What does testicular pain in men indicate? The answer to this question interests many representatives of the stronger sex. In fact, this symptom is accompanied by various diseases, including both disorders of the reproductive system and the pathology of other organ systems.
Why does testicular pain appear in men? Causes, treatment, concomitant symptoms are important information that is worth exploring. When should I see a doctor? Can this violation indicate dangerous diseases?
Testicular pain in men: causes
Unfortunately, many men face a similar problem from time to time. Why does testicular pain appear in men? The reasons can be very different, but, as a rule, are associated with the influence of the following factors:
- physiological (for example, discomfort associated with sexual abstinence);
- mechanical (injuries, exposure to low or too high temperatures, shock, strong pressure);
- infectious (inflammatory diseases are accompanied by swelling and pain);
- impaired normal circulation in the tissues and organs of the scrotum;
- systemic diseases, in particular, oncological pathologies, disorders of the large intestine and prostate gland.
Of course, only the doctor can determine the exact reason why pain occurs in the left testicle in men (or in the right) after a thorough diagnosis.
What symptoms should I look for?
If we are talking about some kind of disease, then pain is far from the only symptom. What you should pay attention to?
- Sometimes men note a sensation of heat in the testicle. The scrotum feels hot to the touch.
- The size of the scrotum or its part with some diseases is greatly increased. Perhaps a change in the shape of the testicle.
- On palpation, you can find hard knots or bumps under the skin.
- Some pathologies are accompanied by enlargement of the scrotum veins - dilated vessels can be seen with the naked eye.
- Sometimes patients complain of nausea, fever, vomiting, a sharp deterioration in overall health.
- Sometimes the process affects only part of the scrotum organs. For example, sometimes there is only pain in the right testicle in men or, conversely, the left.
- The pain can be sharp or dull, pulling, sharp, cutting. Sometimes it appears suddenly, and sometimes it grows gradually. Unpleasant sensations may intensify during palpation or physical activity.
Mechanical impact and injury
A sharp pain in the testicles in men can be the result of an injury. Soreness in this case can be incredibly strong - sometimes the victim loses consciousness. Injury leads to bleeding, and sometimes to a violation of the integrity of the organ.
Damage may be caused by wearing tight clothing or tight underwear. The pain in this case is not so pronounced, but often appears.
Pain from abstinence
Dull, pulling pain in the testicle in men can be the result of abstinence. The fact is that sexual arousal starts a number of processes in the body - the blood rushes to the genital organ, the system of testicular ducts is activated, the body prepares for ejaculation. If the excitement does not end with ejaculation, then this is fraught with spasm of the ducts - discomfort and soreness appear, which can be aggravated, for example, during walking or physical exertion.
As a rule, a similar pain in the testicles in men goes away on its own after a few hours. However, there are no other signs of the disease. Antispasmodics, in particular, Papaverine, Spazmalgon, No-shpa, help to cope with discomfort. If the pain becomes sharp and does not disappear, then it is better to consult a doctor.
Severe hypothermia
If you are interested in the causes of pain in the right testicle in men (or the left), then it is worth paying attention to the effect of low temperatures. Hypothermia is always associated with narrowing, and sometimes spasm of blood vessels, which leads to the appearance of extremely unpleasant sensations and pain. As a rule, soreness goes away on its own after changing the temperature regime. If it is a frostbite, then you need to urgently consult a doctor.
Testicular twisting
Testicular twist is a serious problem that requires immediate surgical intervention. Most often, newborn boys and adolescents face a similar problem, although the likelihood of its occurrence cannot be ruled out at any age.
For one reason or another, the testicle is twisted around its axis, as a result of which the vessels passing along the spermatic cord are pinched. In the absence of timely assistance, the structures of the testicle begin to die, which is associated with the cessation of blood circulation, a deficiency of nutrients and oxygen. That is why the sharp, sharp pain in the scrotum can in no way be ignored.
Orchitis: features of the clinical picture
If a man is bothered by aching or pulling pains in the scrotum (on one or both sides), then this may indicate orchitis. This disease is characterized by inflammation of the testicle.
By the way, the cause of the onset of the inflammatory process is the activity of pathogenic microflora. Infection can enter the genitourinary system from the outside, for example, through the channel of the urethra (orchitis is often the result of a sexually transmitted disease). In addition, pathogens can enter the scrotum tissue along with the flow of blood from the site of inflammation in another organ. Risk factors also include a decrease in immune defense, which is fraught with activation of opportunistic microflora (for example, yeast, streptococci, Escherichia coli).
A typical sign of inflammation in this case is a pulling or throbbing pain, which intensifies during physical activity. By the way, the pain syndrome with such a pathology is quite easily stopped with the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Nimesulide, Nurofen, Citramon belong to this group).
Of course, there are other, more characteristic symptoms. The skin in the affected area strongly swells and reddens, becomes hot to the touch. The scrotum increases in size. Palpation is often accompanied by extremely unpleasant sensations. If we are talking about acute inflammation of the testicles, then there are signs of general intoxication, in particular, fever, weakness, constant fatigue, body aches, muscle pain, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite.
