What’s Behind Testicular Pain? Causes, Symptoms and When to See a Doctor

The tactical are the male reproductive organs present in the scrotum, which is often known as the testes. Scrotum is present beneath the penis. Sperms and the hormone testosterone are produced by the testicles. The scrotum contains the egg-shaped reproductive organs known as testicles. Minor injuries to the area can result in testicular pain. Serious disorders like testicular torsion or sexually transmitted infections can cause scrotal pain. Ignoring this pain can harm the scrotum and testicles permanently. Testicular issues frequently start as groin or abdominal discomfort before testicular pain manifests.

Why testis pain? 

Males at any age may have experienced testicular pain, and the causes of testicular pain can be multifocal. The testicles are the tiny reproductive organs that resemble eggs. One or both the testicles may be the source of the testicular pain. But the testicles themselves might not be the source of the pain. Another area of your body, such as your stomach or groin, could be the source of the pain.

Testicular pain is of two types:

• Acute: Acute testicular pain is a sudden onset, a sharp ascent and a brief duration.
• Chronic: testicular pain progressively worsens over an extended length of time. There are numerous delicate nerves in the testicles which can cause excruciating agony.  

What are the common symptoms of testicular pain, and when should you see a doctor?

When the symptoms get worse day by day, and other new symptoms arise gradually, it is time to seek doctors and get treated. If not, the symptoms increase and lead to other severe complications. The common symptoms include:

• Swelling and sudden fluid build-up in the scrotum
• Lump formation in the testicles
• Pain in testicles after urination
• A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• Dull ache in groin  
• Heavy pain in testicles
• Erectile dysfunction
• Low sex drive
• Swelling and lumps around the testicles
• Nausea and vomiting  
• Abdominal pain
• Bruising in testicles
• Haematuria
• Fever  

How is testicular pain caused?

Testicular pain is caused due to many conditions and factors, such as:

• Epididymitis
• Inguinal hernia
• Orchitis
• Spermatocele
• Hydrocele
• Testicular cancer
• Trauma or injury in testicles
• Infections
• Inflammations
• Retrograde ejaculation
• Previous surgeries in the pelvic area
• Cysts
• Vasectomy
• Cystic fibrosis

How is testicular pain diagnosed?

There are many diagnostic procedures to examine the testicular pain, such as:

• Physical examination: A healthcare physician performs a physical examination as a first step to examine any injuries in the testicles. They check for the presence of lumps and inspect lymph nodes for signs of pain.
• Ultrasound: If any lumps are found during physical examination, they go for ultrasound scanning. It is a painless procedure that uses high-energy sound waves to create pictures/images of tissues inside the body.
• Biopsy: If there are any lumps found in ultrasound, doctors remove the affected testicle through an incision in the groin. Then, the removed cells are examined further under a microscope to plan the proper treatment.
• Urinalysis: This test involves urine examinations to find out infections.
• Urethral discharge culture: It is an examination of urethral discharge which detects the presence of bacteria causing infections.  
• Digital rectal examination: Healthcare professionals initially conduct physical examinations to determine the symptoms and conditions of the disorders. A digital rectal examination is a component of a physical examination. It is a test where physicians examine the lower rectum and anus by inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum through the anus to check for any abnormalities.  

Treatments for testicular pain

The treatments to cure the testicular pain and manage the symptoms may include:

Medications: Medications like pain reliefs and anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat and manage symptoms like pain, swelling and irritation of the testicles.  

Self-remedies: Self-remedies, such as applying an ice pack to the genitals, reduce the infections. The other remedies involve:

• Keep the genitals dry
• Wear cotton and non-synthetic cloths
• Soak in a warm bath
• Wear loose-fitting clothes  

Orchiectomy: It is a surgical procedure used to remove one or both testicles. It is used to treat both seminoma and non-seminoma testicular cancer. The procedure involves making an incision into the groin to remove the testicle with the tumour. The blood vessels and lymphatic tissues are closed to prevent the spread of cancer from the tumour site to the rest of the body.  

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection: It is most commonly used to treat non-seminoma testicular cancers. The procedure involves the removal of lymph nodes in the abdomen to prevent the spread of cancerous cells.

Conclusion

To conclude, testicular pain is pain and discomfort in the testicles raised due to many other conditions, infections and inflammations. There are medications and surgeries used to treat this condition and manage the pain.