Scrotal ultrasound
A scrotal ultrasound looks at the testicles, the epididymis, the spermatic cords and the coverings around them. It is painless, uses no radiation and takes 15-20 minutes. Men of any age can have it, and so can boys from their first days of life. You may also see it called a testicular ultrasound. It is the same test. At Oberig Clinic the scan is done by experienced ultrasound doctors on expert-class machines with colour Doppler.
What the scan shows
The doctor measures the size and volume of each testicle, compares left and right, and checks the tissue, the epididymis and the cords. The screen shows fluid around the testicle (hydrocele) and swollen veins in the cord (varicocele). It also shows epididymal cysts and spermatoceles, signs of inflammation (orchitis, epididymitis), tiny calcium spots, the effects of an injury, and an inguinal hernia that has slipped into the scrotum.
Epididymitis is a common cause of sudden pain in adult men. It can follow a urinary or sexually transmitted infection, so the urologist usually orders lab tests along with the scan. After mumps in adulthood, ultrasound helps check if the testicle was affected.
Tumours are a separate task. Any lump you find in a testicle needs an ultrasound without delay. Do not wait for it to go away. The scan clearly tells a lump inside the testicle from a cyst of the epididymis. The first needs a urologist right away. The second is usually harmless and just watched.
Who needs it
Men most often come with pain or heaviness in the scrotum, swelling or one side bigger than the other, a lump they can feel, a "bag of veins" above the testicle, redness and swelling. Without symptoms, a urologist or andrologist orders the scan for couples who cannot conceive and a poor semen test, for high or low testosterone, after an injury, or before surgery for varicocele or hydrocele.
Varicocele is a common cause of poor sperm quality. Ultrasound shows how wide the veins are. It also catches blood flowing backwards when you strain. In a fertility work-up, a man should have the scan along with a semen test and hormones. Often the scrotum and prostate are scanned in one visit to see the full picture. A urologist will explain the results and plan treatment.
Injury is another reason. After a blow or a fall, even without much pain, a bruise or a tear in the testicle's tough outer layer can form. How fast it is found decides if the testicle can be saved. A scan is also needed if the scrotum swells when you cough or strain. That is how an inguinal hernia shows itself.
Varicocele and hydrocele: what to know
Varicocele is a widening of the veins in the spermatic cord. In 9 out of 10 cases it is on the left. It looks and feels like a "bag of worms" above the testicle. It gets bigger when you stand and almost disappears when you lie down. It often does not hurt, but it can lower sperm quality and shrink the testicle over the years. Doppler ultrasound grades it. The grade and your semen test decide if you need surgery.
Hydrocele is fluid between the layers around the testicle. In adults it follows an infection or an injury. The scrotum gets bigger but usually does not hurt. Ultrasound confirms it is fluid and, just as important, shows the testicle itself, which you cannot feel through the fluid. Read more about treatment on our hydrocele page.
Scrotal ultrasound with Doppler
Doppler shows blood flow in the testicle and the cord veins as colour on the screen. Without it you cannot grade a varicocele or tell inflammation (more blood flow) from testicular torsion (no blood flow). Torsion is an emergency. It causes sudden severe pain in the scrotum, most often in teenagers, and every hour counts. Do not wait for a routine appointment. Call our emergency line 3003. The doctor switches on Doppler on the same machine during the scan when it is needed.
How to prepare
No special preparation. Eat, drink and take your medicines as usual. You do not need a full bladder. That is it. Shower before your visit and wear clothes that are easy to take off. If the scrotum hurts, you can take your usual painkiller. It will not affect the result. Bring your referral if you have one, earlier ultrasound reports, and your semen test and hormone results. A comparison over time is very useful. If you also have a transrectal prostate ultrasound booked, the doctor will tell you how to prepare for it.
What happens during the scan
- you lie on your back on the couch, the penis rests on your belly under a paper towel,
- the doctor applies warm gel and checks each testicle, epididymis and cord in turn,
- to check the veins, you will be asked to bear down or hold your breath (the Valsalva manoeuvre), and part of the scan is sometimes done standing,
- if needed, the doctor turns on Doppler to look at blood flow,
- afterwards the gel is wiped off and the doctor explains the findings right away.
It does not hurt. You may feel slight discomfort only with acute inflammation, when the scrotum is sore anyway. Our doctors know patients can feel awkward. The scan is done calmly and with respect. It takes 15-20 minutes in total. You get a written report with sizes and findings on the spot. The doctor tells you what it means and which specialist to see next.
