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A hydrocele is a collection of clear fluid in a thin walled sack present in the scrotum.
Hydroceles may be either one sided or occupy both sides.
Hydroceles are painless, soft swellings and may be either present at birth (congenital) or develop later.
A very large majority of hydroceles present at birth resolve spontaneously by one year of age.
Hydroceles that are not congenital or those still present after one year of age generally warrant surgical correction.