The testicles are small egg-shaped male sex organs inside a thin pouch of skin called the scrotum. The condition of testicular pain can affect males at any age. Testicular pain can be severe because the testicles have many sensitive nerves.
Testicular pain can range from a dull ache to a severe sharp pain. This pain may be in one or both testicles and sometimes may not originate from the testicles themselves. Instead the pain may be coming from another part of your body such as the stomach or groin (referred pain).
Specific Testicular Conditions Associated With Scrotal Pain
If you’ve had a recent injury, the source of the testicular pain may be clear, but sometimes, it’s not. Listed below are some possible causes of testicular pain:
Trauma: Due to a testicular injury during sports, exercise or an accident.
Orchitis: An infection (bacterial or viral) of the testicles can cause a swelling and a burning sensation in one or both testicles.
Hernia of the groin: This occurs when part of your intestine pushes through a weak part of your abdominal muscles near the groin and can be painful.
Epididymitis: When the thin tubes carrying sperm from the testicles (epididymis) is inflamed the condition is referred to as epididymitis. This may last for few days to weeks.
Spermatocele: This is when a cyst filled with fluid forms inside the epididymis near the testicle. These are not always painful, however, they can grow to a large size and become uncomfortable.
Hydrocele: This is a condition in which fluid builds up around the testicles. These are common but sometimes they can become infected or cause pain.
Haematocele: This is when blood collects and surrounds the testicle. This is usually the result of an injury of some kind.
Varicocele: A varicocele is nothing but a group of abnormally large veins near the testicles. Due to this condition daily activities may cause discomfort, but you may find that the testicle pain usually improves when lying down.
Testicular torsion: If the blood vessels supplying the testicles are twisted, there may be a sharp pain due to reduced blood supply. Immediate surgery may be needed to save the affected testicle(s).
Kidney stones: These are calcified masses that form in the kidney and they happen more commonly when you are dehydrated. These ‘stones’ can get stuck in the tubes draining urine from the kidney into the bladder, and result in pain in the back, groin or scrotum. Sometimes, larger stones may need surgery.
Post-vasectomy pain syndrome: Sometimes, men who have had a vasectomy can get testicular pain due to a higher pressure in the tubes carrying sperm.
Testicular cancer: Testicular cancer can sometimes present as a dull ache or pain in the groin or testicles, a sense of heaviness or swelling in the testicles.
Symptoms That May Occur
Although each condition comes with its own set of symptoms, there are some symptoms that may be common among them.
Pain: Testicular pain can feel different depending on the cause. A sudden injury results in sharp, sudden pain, followed by a dull ache.
Vomiting: Some men may feel nauseous or may vomit when they are experiencing testicular pain. This would depend on the reason for the testicular pain.
Swelling: The scrotum may develop a lump or appear stretched, red and shiny. This occurs if there is an injury to the scrotum or a tumour of some sort.
Bruising: If the testicles were injured there may be bruising on the scrotum.
Urination problems: The frequency or sensation of urination may change. Sometimes blood might be present in the urine.
Fever: If testicular pain is accompanied by fever, it can be sign of an infection or a severe inflammatory response.
Treatment
If you have testicular pain that radiates into the abdomen, is accompanied by urinary urgency, or painful urination or if there is swelling or bruising of the scrotum, or testicle, see a healthcare provider.
If you know the reason for the pain (such as injury or accident) you can take over-the-counter pain killers. If there is persistent swelling, apply an ice pack to the scrotum.
Give your testicles time to rest. It is recommended to wear supportive underwear and avoid strenuous activity.
If these symptomatic treatments don’t work, or the pain worsens with time, do not hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Your doctor may conduct a physical examination or order the necessary blood or urine tests to determine the underlying cause of testicular pain. The treatment you receive will depend entirely on what’s causing the problem.
