DS has swollen left testicle [blush] but doctor says it's not a hernia - anyone else experienced this?

[billybump]

Hi all. I'm new to mumsnet - just signed up today. I was wondering if anyone else has the same thing my DS has. He's 2 and a bit. His left testicle keeps getting swollen, sometimes to twice the size of the other one . It doesn't seem to bother him. I took him to my GP a couple of months ago but after a check he said there was no hernia - it was just fluid. Has anyone else noticed their DS getting it? Does it go away?

He had an op for an umbilical hernia repair in June and we noticed that it started swelling after that. Thoughts anyone???

I wonder whether it's a hydrocele? I think that's a sort of varicose vein between the testicle and the scrotum. It's not dangerous, painful or harmful, AFAIK. There is some suggestion that it may reduce fertility because the testicle with the hydrocele is slightly warmer than the optimum temperature as a result of the extra blood around it. However, the bloke I learned this from has two children .

Thanks PH. This is reassuring. I looked it up on nhsdirect, although i'm not taking it as a firm diagnosis! I'll probably take him back to the GP about it just to be safe. Don't want to be seen as a neurotic mum though! Hopefully it will disappear without the need for more surgery.

By the way, PH. I won't ask how you found this out from a bloke you know [GRIN]!! It's not exactly something that comes up in every day conversation, is it??!

You'ld be surprised! It's not only women who get disinhibited by childbirth, and are then prepared to talk about all sorts of things....

Could it be a twisted testicle? I've heard these can be very painful but I'm sure the Doc would have noticed if it was.

Pretty sure it's not twisted. I think DS would be screaming in agony if it was, from what I have read, and instead it doesn't bother him at all. It was one of my first worries though! Glad the doc ruled that one out. He said we'd definitely know if it was twisted.

my ds had this problem when he was about 8 - in both testicles but it didn't come and go. We took him to the GP and he was whisked straight into hospital - turned out to be a 'torsion of the testes' and can result in sterility because the testes twist and cut of the blood supply.

I'd really get another opinion - its probably not a torsion but obviously something isnt quite right if it keeps happening.

hope everything is ok.

it is likely to be a hydrocele - ask your doctor - you should be referred and will probably need a day procedure operation to close up the connection to the body cavity. Apparently when the testicles descend the path is supposed to close up -if it doesn't then fluid can leak into it. Often is gets bigger through the day, and also when they are ill. If it comes and goes it is a communicating hydrocele.

DS3 (nearly 2) has one and saw a specialist when he was 12 months - he said they usually clear up by 2 but if not would need the ooperation described above. We are waiting for our next appointment at the moment.

The other things you need to be aware of is testicualr torsion - twisted testicle - that usually happens quickly and is very painful and needs to be dealt with quickly (ie A&E) because if left the testicle can die.

Thanks for all your help MNers. I'll definitely take him to the doctor to get a second opinion. Happy Christmas to you all.