The health of the organs of the male reproductive system depends on many factors. Deviations in their operation can be caused not only by internal disturbances but also by mechanical damage. The most vulnerable testicles are paired glands that produce male hormones and sperm. When damaged, the productivity of these substances deteriorates, which affects not only sexual ability and fertility, but also general health.
The main functions of the testes
The testicles, also known as testicles or testicles, are the male gonads. Each is located in the scrotum - to the right and left of it. The testes are connected to the sperm cords, which are made up of muscles, nerves, lymphatics and blood vessels. The right testicle is slightly higher than the left.
The testicles are made of soft tissue separated by a thin ligament into specific lobes. They are where the sperm tubules are located, where sperm production takes place, including the process of producing the hormone testosterone.
The constant formation of male germ cells allows the process of fertilizing the egg. The production of testosterone in the testicles is also very important for men's health, because this hormone is responsible for the growth of the body and muscles, the development of the whole body according to the male type, and the development of the genitals. obsession.
If the testicles are damaged for any reason, the ability to produce hormones and germ cells is reduced. This can happen at any age. To avoid complications, see a doctor immediately if you feel pain in your testicles.
Why do testicles hurt?
The causes of testicular pain in men are many. At the same time, they can be relatively harmless, associated with erroneous ejaculation after arousal, and can be dangerous because of the consequences of developing malignancies or trauma to the external genitals.
The causes of testicular pain are as follows:
- Injury to the perineum or scrotum. If the blow or bruise wasn’t too strong, the pain in the testicle is sharp but goes away pretty quickly. However, even a slight mechanical impact contributes to bleeding into the cavity of the scrotum, causing your skin to reddish and thicken. Such phenomena will disappear in a few days. In case of severe injury, the integrity of the testicles is damaged. The pain in this case is so pronounced and painful that the victim may lose consciousness. Serious injury can lead to the fact that the gonad loses its functions completely - this will lead to infertility in the future;
- Inflammatory processes in the testes or appendages. This may be epididimitis caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the epididymis. In this case, the patient complains not only of pain but also of swelling of the testicles. The pathological process can also occur due to inflammation of the glandular tissue. This phenomenon is called orchitis. This disease, which is a complication of the flu, gonorrhea, and others, can affect one or both testicles at the same time and cause infertility. In orchitis, the skin of the testicles turns red, the scrotum swells, and the man has a fever, general weakness, and constant thirst;
- Abstinence. In this case, the pain in the testicles of men is due to the fact that when excited, the penis fills with blood and the duct system is activated - all of which indicates a willingness to ejaculate. If this does not happen, unpleasant sensations will appear in the testicles. Unlike cases where pain is caused by pathological processes, discomfort in the testes during prolonged abstinence is not accompanied by general weakness, loss of appetite, dizziness, and discoloration of the urine. This problem does not require treatment, it can be solved either through sexual intercourse or self-satisfaction. Another way to eliminate the discomfort is to take a painkiller;
- Frequent interruption of intercourse or lack of ejaculation after prolonged arousal, neurological pathologies, and inflammatory diseases of the digestive system — all of these factors may explain why testicles hurt after sex;
- Varicocele is an abnormal dilation of the veins and blood vessels in the penis due to their insufficiency. This disease is common in adolescents. If this is exactly why the testicle hurts, then the disease is at an advanced stage and it is fraught with amputation of the organ. Varicocele is also accompanied by an increase in the size of one half of the scrotum;
- Inguinal hernia. In case of violation, acute pain is observed, a specific protrusion in the groin that increases with physical exertion and assumes its previous shape after taking up a horizontal position. If the hernia is not violated, there will be dull pain radiating to the abdomen, sides, and region of the lower limb;
- Hydrocele, or hydrocele. This phenomenon is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the membrane of the testes, which is associated with circulatory disturbances. The disease can be hereditary or can occur with inflammatory pathologies, the development of tumors after injury to the external genitals. If the testis is enlarged, the presence of the hydrocele is suspected. Another symptom characteristic of this pathology is a sharp pain that occurs when the testicles are touched;
- Torsion of testicles. This phenomenon usually occurs in boys aged 7 to 10 years and is characterized by twisting of the sperm cord, leading to blockage of local blood flow and constriction of the duct. The pain in this case occurs in only one of the testicles. Uncomfortable feelings are aggravated by walking or pressing on the affected area. There may be redness and growth of one side of the scrotum and a burning sensation. Such abnormality is corrected by external reduction of the testes or by surgical methods;
- Development of a malignant tumor. The pathological process can spread to both glandular tissue and excretory channels. In this case, the testicles of men only hurt when the neoplasm has become large;
- Inflammation of the prostate. If the testicles hurt during prostatitis, this is one of the leading symptoms of the disease;
- Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs cause pain in the lower abdomen and testicles in men;
- Hypothermia. Exposure to low temperatures can result in painful testicular pain in men. In some cases, the body temperature rises.