Treatment is usually carried out using antibacterial agents. Penicillin antibiotics are considered effective. Sometimes doctors prescribe Ceftriaxone and Clarithromycin. Therapy, as a rule, lasts about 10 days. In the future, patients are prescribed additional physiotherapeutic procedures. During the first month after the end of treatment, sexual acts are contraindicated.
Epididymitis and its features
This disease is accompanied by inflammation of the epididymis. Of course, such an ailment is accompanied by pain, because its symptoms include swelling, redness and other unpleasant disorders.
As in the previous case, the cause of the pathology is infection. By the way, in most cases, these two diseases are paired - the inflammatory process quickly spreads from the testicles to the appendages or vice versa. According to statistics, in young and mature men, the disease develops against the background of sexually transmitted infections. But in children and elderly patients, epididymitis is often associated with diseases of the genitourinary system, for example, cystitis, prostatitis.
Treatment is with antibiotics. The patient is also prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics. With the right, timely treatment, the disease can be cured completely and without complications.
Varicocele and its causes
Causes of pain in the right testicle in men (or the left) can be associated with vascular disorders. Today, varicocele (the disease is also called dropsy of the testicle) is a very common pathology, which is accompanied by varicose veins of the scrotum.
The disease develops gradually. At first, symptoms are absent, but then discomfort and pain appear. At first, a man is uncomfortable only during physical exertion or walking, but as the disease progresses, it also appears at rest. The pain in this case is pulling in nature. An erection is also accompanied by discomfort. There is an increase in the size of the scrotum, and most often it is one-sided.
If the disease is diagnosed on time, then it lends itself well to drug treatment. The patient is prescribed angioprotectors (Detralex, Troxerutin, Tagista are considered effective), vitamin complexes, in particular, nicotinic acid and vitamin E.
In addition, men are advised to adhere to certain rules. Of great importance is nutrition - in the diet you need to include fresh vegetables, foods rich in fiber and protein. It is also important to engage in feasible physical activity, do special gymnastic exercises to eliminate congestion in the pelvic organs, and keep body weight within normal limits. It is recommended to give up alcohol, smoking and other bad habits.
Renal colic
Pain in the testicles in men is not always associated with diseases of the reproductive system. Renal colic may be associated with this symptom. Pathology is associated with obstruction of the urinary canal by a stone, cyst, or tumor formed in the bladder.
By the way, renal colic can be attributed to the list of causes of pain in the right testicle in men, or rather, unilateral irritation of the nerve endings. The discomfort increases dramatically during urination. Urine, in turn, often changes color, becoming pink or reddish, which is associated with the appearance of blood impurities. A patient in this condition must be urgently taken to the hospital. In most cases, surgery is performed.
Inguinal hernia
If a man gives pain in the groin into the testicle, then this may indicate an inguinal hernia. This pathology is accompanied by the release of internal organs (for example, the bladder, part of the intestine, omentum) through the inguinal canal.
With this disease, pain often spreads to the leg or radiates to the lower back. Swelling of the scrotum is observed, which increases during physical exertion, and decreases at rest. It is also possible an increase in temperature, weakness of the violation of the digestive tract.
This is a dangerous disease that requires immediate surgical intervention, as there is a high risk of organ damage.
Tumors and other tumors in the inguinal region
The cause of discomfort may be the appearance of benign or malignant structures in the scrotum. As a rule, pathology affects one testicle, so there is, for example, pain in the right testicle in men.
It is worth noting that malignant processes proceed slowly and gradually, so soreness appears already at later stages. It is also possible the appearance of nodules under the skin of the scrotum, densification of the testis, an increase in its size. To make an accurate diagnosis, the patient needs to do an ultrasound and x-ray, donate blood for analysis, undergo a computer or magnetic resonance imaging.
Diagnosis and treatment of testicular pain in men
In no case should you ignore these symptoms. Pain in the testicles in men can indicate a mass of dangerous diseases. In order to find out the cause of this violation, the doctor needs to collect an anamnesis and examine the affected part of the body.
In the future, the patient passes the necessary tests. A swab from the urethra is taken, and these samples are then used for backseeding. In addition, the man gives blood, urine and sperm samples. Diagnosis necessarily includes ultrasound of the pelvic organs.
As for first aid, after an injury, it is recommended to apply a cold compress to the crotch area (you can keep it for no longer than 10 minutes). If the pain is accompanied by fever, then it is worth taking paracetamol or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. With urolithiasis, a warm heating pad is applied to the lower back, and an antispasmodic is taken. But you need to understand that these are only temporary measures - you can not do without consulting a doctor. Treatment depends on what exactly caused the pain.
Prevention: how to prevent problems?
As you know, the causes of pain in the right testicle in men (or both) can be very diverse. But if you try to avoid exposure to potentially dangerous factors, then the likelihood of this symptom can be minimized. Doctors recommend:
- avoid injuries, wear special protection for the groin when it comes to sports;
- abandon tight underwear made of synthetic fabrics;
- keep fit, do special health-improving exercises (Kegel exercises are effective);
- lead a regular sex life (both random, frequent sexual contacts and prolonged abstinence can negatively affect the state of health);
- all infectious and inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs should yield to adequate and, most importantly, timely therapy.
Pain in the testicles in men can indicate a mass of dangerous diseases. This is a serious symptom that should not be ignored. It is better to immediately contact a specialist, because much depends on timely help.