Normal values and results
Testicle size depends on age and build. The values below are a rough guide for adult men. Your doctor interprets them:
| Measure | Rough normal range in adults |
|---|---|
| Testicle size | length 4-5 cm, width 2-3 cm, depth 2-3 cm |
| Testicle volume | 15-25 ml, up to 20% difference between sides |
| Head of the epididymis | up to 10-12 mm |
| Cord vein diameter | up to 2-3 mm, no backflow when straining |
| Fluid around the testicle | a small amount, no signs of hydrocele |
A normal testicle looks even, with smooth edges. A single epididymal cyst or a little fluid is common and often causes no symptoms. A smaller testicle matters in infertility and hormone problems. Tiny calcium spots (microlithiasis) mean you should check yourself regularly and have follow-up scans. The urologist draws the final conclusions with your exam and lab results.
Between visits, check yourself once a month after a warm shower. Gently roll each testicle between your fingers. Look out for new lumps, a change in size or a heavy feeling. Any change is a reason for an extra scan, not for waiting.
Scrotal ultrasound for boys
In boys the scan helps find a testicle that has not come down into the scrotum (undescended testicle). It also checks for hydrocele, cysts, an inguinal hernia or the effects of an injury. A hydrocele at birth often clears up by age 1-2, and ultrasound lets you watch it without rushing. Torsion in teenagers is different. It needs a same-day check.
Sometimes a boy's testicle sits in the scrotum and then rises into the groin from cold or nerves. This is a retractile testicle. It usually needs no surgery, and ultrasound helps tell it from a truly undescended one. If a testicle has not come down, current guidelines plan surgery in the first or second year of life. For children the scan is the same as for adults, just quicker, and a parent can stay close. Halyna Huivan, a top-category ultrasound doctor, scans children at the clinic. If treatment is needed, our paediatric urologist Hennadii Ustenko, PhD, leads it.
Common questions
Do I need a referral?
No, you can book yourself. If you already have symptoms, it is easier to book a urologist visit with an ultrasound. You get both the report and a treatment plan in one visit.
Can I have the scan with sudden pain?
Yes. With sudden pain it matters most, because it rules out torsion. Do not put it off.
Will ultrasound find the cause of infertility?
It shows structural causes: varicocele, small testicles, cysts, damage from past inflammation. Sperm quality itself is measured by a semen test, so the two always go together.
What if a lump is found in the testicle?
See a urologist the same day or as soon as you can. Most epididymal cysts are harmless. A lump inside the testicle needs more tests: tumour markers, sometimes an MRI. Caught early, these tumours respond well to treatment.
Should I have a scan if we are planning a baby?
If you have tried for over a year without success, yes. The male work-up starts with a semen test, and the scan shows if there is a structural cause. With no symptoms and no trouble conceiving, you do not need it.
How often should it be repeated?
With no symptoms, there is no need for routine scans. With varicocele, microlithiasis or after surgery, your urologist sets the schedule, usually every 6-12 months.
Scrotal ultrasound prices at Oberig Clinic
A standard scrotal ultrasound costs UAH 1,265. A screening scan done by a urologist during the visit costs UAH 1,195, and a scan by Honoured Doctor of Ukraine Nataliia Riepina costs UAH 1,470. There is no separate penile ultrasound in the price list. If you need the penis and scrotum checked in one visit, the urologist will decide on the scope. For complex cases there is an MRI of the scrotum, testicles and penis at 3 Tesla.
| Test | Price |
|---|---|
| Scrotal (testicular) ultrasound | UAH 1,265 |
| Scrotal screening ultrasound by a urologist | UAH 1,195 |
| Scrotal ultrasound by Honoured Doctor N. Riepina | UAH 1,470 |
| Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate and seminal vesicles | UAH 1,465 |
| Urologist consultation | UAH 1,670 |
| MRI of the scrotum, testicles and penis, 3 Tesla | UAH 5,995 |
Prices are taken from the clinic price list as of 01.10.2026 and may change. Please check the current cost with our call centre.
Why choose Oberig Clinic
- Experienced ultrasound doctors. Vadym Miller is a top-category ultrasound doctor with 30 years of practice. Scrotal and urinary tract scans are among his main interests. Nataliia Riepina is an Honoured Doctor of Ukraine and an EFSUMB member.
- Urologists next door. Consultation and tests in one visit. Our urologists include Ihor Rozdobudko, Honoured Doctor of Ukraine, and Serhii Sokolenko, a member of the European Association of Urology.
- Expert-class scanners with Doppler. Colour Doppler shows blood flow and grades a varicocele during the same scan.
- Adults and children. Paediatric ultrasound doctors, a paediatric urologist, our own lab and surgery, all in one clinic.
Address: 3 Zoolohichna St, buildings "G" and "V", Kyiv. Book online at https://my.oberig.ua/ua/appointment/ or call +38 044 521 30 03.
Scrotal ultrasound?
