Why testicles can be painful in men and how to cure them

The health of the organs of the male reproductive system depends on many factors. Deviations in its function can be caused not only by internal disturbances, but also by mechanical damage. The most exposed testes are paired glands that produce male hormones and sperm. When they are injured, the ability to produce these substances is impaired, which affects not only sexual ability and the ability to fertilize, but also general health conditions.

The main function of the testis

The testis, also called the testis or testis, is the male sex gland. Each of them is located in the scrotum - its right and left side. The testes are attached to the spermatic cord, which is made up of muscles, nerves, lymph, and blood vessels. The right testicle is slightly higher than the left.

The testis is composed of soft tissue, divided by a thin connecting septum into unique lobules. The seminiferous tubule is located in it, where the production of sperm takes place, and between them the process of producing the hormone testosterone takes place.

The continuous formation of male germ cells makes the process of egg fertilization possible. The production of testosterone in the testicles is also very important for men’s health, as this hormone is responsible for body and muscle growth, overall body development according to male type, and sexual formation. desire.

When the testicles are damaged for any reason, the ability to produce hormones and sex cells is reduced. This can happen at any age. To avoid complications, you should immediately see a doctor if you experience pain in the testicles.

Why do testicles hurt?

The causes of testicular pain in men are many. Both can be harmless, associated with damaged ejaculation after stimulation, and dangerous, as a result of the development of malignant tumors or trauma to the external genital organs.

The reasons why the testicles hurt are as follows:

• Injury to the perineum or scrotum. If the blow or bruise is not too strong, the pain in the testicle is sharp, but passes quickly. At the same time, even a slight mechanical impact contributes to bleeding into the scrotal cavity, which causes the skin to turn red and thicken. Such a phenomenon passes in a few days. With severe injury, the integrity of the testis is violated. The pain in this case is so pronounced and excruciating that the victim may be unconscious. Severe injury can lead to the fact that the gonad completely loses its function - in the future this is fraught with infertility;
• The inflammatory process that occurs in the testis or its appendages. This may be epididymitis caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the epididymis. In this case, the patient complains not only of pain, but also that the testicles are swollen. Also, pathological processes can occur as a result of inflammation of glandular tissue. This phenomenon is called orchitis. This disease, which is a complication of influenza, gonorrhea and others, can affect one or both testicles at once and cause infertility. With orchitis, the skin of the testicles becomes red, the scrotum swells, the man has a fever, there is general weakness and persistent thirst;
• abstinence. In this case, the excruciating pain in the testicles in men appears due to the fact that when aroused, the penis fills with blood, and the ductal system is activated - all this indicates a readiness for ejaculation. If this does not happen, an unpleasant sensation appears in the testicles. Unlike cases when the pain is caused by a pathological process, discomfort in the testicles during prolonged abstinence is not accompanied by general weakness, loss of appetite, dizziness, and changes in urine color. This problem does not require treatment, it can be solved either through sexual intercourse or through masturbation. Another way to eliminate discomfort is by taking painkiller tablets;
• Frequent intercourse or lack of ejaculation after prolonged stimulation, neurological pathology and inflammatory diseases of the digestive system - all these factors can explain why the testicles hurt after intercourse;
• Varicocele is a pathological development of the veins and ducts of the penis, due to its deficiency. The disease is often encountered by adolescents in their teens. If the testicle is painful precisely for this reason, then the disease is at an advanced stage, and this is fraught with organ amputation. Varicocele is also accompanied by an increase in the size of one part of the scrotum;
• Inguinal hernia. With violations, acute pain is observed, a certain protrusion in the groin, which increases with physical effort and takes shape again after taking a horizontal position. If a violation of the contents of the hernia does not occur, there is a dull pain that radiates to the abdomen, sides, lower limb area;
• Hydrocele, or hydrocele. This phenomenon is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the testicular membrane, which is associated with impaired circulation. The disease can be hereditary or occur with inflammatory pathology, tumor development, after injury of the external genitalia. If the testicles have increased, then the presence of hydrocele can be suspected. Another feature of this pathological symptom is the sharp pain that occurs when touching the testicles;
• Testicular torsion. This phenomenon usually occurs in boys aged 7-10 years and is characterized by twisting of the spermatic cord, which leads to blockage of local blood flow and squeezing of the ducts. The pain in this case occurs only in one of the testicles. The unpleasant sensation is made worse by walking or by pressing on the affected area. There may be redness on the scrotum and an increase on one side, as well as a burning sensation. Such deviations are corrected either by external reduction of the testis, or by the use of surgical methods;
• The development of malignant tumors. The pathological process can spread to both glandular tissue and to the excretory tract. In this case, the testicles in men are only painful when the neoplasm has become large;
• Inflammation of the prostate. If the testicles are painful during prostatitis, then this is one of the main symptoms of the disease;
• Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs cause pain in the lower abdomen in men and in the testes;
• Hypothermia. The consequence of exposure to low temperatures can be painful pain in the testicles in men. In some cases, there is an increase in body temperature.

