The function of the testicles is to produce male sex hormones and generate sperm for fertilization. If you are experiencing testicular pain, it indicates underlying problems. Some conditions may be severe, which require going to a doctor immediately.
There are several reasons for painful testicles, and usually, the pain is not the only symptom.
Depending on the etiology, the following symptoms may also occur:
- Local temperature rise
- General signs of a fever
- Edema
- Asymmetry
- Enlarged vessels
- Enlarged and painful lymphatic nodes
Traumatic injury
Sharp mechanical trauma in the scrotum can lead to severe pain and even fall into a faint.
Among the mechanical causes of painful testicles in men are chronic injuries occurring due to tight clothing. In this case, nagging pain appears when during palpation.
If you are experiencing pain in your right or left testicle after the injury, it is necessary to visit a doctor to avoid the condition getting worse.
Treatment
The treatment includes the following:
- Use of analgesics and NSAIDs
- Ice application
- Bed rest
- The elevated position of the scrotum
In more severe cases, surgery is an option.
Inverted testis
The inverted testis can be the cause of the painful left testicle. This condition is typical for children or teenagers. However, among the predisposing factors are male reproductive tract abnormalities.
In inverted testis, the pain is sharp and unexpected, and painful sensations are severe. Moreover, it is a dangerous condition as nerves and blood vessels constrict, which may lead to rapid death of the testicle.
Treatment:
The treatment of inverted testis is surgical. Therefore, an operation is done shortly after the diagnosis.
Epididymitis
Epididymitis is an inflammation in the epididymis causing pain in the testicles and lower abdomen.
It occurs when an infectious agent enters the body. As a result, a patient suffers nagging but tolerable pain.
It is a unilateral condition; only the right or left testicle is painful, but not both. Unfortunately, it tends to progress, and the symptoms appear.
Treatment
The treatment of epididymitis includes:
- antibacterial drugs to fight the causative agent
- analgesics
- anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
In some cases, immunomodulators are prescribed. If there are no complications, the prognosis is favorable. However, if left untreated, there is a risk of worsening.
Inguinal hernia
Inguinal hernia occurs in men and is accompanied by testicular pain. This is because, in the antenatal period, the testes move down to the scrotum. As a result, the inguinal canal resides at the base of the abdomen, causing sharp intolerable pain.
The hernia also constricts male genitals, which is why men have testicular pain.
Treatment
The treatment includes surgical interference and manual reduction. If constriction is observed, it is an urgent condition requiring surgery.
However, there are relapses, so a doctor must consult a patient and give him detailed recommendations on what to do after the treatment.
Orchitis
Orchitis is an inflammation in the testicle. The causative agents are viruses (especially epidemic parotitis).
It is a dangerous condition as the body develops autoimmune activity in the testicles. This is why the testicle is injured during inflammation due to pathogenic bacteria and immune cells, and initially, the unilateral process transforms to bilateral.
Suppose you have pain in the right or left testicle, or the testicle is enlarged and red. In that case, it is necessary to visit a doctor because orchitis can threaten your fertility immediately.
Treatment
The treatment includes the following:
- Bed rest
- The use of anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics
- Treatment with ice
- Elevating the scrotum from its position
In advanced conditions, drainage may be required. Timely treatment ensures full recovery without any complications.
Testicular tumors
You should always be careful of testicular pain during arousal and after sex. Sometimes it can be due to long-term sexual abstinence, but in some cases, it can indicate the presence of tumors.
Testicular tumors can be both malignant and benign, but both conditions pose dangers for health and require immediate treatment. Diagnosis is a challenge as painful sensations appear only later, and there are no other symptoms.
Hydrocele
Hydrocele is the collection of serous fluid in the scrotum, and pain appears when the testicle constrictor when the fluid has an infection. Visually the disorder is detected by the enlarged scrotum, but most often, the pathology does not develop any clinical symptoms. Nevertheless, hydrocele is the reason why children and teenagers have testicular pain.
Treatment
Hydrocele gets away on its own, but a continuous check-up is necessary to monitor the disease.
If the condition worsens or there are no improvements, surgery is an option.
Varicocele
Varicocele is an abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform venous plexus in the scrotum. Usually, it is located on the left side. The enlarged vessel can constrict arterial blood supply and the testicle. As a result, the pain is nagging and continuous. Varicocele affects boys and young men and requires immediate treatment.
Surgery is required to remove or ligate the affected veins. After the operation, the blood supply and testicle functions restore.
