Do you have testicle pain? Discover how to identify it knowing the symptoms of testicular pain, its causes and how to relieve it.
Unlike the ovaries and particularly ovarian pain (since they tend not to be sensitive organs, so they don’t really cause pain), the testicles are very sensitive, which means in which any injury or blow – no matter how minor or insignificant it may be – can cause pain. As you surely know, the testicles are the male gonads, which are very important in sexual development, and have two main functions: they are co-producers of sperm and sex hormones (fundamentally testosterone, which is responsible for regulating sexual development in men, the level of desire and the hormone it). Sexual function).
We find them inside the scrotum, and they consist of a pair of balls whose dimensions are usually around 5 centimeters long by 3 centimeters wide. Although they are quite similar in size, it is common for one testicle to hang a little more than the other.
Since the testicles are one of the most delicate areas of the male body, they are extremely sensitive to both touch and pressure. For this reason, the scrotum has a very important function: to protect them not only from temperature changes, but also from physical impacts.
Symptoms of testicle pain
The main symptom is discomfort in one or both testicles. This pain can even radiate to the lower abdomen. Basically we can summarize the symptoms of testicle pain in the following section:
- Discomfort or pain in one or both testicles.
- Nausea and dizziness, as a result of pain.
- Pain radiating to the lower abdomen.
Causes of testicular pain
There are several causes that can cause the appearance of testicle pain, some very common and habitual, and others not so much:
- Testicular injury.
- Testicular blow, usually in sports practice.
- Varicocele: dilated veins in the scrotum.
- Epididymitis: infection or inflammation of the sperm ducts.
- Orchids: infection or inflammation of the testicles.
- Testicular torsion: twisting of the testicles those results in the interruption of the blood supply.
- Spermatocyte: cyst in the epididymis. It often contains dead sperm cells.
- Kidney stones: kidney pain spreads to the scrotal area.
- Inguinal hernia: muscular defect in the groin, which affects the scrotum.
Although testicular cancer can cause pain, in most cases it is painless. For this reason, it is always recommended to palpate the testicles at least once a year, as a form of prevention. And if you find any small lump or bump, go quickly to the urologist.
If the testicular pain does not disappear after an hour or tends to be very strong, it is advisable to go to the emergency room or to your urologist.
Why does testicle pain appear?
We must bear in mind that the testicles are not protected by muscles or bones, as is the case with other organs of our body. For this reason they can suffer injuries, either when the man practices a sport or due to an accidental blow.
Although minor blows tend to be very painful, there is usually no squeal, thanks to the fact that the spongy tissue that the testicles are made of is capable of absorbing the blow.
It is also possible to feel nauseated or dizzy due to the pain felt by the blow or by the impact, but in general the pain tends to disappear little by little, after an hour.
What to do to relieve testicle pain?
When testicle pain is not urgent, because it has been caused by a minor injury (such as having received a slight blow) or by fluid accumulation, it may be interesting to know how to relieve testicle pain. The following basic tips can help you:
- Ice application: Applying a little ice on the scrotum helps reduce swelling and decrease pain. Of course, you must be careful not to burn yourself.
- Hot baths: they are equally useful to reduce and calm inflammation.
- Analgesics: Although we do not recommend self-medication on this blog, certain over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help.
If the testicular pain does not disappear after an hour, or tends to be very strong, it is advisable to go to the emergency room or see your urologist. The same happens if the testicular pain is sudden and intense, which can be caused by an acute torsion of the testicle, which must be diagnosed -and solved- in the first six hours, since otherwise there is a risk that the patient loses the testicle because blood does not reach this organ.
How is the cause of testicular pain diagnosed?
If the pain does not go away and you go to a medical center, the specialist will first do a visual exam, followed by palpation with your hand, which will allow you to examine the presence of possible suspicious lumps, and help to know which areas hurt more or less. . This analysis also offers the possibility of discovering if the pain is coming from the testicles themselves, from the scrotum, from the penis, from the abdomen or from the groin.
Other tests and tests may also be done:
- Urine and blood tests: they are useful to determine the presence or not of any viral or bacterial infection.
- Testicular ultrasound: offers the possibility of evaluating if there are blood problems, anatomical abnormalities, testicular rupture, inguinal hernias, tumors, accumulation of blood or pus.
- Testicular ultrasound: useful to evaluate if there is an epididymitis.
There is also other somewhat more complex but equally useful tests:
- Mammography: helps to know how the blood circulates through the testicle ducts.
- Nuclear scan: helps to know if there is testicular torsion.
