I just had a vasectomy 8 days ago. My left testicle is fine, but my right one is 3 to 4 times larger. My urologist said it was a hydrocele and it should go away on its own, but I can't find anything saying that a vasectomy can cause a hydrocele. Is this normal?
The urologist may have said a "reactive hydrocele." Swelling at eight days is most probably a hematoma which is a collection of blood that does resolve with time and is fairly common with vasectomies. Hydroceles are caused by lining that surrounds the testicle when it lets more fluid in that it does letting it out, or a change in osmosis. These usually occur slowly over time and are not painful and the fluid is straw colored. This soon after a vasectomy would unusual for this to be true hydrocele. Go into a dark room and place a flashlight on the back side of the scrotum. If the light transmits through the mass then it is a reactive hydrocele or clear fluid, if there is no transmission of light then it is most probably a hematoma. Both will resolve.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
You need an exam from your doctor, as you could have an infection in that testis, although it is more likely that it is blood accumulation. An infection is usually very sensitive, and a hematoma is not.
Published on Jul 11, 2012