Hydrocoele: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Hydrocele is a condition seen among men that occurs when serous fluid accumulates around the testicles. This is also common in newborn babies, but adults and older men can also develop hydrocele due to an injury or inflammation in the scrotum. This typical condition can be of two kinds- communicating hydrocele and non-communicating hydrocele. Communicating hydrocele is caused when the sac encircling your testicle does not close completely. This allows fluid to flow in and out. Non-communicating hydrocele takes place when your body fails to absorb the fluid even after the sac closes. Hydrocele condition does not inflict pain, and the usual symptom is a swelling or a sensation of heaviness in the scrotum.

Although hydrocele condition normally disappears on its own, in certain cases where it does not resolve or becomes larger, you may have to go through a surgery or a needle aspiration.

Before starting with the treatment the doctor will diagnose you for hydrocele by physically examining your scrotum or lower abdomen, or by drawing urine or blood samples and check for any sort of infection. He may go for a transillumination method in which a shining light is passed through the scrotum. If the person has hydrocele, the light will clear fluid gathered around the testicles. In order to determine the cause of scrotal swelling he may perform an ultrasound to check for tumors or hernia.

If the hydrocele does not disappear on its own, the doctor will perform a surgery to remove the condition. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The doctor will make an incision in the scrotum or lower abdomen depending on where the hydrocele has occurred, and surgically remove the hydrocele. After the removal your doctor will recommend a tube to drain away the fluid, and carefully dress the surgery incision. Another treatment option could be needle aspiration. In this procedure, a long needle is injected into the sac to extract the fluid. In some cases, a drug may be pushed to avert the sac from filling again.

This type of condition is commonly seen among infants and men, but do not show clear symptoms of pain or discomfort. However, if you observe a swollen scrotum, you may go to a doctor for checkup.

Testicular problems can cause inflammation or swelling as well, but that necessarily does not refer to hydrocele. Other medical conditions can also cause swelling in the scrotum for which you will have to wait for a proper diagnosis before going for the treatment. Usually infants below the age of 1 year, are not considered eligible for the treatment.

There are a few side effects that you have to face after a surgery. The most common ones are- swelling or bruising in the groin area and scrotum, itching, slight pain, high fever and infection. These side effects do not last long, and usually disappear in a week or two.

After the surgery you will need to follow certain guidelines- avoid participating in any sort of physical strenuous activity, avoid lifting heavy weights as that may induce more pressure and inflict more pain in the scrotum and groin area, maintain a healthy diet by consuming more fiber-rich food in order to oppose irregular bowel movement. You will also have to refrain from any sexual activity for at least 2 weeks.

Under normal course it will take about 2 weeks for you to recover after a surgery. The recover, however, depends upon your general health condition. Different people react differently to certain medications and hence some people may recover faster than the others.

The cost of treatment varies from one city to another, and largely depends on the hospital and treatment procedure you are opting for. However, the average price ranges somewhere between Rs.20,000 to Rs.1,00,000.

The results of the treatment are usually permanent. In most cases hydroceles and its symptom goes away on its own, and even if you undergo a surgery, the condition does not recur unless you come across an injury in the groin area.

There are no alternative treatments for hydroceles condition.