Condition
A lump on my testicle
I have felt a lump, my testicle has swollen, one is bigger than the other or it hurts. What this could be and what is done about it.
What could a lump on a testicle be?
A lump or swelling in the scrotum has several common causes. They differ in where they are and what they are made of.
An epididymal cyst. A smooth little ball above or behind the testicle, separate from it and filled with fluid. It usually does not hurt.
A hydrocele. Fluid that collects in the sac around the testicle. The scrotum is bigger and heavier on that side, usually without pain.
An inguinal hernia. A swelling that moves down from the groin towards the scrotum, gets bigger when you cough or strain, and gets smaller when you lie down.
Inflammation of the epididymis or the testicle. Pain, warmth and redness, often with a raised temperature. Inflammation is treated with medicines, not surgery.
A growth in the testicle itself. A hard lump that is part of the testicle and cannot be separated from it. A change like this is not monitored, but investigated without delay.
These changes cannot be reliably told apart by feel. An ultrasound tells them apart, and that is why an examination with an ultrasound is the first step.
When should I book an examination, and when should I go straight to emergency?
Every new lump or hardness on a testicle, a testicle that has become bigger or heavier and a swelling that is growing should be seen within a few days. Pain is not the measure here: changes that need a quick work-up often do not hurt.
A sudden, severe pain in a testicle cannot wait for an appointment, especially when it comes with nausea or vomiting. The cause may be a twisting (torsion) of the testicle, which has to be operated on within a few hours. With pain like this, go straight to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
What does the examination involve?
The examination is led by a urology specialist. It starts with a conversation: how long the change has been there, whether it is growing, whether it hurts, whether it was preceded by a blow or an infection. An examination by hand and an ultrasound of the testicles follow, done the same day, in the same visit. The ultrasound shows whether the change is filled with fluid or solid, and whether it is in the testicle or next to it.
You get the result at the examination, together with an answer about the next step: monitoring, treatment with medicines or a procedure. For a lump or swelling of the testicle, the examination and ultrasound go together and cost €120. You book directly, without a referral, and you do not have to give a reason when booking. How to prepare and what else is examined is on the page Examinations and diagnostics.
Arrange an examination. Nurse Martina will gladly answer your questions and concerns and arrange an appointment. Opening hours are Monday–Friday 8:00–20:00, other times and weekends by arrangement.
What can be done?
A hydrocele and an epididymal cyst are monitored while they are small, painless and not bothering you. They are operated on when they grow, hurt or interfere with walking, sitting, exercise or sex.
| Problem | Procedure | Also, in the same visit |
|---|---|---|
| The scrotum is bigger and heavier on one side, it is growing or bothering you | Hydrocele surgery | When an inguinal hernia comes with the hydrocele, hernia surgery is done in the same procedure. |
| A smooth little ball above or behind the testicle that is growing, hurting or bothering you | Epididymal cyst surgery | |
| The testicle has died after twisting or a severe infection, or hurts permanently | Orchidectomy | When there is no infection, a testicular implant is placed in the same procedure. |
| A testicle is missing, after removal or from birth | Testicular implant |
Hydrocele surgery and epididymal cyst surgery are done under general or spinal anaesthesia, take 45 to 60 minutes and you go home the same day. Most men return to work in one to two weeks; the exact course is decided at the examination. Hydrocele surgery costs €1,600 and epididymal cyst surgery €1,100. The price includes anaesthesia, check-ups in the first three months and dressing changes.
Orchidectomy costs €1,700, and a testicular implant €3,500–4,000.
When the ultrasound shows a solid growth in the testicle itself, the procedure is not done at the polyclinic. With the result we refer you to a hospital, where the work-up continues.
Specialist and team
Specialty: urology — examinations, diagnostics and procedures.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
→ Doctors and team at Poliklinika Barbel
Frequently asked questions
The lump on my testicle does not hurt. Can it wait? No. Pain does not tell you what the lump is: both cysts and growths in the testicle itself often do not hurt. Every new lump or hardness on a testicle is examined with an ultrasound within a few days.
Is it normal for one testicle to be bigger than the other? A small difference in size is common, as is one testicle hanging lower. What needs an examination is a difference that is new or growing, and a testicle that has become harder or heavier than before.
How do I examine my testicles myself? Once a month, after a warm shower, when the skin of the scrotum is relaxed. Gently roll each testicle between your thumb and fingers. A testicle is smooth and egg-shaped, and the soft bulge behind it is the epididymis, part of the normal anatomy.
Can a hydrocele be drained with a needle instead of surgery? With a puncture the fluid is drained, but the sac that produces it stays and fills it again, most often within a few weeks or months. That is why a hydrocele that bothers you is operated on: the sac is removed or turned inside out, so fluid can no longer collect. A hydrocele puncture costs €70.
Does the operation affect fertility and potency? In hydrocele surgery the testicle is not touched, only the sac around it. In epididymal cyst surgery there is a small risk that the passage for sperm on the operated side becomes blocked, so tell us at the examination if you plan to have children.
How much does an examination with a testicular ultrasound cost? A urological examination with an ultrasound costs €120. For a lump or swelling of the testicle, the examination and ultrasound are done together, in the same visit, and you get the result straight away.
Do you also examine boys? No. Urological examinations and procedures at Poliklinika Barbel are done only for adults. For a swelling or lump on a child's testicle, contact a paediatrician or a paediatric surgeon, and with sudden, severe pain go straight to the emergency department.
Do I need a referral? No. An examination at Poliklinika Barbel is paid for privately and you book directly. You can take the result to your own doctor if treatment continues in the public system.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.