If a man notices pain in the testicles, as well as external changes - increase in size, redness, swelling - see a doctor immediately to identify the cause of the disease as soon as possible and start appropriate treatment.
Characteristics of pain
The nature of the pain in the testicular region is of great importance in the process of diagnosis. Depending on where it is radiated, preliminary conclusions can be drawn about the nature of the occurrence of discomfort.
- In case the pain radiates to the lumbar region or the abdomen, an inflammatory process that occurs in the epididymis is suspected;
- If the pain radiates to the side, urolithiasis or inguinal hernia may occur;
- When the pain radiates to the lower limb, twisting of the sperm cord or bruising and then bleeding of the testicles is suspected.
If the testicles become red, painful and uncomfortable, the diagnostic measures prescribed by your doctor should be performed as a matter of urgency. Delay in this case can lead to infertility, as the ejaculate does not contain mobile sperm, reducing potency or penile amputation.
Diagnostic measures
The diagnosis of cases where the testicle hurts and stretches is performed by a urologist and andrologist. A man must go through the following activities:
- General blood test, which allows the specialist to identify the inflammatory process;
- Analysis of semen to detect infections to determine the presence and type of pathogenic micro-organisms;
- Spermogram analysis, which allows the evaluation of sperm activity and the identification of bacteria;
- Ultrasound of the scrotum, which allows the identification of neoplasms of the tumor;
- Taking a smear from the urethra to identify pathogens;
- Puncture (puncture biopsy) to determine the nature of diseases of the testicles, appendages;
- Palpation to detect enlargement of tumors or testicles;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and ureters to detect formations that impede the flow of urine;
- CT and MRI to rule out misdiagnosis.
It is not recommended that the patient take painkillers or perform heating or cooling procedures before performing diagnostic procedures.
Treatment methods
Treating testicular pain depends on the cause of the discomfort. Therapy may be based on medication, special procedures, or surgery.
Table 1: Methods for treating testicular pain
| OK | Treatment |
| Slight bruising of the pubic body |
|
| Infectious diseases caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the organs of the scrotum |
|
| Varicocele |
|
| Tumor | Removal of the tumor by radiotherapy or surgical removal of the affected organ. If metastases are detected, chemotherapy is required. |
| Torsion of testicles | Dissection of the scrotum, assessment of testicular viability and subsequent straightening or removal. The use of analgesics in the postoperative period is recommended. |
| Extensive hematomas | Drain the affected areas, remove non-viable tissues and suture gaps. |
It is not recommended to use folk remedies to relieve scrotal pain, as such an alarming symptom requires careful diagnosis. However, there are a few steps you can take while waiting for your doctor to alleviate the discomfort caused by a minor blow or bruise. At home, you can apply an ice bag to the sore side or perform a light massage with an anesthetic cream, but it is better not to touch the affected area until you consult a professional.
To prevent the appearance of pain in vulnerable organs such as the testicles, you should:
- Eliminate anomalies in the structure of the genitals in time;
- Perform regular examinations with a urologist to identify asymptomatic pathologies in the early stages of development;
- Have a regular sex life and if your partner is unstable, use a contraceptive;
- Wear underwear that does not squeeze organs and does not interfere with blood circulation;
- Normalization of drinking order and nutrition;
- Avoid the possibility of traumatic effects of the scrotum.
The condition of the testicles directly affects not only a person’s reproductive abilities but also their general health. In order to prevent undesirable consequences, the risk of external factors affecting the testes should be minimized and existing diseases that may adversely affect their condition should be treated in a timely manner.