If a man notices pain in the testicles, as well as external changes - increased size, redness, swelling - you should immediately see a doctor to identify the cause of pathological manifestations as soon as possible and begin appropriate treatment.

Characteristic features of pain

In the process of diagnosis, the nature of the pain that occurs in the testicular area is very important. Depending on where it radiates, preliminary conclusions can be made about the nature of the occurrence of unpleasant sensations.

1. If the pain radiates to the lumbar region or to the abdomen, the presence of inflammatory processes occurring in the epididymis is suspected;
2. If the pain radiates to the side, urolithiasis or inguinal hernia may occur;
3. When the pain spreads to the lower limbs, twisted spermatic cord or testicular bruising, followed by bleeding into it, is suspected.

If the testicles turn red and pain and discomfort are felt in them, it is important to undergo diagnostic measures as prescribed by the doctor. Delay in this case can lead to infertility, as ejaculation will not contain mobile spermatozoa, impaired potency or amputation of the penis.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosis of cases in which the testicles are sore and pulled is made by urologists and andrologists. A man has to go through the following activities:

• General blood tests, thanks to which specialists can identify the inflammatory process;
• Analysis of semen for infection to determine the presence and type of pathogenic microorganisms;
• Spermogram analysis, which allows you to assess spermatozoa activity and identify bacteria;
• Scrotal ultrasound, which allows you to identify tumor neoplasms;
• Take a smear from the urethra to identify pathogens;
• Puncture (puncture biopsy) to determine the nature of testicular disease, complement;
• Palpation to detect tumors or testicular enlargement;
• Ultrasound of the kidneys and ureters to detect formations that obstruct the flow of urine;
• CT and MRI to rule out misdiagnosis.

Prior to performing diagnostic measures, patients are not recommended to take painkillers, perform warming or cooling procedures.

Methods of Treatment

Treatment of pain in the testicles depends on the cause of the discomfort. Therapy may be based on medications, special procedures, or surgery.

Table 1. Methods for the treatment of pain in the testicles

because	Treatment
Mild bruising on the vulva	Adherence to half -bed rest for several days; Apply a bandage to the damaged area to prevent blood stasis, reduce tension and pain severity; Pain relief - both local in the form of cold compresses, and general, which involves the intake of medication; The use of drugs to prevent the formation of hematomas; Magnetotherapy and heat -saving procedures after the acute period.
Infectious diseases caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the scrotal organs	Soft mode; Take antibacterial drugs to eliminate harmful microflora; Elimination of inflammation by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Physiotherapy after recovery.
Varikokel	Conservative therapy in the early stages, which involves the intake of drugs to improve blood circulation in the affected area, as well as vitamins C, E, PP; Methods of surgical treatment, in particular - surgery to block the scrotal veins and their sclerosis. After surgery, the likelihood of recurrence is reduced; Rejection of bad habits, weight loss.
Tumor	Tumor removal with radiation therapy or removal of the affected organ through surgery. If metastases are detected, chemotherapy is required.
Testicular torsion	Scrotal surgery, testicular viability assessment and subsequent straightening or removal. In the postoperative period, the use of painkillers is indicated.
Extensive hematoma	Drainage of the affected area, removal of non -viable tissue and suture of the slit.

It is not recommended to use folk remedies to relieve pain in the scrotum, because such alarming symptoms require careful diagnosis. However, there are some steps you can take while waiting for a doctor to help reduce the discomfort caused by small blows or bruises. At home, you can use an ice bag on the sore part or do a light massage using an anesthetic cream, but it’s best not to touch the affected area until you call a specialist.

To avoid the appearance of pain in exposed organs such as the testicles, you should:

• Eliminate anomalies in the structure of the genital organs in a timely manner;
• Regularly undergo examination by a urologist to identify asymptomatic pathology in the early stages of development;
• Have a regular sex life and use barrier contraception if the partner is unstable;
• Wear underwear that does not compress organs and does not interfere with blood circulation;
• Normalize drinking and eating regimens;
• Prevents possible traumatic effects on the scrotum.

The condition of the testicles directly affects not only a man’s reproductive ability, but also his general state of health. To avoid unwanted consequences, it is necessary to minimize the risk of external factors affecting the testicles, as well as to treat existing diseases in a timely manner that can affect their condition.