Hydrocele
A hydrocele is a build-up of fluid around a testicle that causes a painless swelling in the scrotum. Read more about hydrocele →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the urology wait (not specific to hydrocele), updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
urology waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Isle of Wight NHS Trust | Isle of Wight | 3 weeks |
| Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Cheshire West and Chester | 4 weeks |
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | Reading | 4 weeks |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust | Wiltshire | 5 weeks |
| Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust | North Yorkshire | 5 weeks |
| Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Blackpool | 5 weeks |
| West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | Watford | 5 weeks |
| Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Runnymede | 6 weeks |
About hydrocele
A hydrocele is a collection of fluid in the sac around a testicle, which makes the scrotum swell on one or both sides. It usually feels soft, like a small water balloon, and is most often painless. Hydroceles are common and are usually harmless. They can appear for no clear reason or follow minor injury or inflammation.
How it is treated
Many hydroceles in adults do not need treatment and can be left if they are small and not bothering you. If a hydrocele is large, uncomfortable or getting in the way, a urologist can treat it, usually with a small operation to remove or seal the fluid sac. Draining the fluid with a needle is sometimes done but the fluid tends to come back, so surgery is the more lasting option.
After treatment
After surgery the scrotum is usually swollen and tender for a couple of weeks, and most people are back to normal activity within two to three weeks, avoiding heavy lifting at first. The aim is a one-off fix, and most hydroceles do not come back after an operation.
Sources: NICE CKS: Scrotal pain and swelling. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.