A hydrocele is when liquid fills a male’s scrotum, causing it to swell. It is not a crucial health issue but it can be awkward and uneasy. Hydroceles are more popular in male infants than adults, and there are treatments to solve the problem.

Although the situation is much more popular in baby boys, it may also occur in adolescent and adult men.

There are two: communicating hydrocele and non-communicating hydrocele.

• Communicating hydrocele: This is a type of hydrocele that has contact with the fluids of the abdominal cavity. A communicating hydrocele is generated by the failure of the processusvaginalis . If this membrane remains open, there is a potential for both a hernia and a hydrocele to improve. The child’s scrotum will appear swollen or large and may develop in size throughout the day.
• Non-communicating hydrocele: In this type, the inguinal canal did close, but there is some fluid around the testicle in the scrotum. This situation might be present at birth or might improve years later for no obvious reason. A non-communicating hydrocele normally remains the same size or has very slow extension.

A hydrocele surgeon can diagnose a hydrocele in a child or adult through a combination of tests and observations, including:

• Physical exam – This may include testing to see how the bulge in the groin field changes under pressure or when the patient is asked to cough and/or shining a light through the scrotum, highlighting any lot of fluid in that area.
• An imaging test such as an ultrasound.

There are no medicines available to treat a hydrocele.

A hydrocele normally does not require to be surgically repaired. A hydrocele normally goes away on its own within six to 12 months of age. If the hydrocele does not cure on its own, then it needs to be surgically repaired to prevent further complications.