A hydrocele is a build-up of fluid around a testicle. This can appear as a swelling in your scrotum, which is the bag or sac containing the testicles. You may have the condition on one or both sides of the scrotum.
Hydroceles are most common in babies, but they can also develop later in life. For example, a hydrocele may be caused by:
- an injury to the testicle
- an infection of the testicle
- a previous operation on the testicle or in the groin area
- another health condition.
Usually, hydroceles are painless and disappear without treatment. In some cases, however, a hydrocele can grow bigger and cause pain, swelling and discomfort in your scrotum. You may then be offered a short procedure to remove or repair the fluid-filled sac. You are given a general anaesthetic, which means that you are asleep and do not feel any pain. The surgeon makes a small cut in your scrotum and drains the fluid in the sac around your testicle. The sac is either removed or turned inside out and stitched in place to prevent more fluid from collecting.
Here at Highgate Private Hospital, we have London’s leading consultant urologists who treat urinary tract problems. They assess your symptoms, arrange any tests and agree an individual treatment plan with you.
We offer an all-inclusive self-pay package to remove or repair a hydrocele. Prices to treat a fluid-filled sac on one side of your scrotum and a follow-up appointment start from £2,295 (terms and conditions apply). For more information, please call our self-pay advisers on 020 3918 9463.
