Boys and men should wear an athletic cup that protects the scrotum when playing sports such as baseball and football. Sports safety guidelines can help prevent injury to the testicles. Since hydroceles are more common among premature infants, prenatal care is important to prevent premature birth of a baby.
If the hydrocele has a big enough opening to let fluid flow in and out, a hernia can occur. When this happens, a piece of the bowel may come down into the scrotum. If the piece of bowel gets stuck outside the abdomen, its blood supply may be cut off and it may die.
This condition is not contagious, so there are no risks to others.