes accompanied by inguinal hernia; Usually one surgery can treat both of these conditions at the same time.

Warning

• If the scrotum is sore and it begins to swell quickly, you should seek immediate medical attention.