Treatment | Testicular swelling

Treatment

Since swelling of one or both testicles can occur for various reasons, there are several therapeutic options available. If the cause of the symptoms is torsion of the testis (twisting of the testis), surgical treatment is indicated immediately, as there is a risk that the affected testis will die due to the interrupted blood supply. In order to prevent the tissue from dying off and further damage and to ensure fertility, surgery must be performed within a few hours.

The treating surgeon opens the scrotum, loosens the torsion of the testicle and restores normal blood circulation. The testicle is then sutured to the scrotum to prevent further twisting. If a swelling of the testicle occurs due to an inflammation of the epididymis or other bacterially caused inflammatory processes, antibiotic therapy in combination with the intake of painkillers is performed.

In addition, rest should be maintained and the affected testicle should be elevated with the help of a testicular bench. Cooling of the testicle is also advised. The urologist treating the patient should check the testicle so that possible abscesses on the testicle, which can form in the course of an inflammation, can be detected early.

If the treatment is successful, the symptoms disappear completely after about 10 to 14 days. In rare cases, a chronic course may develop. A testicular swelling caused by a hydrocele or a cyst filled with water does not necessarily have to be treated immediately as long as the swelling does not cause pain or a feeling of excessive pressure.

However, control examinations should not be omitted in this context.If the swelling of the testis is caused by a varicose vein in the testis (varicocele), there are different therapeutic approaches. Treatment is recommended because a varicocele can be accompanied by a loss of function of the cells in the testis and an incorrect development of the sperm. One possible treatment is sclerotherapy of the dilated vessels.

In this procedure, a catheter is inserted through which an agent can be administered to sclerotize the vessels. Another treatment option is embolization, which leads to an occlusion of the affected vessels. The varicocele and the associated swelling of the testicles can also be treated surgically by severing the vessels.

A swelling of the testis, which is noticeable in the context of an inguinal hernia, should also be treated. An inguinal hernia is not an acute emergency as in testicular torsion, but a surgical correction should be performed within the next time. If the swelling is caused by a tumorous change in the area of the testicle, a tissue sample should be taken and analyzed.

If a testicular tumor is diagnosed during this examination, further surgery as well as radiation or chemotherapy may be indicated. Swelling of the testicle, which occurs after surgical interventions, such as groin or prostate surgery, is usually only of short duration and recedes within a few days. In this context, an immobilization and cooling of the testicle is recommended to alleviate the symptoms.