Treatment of hydrocele: observation, medication or surgery?

Treatment of hydrocele depends on its size and whether it is causing the problem.

In the case of a small hydrocele, no treatment is given.

Hydrocele in children usually corrects spontaneously during the first year of life, so hydrocele should be monitored during the child's development.

Excess fluid may be absorbed spontaneously over time.

For large hydrocele and hydrocele that causes problems, a small surgical procedure is performed. The excess fluid is drained.

Unfortunately, hydrocele is one of the diseases that tend to recur.

Treatment of non-communicating hydrocele resolves itself in most cases within the first year of life by absorbing the excess fluid.

Reactive hydrocele is caused by inflammation or ongoing infection in the genital area that led to the hydrocele. Inflammation is treated with antibiotics or drugs with anti-inflammatory action.

However, some types of hydrocele do not repair themselves and surgery is necessary.

Communicating hydrocele does not resolve on its own in adults and surgery is required.

Surgery is also required for fascia hydrocele.

Surgery is a short procedure lasting approximately 10 minutes. It is performed under local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia where the person is put to sleep. After surgery, the patient goes home on the day of the procedure and treatment does not require hospitalisation.

After the operation, a jockstrap is put on or it is recommended to wear tight briefs.

Treatment after surgery requires incapacity for work for a maximum of 5 days, which of course depends on the condition and the course of treatment.

Another option is scrotal puncture, in which excess fluid is drained from the scrotum using a puncture needle. However, this tends to return and within a few weeks the scrotum will fill with fluid again.