Men of any age can experience pain in their testicles. It can strike one testicle or both and feel sudden and sharp or dull and achy.
The pain isn’t always coming from your testicles. It may be related to your abdomen, groin, or another organ and radiate to your testes — kidney stone pain, for example. Pain can also be located in the coiled tube and supporting tissue behind the testicle known as the epididymis.
But testicular pain is, well, super painful because the testicles have many sensitive nerves. At Interventional Spine and Pain Institute in Vero Beach, Florida, Dr. Michael Esposito sees patients with testicular pain and says these are some of the most common causes.
Infections like gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia, can cause your testicles to swell or become inflamed. You may notice a burning feeling. These sexually transmitted diseases are treatable with antibiotics.
Injury to your testicles can happen during sports play, exercise, or a fall or other accident. Rest, icing, and pain medications can help you find relief as you heal.
When part of your intestine pushes through a weak part of your abdomen near your groin, you have an inguinal hernia. These hernias are common but often require urgent surgery to repair.
People with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can develop neuropathy as a result of long-term high blood sugar. Nerves become damaged, causing numbness or tingling pain. It affects feet, hands, and other extremities like the testicles.
Getting your blood sugar under control, losing weight, and exercising can help improve neuropathy symptoms and minimize its progression. Pain associated with neuropathy may be controlled with medications.
Inflammation of the epididymis causes testicular pain. When the tube and associated tissue swell, it causes pain and further swelling in your testicles. Epididymitis occurs due to a bacterial infection or an STD.
This benign cyst forms in the epididymis and, in many cases, causes no pain. But when a fluid-filled spermatocele causes swelling and pain that radiates to the testicles, it needs treatment. Oral medications can reduce pain.
In rare cases, Dr. Esposito may recommend draining the fluid in the cyst so it shrinks away. Another treatment is sclerotherapy, which involves injecting an irritating agent into the cyst to cause it to shrink and disappear to promote healing.
Pain in your testicles could be an indication of testicular cancer, the most common cancer affecting males ages 15-35. Usually, testicular cancer shows up as a painless lump. If you have pain, it’s a dull ache or discomfort. Testicular cancer is rare, however, and quite treatable when it’s caught early.
Though testicular torsion is less common, it’s worth a mention. This happens when the blood supply to the testicle is cut off, causing tissue death. The torsion usually causes intense pain. If you suspect testicular torsion, get help right away to prevent long-term complications.
If you have testicular pain that lasts more than an hour, get it checked out. Call Interventional Spine and Pain Institute today, or use this website to request an appointment.
