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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffMost spermatoceles require no treatment. If yours causes discomfort, your doctor may recommend that you take over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others).
Surgical treatments
Repairing a spermatocele requires surgery to remove the cyst. A procedure called a spermatocelectomy generally is performed on an outpatient basis, using local or general anesthetic. The surgeon makes an incision in the scrotum and separates the spermatocele from the epididymis.
After surgery, you may need to wear a gauze-filled athletic supporter to apply pressure to and protect the site of the incision. Other post-surgical instructions may include:
- Applying ice packs for two or three days to keep down swelling
- Taking oral pain medications
- Returning to your doctor for a follow-up exam two to three weeks after surgery
A less used spermatocele treatment is sclerotherapy, which involves puncturing the spermatocele with a needle, withdrawing the fluid and injecting an irritating agent into the sac. The irritating agent causes the sac to scar, which eliminates the space the fluid occupied and may lower the risk of recurrence. However, the incidence of recurrence is high, as is the risk of damage to the epididymis. Sclerotherapy usually is used only for men who are beyond their reproductive years and who have conditions, such as blood-clotting problems, that increase the risks of spermatocelectomy.
