Medical Questions » Male Problems Questions » Question No. 611
| Question: | I have a very embarrassing problem. In the past month one of my testes has blown up to twice its normal size. It' s not painful, but I' m terribly worried and embarrassed. What could it be? |
| Answer: | The most likely cause of your problem is a hydrocele.
The testes are surrounded by a fine layer of tissue called the tunica vaginalis. Fluid may accumulate between the testes and the tunica to cause an apparent swelling of the testicle that is often painless. They may occur at almost any age, and may follow an injury or infection in the scrotum, or may occur for no apparent reason.
A needle can be used by a doctor to drain off the fluid, but it often reaccumulates after this and an operation is usually necessary to give a permanent cure.
There are other cysts and growths that can occur in the scrotum, including cancer, which may not be painful. For this reason, any swelling of the testes, whether painful or not, must be checked by a doctor.
Pain in the testes, particularly in a teenager, is a medical emergency.
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