- Physical Examination
- Surgical Examination
- Ophthalmology
- Clinical Skills
- Orthopedics
- Surgery Videos
- Laparoscopy
- Pediatrics
- Funny Videos
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Nursing Videos
- Plastic Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Histology and Histopathology
- Neurosurgery
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Urology
- Dentistry
- Oncology and Cancers
- Anatomy Videos
- Health and Fitness
- Radiology
- Anaesthesia
- Physical Therapy
- Pharmacology
- Interventional Radiology
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Gynecology
- Emergency Medicine
- Psychiatry and Psychology
- Childbirth Videos
- General Medical Videos
- Nephrology
- Physiology
- Diet and Food Health
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Neurology
- Women Health
- Osteoporosis
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
- Hematology
- Rheumatology
- Toxicology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Vascular Disease
- Reproductive Health
- Burns and Wound Healing
- Kidney Zone Podcast
- Other
Hydrocele / varicocele repair
Category: Urology Procedures & Tests · All urology procedures & tests
What it is
A hydrocele is a collection of fluid around the testicle causing a painless scrotal swelling; repair drains the fluid and turns back or removes the sac so it does not refill. A varicocele is a network of swollen veins above the testicle; repair ties off these veins (or blocks them by embolisation) when it causes pain, testicular shrinkage in adolescents, or contributes to infertility.
Why it is done
Hydrocele surgery is offered for large or uncomfortable swellings after ultrasound confirms the diagnosis and excludes other causes. Varicocele treatment is considered for pain, adolescent testicular growth failure, or abnormal semen results in infertility care.
How to prepare
An ultrasound scan confirms the anatomy. Surgery is a day case, usually under general anaesthetic. Fasting applies; tell the team about blood thinners.
What happens during the procedure
For a hydrocele, through a scrotal cut the fluid is drained and the sac is everted or excised and stitched so fluid cannot re-accumulate. For a varicocele, the veins are tied through a small groin or sub-inguinal cut (often with a microscope), or blocked by a radiologist through a vein (embolisation). Surgery takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
Afterwards — recovery & results
Scrotal swelling and bruising after hydrocele repair can be striking and takes weeks to settle fully; supportive underwear helps. Most return to desk work in a few days and sport in about a month. Varicocele results for pain are usually good; semen improvements, when they occur, take months (a sperm production cycle).
Risks & considerations
Risks include haematoma (blood collection — the commonest issue after hydrocele surgery), infection, recurrence (hydrocele can recur; varicocele can persist via collateral veins), and injury to the testicle's blood supply (rare, mainly a varicocele risk with certain techniques).
Watch: Hydrocele / varicocele repair videos
Real procedure videos from the MedicalVideos.com library. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
Why not just drain a hydrocele with a needle?
Needle drainage refills almost always, because the sac remains. Surgery deals with the sac itself, giving a lasting result.
My varicocele was found on a scan — do I need treatment?
Many varicoceles need no treatment at all. Treatment focuses on pain, effects on the testicle in adolescents, or fertility concerns assessed with semen analysis.
Related procedures — Urology Procedures & Tests
Browse the H section of the A–Z list or return to the Procedures & Tests hub.