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"   What is a hydrocele? A hydrocele is a build-up of liquid in a fold of mucous membrane situated in the scrotum (testicle sac). A number of boys develop minor cases of hydrocele during the first few months of their lives.  Most of these disappear by themselves, but the more severe cases need to be removed through a simple operation.    How does a hydrocele develop? When a male baby is in the womb or immediately after birth, his testicles move from the abdominal cavity to the scrotum.  Sometimes, the passage which allows this to happen does not close up afterwards. This causes hydrocele in infants. Sometimes if this passageway remains open the hydrocele may vary in size, often being most noticeable when the baby is crying. If the passageway closes leaving fluid trapped in the scrotum, the hydrocele will no longer vary in size but does not go away either. In adults the cause is unknown, but a hydrocele still represents an accumulation of fluid around the testis.    Is a hydrocele dangerous? Children rarely experience any discomfort from hydrocele and it doesn&amp;#039;t normally cause problems later in life. For this reason, doctors usually recommend waiting to see if the hydrocele disappears without treatment. Your child will only need an operation if his hydrocele grows to a size that&amp;#039;s uncomfortable or if does not resolve on its own. Most hydroceles in adults are persistent. Small hydroceles do not require treatment. Large hydroceles cause some discomfort but are not dangerous.   What to do if you suspect you have a hydrocele If you notice anything strange about the shape or size of your scrotum, contact your doctor immediately.  The doctor can usually diagnose the condition by shining a light underneath the scrotum, which illuminates the fluid-containing sac.  If there&amp;#039;s any doubt, an ultrasound scan will confirm the diagnosis and also confirm that there is no cause for concern with the testicles themselves.    How is hydrocele treated? Hydrocele in infants is usually left alone because most will disappear spontaneously. Only if it persists after the first year is an operation carried out.  Infantile hydroceles are normally dealt with by making a small incision in the groin and finding the remnant of the passageway from the abdominal cavity to the scrotum. The passageway is tied off high up in the groin and the fluid drained off.  It&amp;#039;s rare for these hydroceles to come back. In adults the operation is carried out through the scrotum itself. The covering of the swelling is first opened and the fluid is drained away.  If the swelling is large then the excess sac may be trimmed away and the edge oversewn to prevent bleeding after the operation. It is uncommon for these hydroceles to come back it is possible.  Other complications of the surgery include bleeding or infection in the surgical wound.  With large swellings, the operation will lead to a considerable improvement in the cosmetic appearance. But there will always be some persistent swelling on the affected side compared to the normal side.  If a man is unfit for surgery then the hydrocele may be drained under local anaesthetic using a syringe and needle (tapping). This gives an instant cure, but is usually temporary as the fluid re-fills again. For this reason a sclerosing agent is sometimes introduced following the tapping procedure, which causes the hydrocele to stick to itself and prevents re-filling. There is also a risk of introducing infection into the hydrocele.   What is a varicocele? A swelling in the scrotum can also be due to a varicocele. This occurs when the veins in the testicular cord (ie around the vas deferens) become engorged with blood.  Varicocele is most common on the left-hand side of the scrotum, due to the arrangement of the veins on that side.  It&amp;#039;s usually noticeable when standing up, but the swelling disappears when you lie down as the blood in the engorged veins drains away.   How does a varicocele develop? A varicocele often develops for no apparent reason. It is usually discovered by accident during a routine examination.  If the varicocele grows too large, you will notice an uncomfortable heaviness or pain in one side of your scrotum.  If a varicocele develops suddenly, particularly on the left hand side, your doctor may arrange for you to have an ultrasound of the kidneys because in vary rare instances the varicocele may be related to the development of a tumour in the kidney on the same side.   Is there a connection between a varicocele and reduced fertility?  A lot has been written about the possible link between the presence of a varicocele and reduced fertility in men.  If you have difficulty making your partner pregnant and an examination reveals that you have an insufficient sperm count as well as a varicocele, then a referral to a specialist for advice may be helpful. According to recent work, however, there&amp;#039;s no evidence that correction of a varicocele reliably increases conception rates for a man with subfertility.   Where to seek help If you have any swelling or pain in your scrotum, you should make arrangements to see your general practitioner. Only a closer examination can determine the exact cause.  Most diseases are not dangerous but malignant ones must be detected as quickly as possible to ensure effective treatment.   Other people also read: Male fertility problems: why do men get fertility problems? Prostate cancer: what are the symptoms? Molluscum contagiosum: how does the doctor make the diagnosis?  Based on a text by Dr Per Grinsted  Last updated 22.04.2015 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/sexual-health/a11991/hydrocele-and-varicocele/>