Pain in the groin in men often indicates a problem in the body. The cause of discomfort can be different conditions and diseases. Often the pain radiates to the groin from other areas of the body. This does not always indicate pathologies associated with the genitourinary system. The cause may be intestinal or bone disease. This symptom is only one of the signs of a variety of ailments. Next, the main causes of groin pain in men will be considered. However, it must be remembered that only a specialist can conduct an accurate diagnosis. It is necessary to pay attention to the nature and localization of unpleasant sensations, as well as to the accompanying symptoms.
If discomfort on the right side
Pain in the groin on the right in men can be a dangerous symptom. Sometimes this is a sign of appendicitis. In this case, first there is severe pain on the right side of the abdomen, and then it goes down below. Unpleasant sensations are accompanied by nausea. In this condition, it is urgent to call an ambulance, as emergency surgical intervention may be required.
A similar condition can be caused by renal colic. In men with urolithiasis, stones can get stuck in the ureters. This causes an attack of severe pain, which first occurs in the right side, and then gives to the lower back, inguinal region and leg. An attack can last from a few minutes to several hours.
Pain in the groin on the right in men can be associated with a right-sided inguinal hernia. This formation infringes on the intestinal loops, which causes an attack. this disease is quite common. In this case, the pain does not give in the groin, but occurs directly in this area. Often an attack appears after hard physical work. If this happens, emergency medical attention and surgical treatment are required.
If discomfort on the left side
Pain in the groin on the left in men can also be associated with a hernia. In this case, the disease develops on the left side. In this case, you can notice a slight swelling in the inguinal region.
Renal colic can also occur on the left side. If the stone descended into the lower parts of the ureter, then pulsation appears in the inguinal region.
Pain in the groin on the left in men is often associated with infections of the genitourinary organs. Usually, at the same time, discomfort is given to the lower back. Patients complain of pain during urination, the release of blood and mucus from the urethra.
Painful aching
Often there is aching pain in the groin in men. The reason for this may be excessive exercise during sports training. However, often this is a symptom of a pathology.
Such pain often indicates an exacerbation of chronic cystitis. Unpleasant sensations can have different localization. This is usually the lower abdomen. This disease must be urgently treated, since the inflammatory process can go to nearby organs.
There are other possible causes of aching pain:
- Bladder injuries.
- Hypothermia.
- Stagnation in the pelvic area.
- Hormonal disorders.
Painful, sharp, piercing
A sharp pain in the groin in men often signals serious illnesses. Such a symptom never disappears on its own. The most dangerous cause may be a tumor of the genitourinary organs. This requires immediate diagnosis and treatment.
Another cause of pain can be testicular disease - abscess and orchitis. In this case, the pain is very intense. Orchitis is an inflammation of the testicles. The disease can develop after suffering mumps (mumps). The testicle becomes swollen, severe pain is felt in the scrotum, and body temperature rises.
If untreated, the inflammation is complicated by an abscess. Suppuration of the male genital glands occurs. The affected testicle turns red and significantly increases in size. A man feels a constant sharp pain. There are signs of general intoxication of the body. Purulent inflammation requires immediate treatment, as it can lead to the development of sepsis.
Sometimes the cause of a sharp pain is epididymitis - inflammation of the appendages of the testes. This pathology also has an infectious origin. Even the common cold or flu can make such a complication. At the same time, there is an increase in temperature, severe pain in the groin, which is given to the lower back and intensifies when walking. Often epididymitis passes into orchitis, and then into the abscess of the testis.
Severe groin pain in men can be caused by testicular torsion. This condition is accompanied not only by a sharp pain, but also by an increase in temperature, vomiting, dyspeptic symptoms. If within 12 to 24 hours the patient is not helped, then testicular necrosis occurs, and then gangrene. This threatens to completely remove the seminal gland.
Nagging pain
Such sensations are usually lasting. Drawing pain in the groin in men is associated with chronic inflammatory diseases. At the age of 20-50, the most common cause of this symptom is advanced prostatitis. This disease is also accompanied by frequent urination. Prostatitis is often preceded by an infection of the genitourinary organs, which then spreads to the prostate gland.
Another cause of this symptom can be increased physical activity on the legs, as well as stretching of the perineum during exercise.
Blunt pain
This is another type of discomfort that lasts a long time. Dull groin pain in men most often occurs with varicocele. This is the expansion of the veins of the testicle. Usually with this pathology, pain is noted on the left side. This is one of the manifestations of varicose veins. Often the disease is asymptomatic, but in advanced cases, dilated veins can be seen with external examination.
Painful urination
Pain in the groin in men sometimes occurs during urination. The cause of this may be the following diseases:
- Prostatitis.
- Tumors
- Cystitis.
- Sexually transmitted infections.
- Stones in the organs of excretion.
- Hypothermia.
- Excessive salt formation in the kidneys.
In men aged 20 to 40 years, painful urination most often occurs due to prostatitis. Older people with such complaints are prescribed cancer screening, as they have an increased risk of tumor formation.
Ripple
Sometimes the pains are pulsating. If they arise on the right, then the doctor usually suggests inflammation of the appendix. In this case, the pain focus is in the abdominal cavity, but irradiation in the groin occurs.
Pulsating pain can also occur with femoral aortic aneurysm. This pathology is characterized by distension and expansion of the vessel. When it ruptures, blood accumulates in the tissues, this causes pain, which gives in the groin.
Unpleasant walking sensations
Pain in the groin when walking in men is not always associated with diseases of the genitourinary system. Their cause may be coxarthrosis. This is a degenerative disease of the hip joint. In this case, the patient seems that pain occurs in the groin and radiates to the thigh. In fact, the lesion is located in the joint connecting the pelvis and the femur.
The patient usually complains of pain on one side of the body. These manifestations may not bother the person when he is not moving. But when walking, discomfort immediately arises. Then the person adapts to the movements and the pain disappears. However, with long walking, the manifestations of coxarthrosis again return and pass only at rest.
This symptom is also noted with inflammation of the testicles or their appendages. In this case, the pain bothers the man constantly, but becomes stronger with movements.
Unpleasant sensations in the lymph nodes
Pain may be accompanied by an increase in inguinal lymph nodes. Most often, this is a sign of infection. This is how the immune system reacts to an invading microorganism. This symptom is noted with the following pathologies:
- Sexually transmitted infections.
- Fungal lesions of the legs.
- Injury to the groin area with bacteria and viruses entering the wound.
In some cases, enlarged lymph nodes may be associated with tumors. This is more common in older men. Many neoplasms in nearby organs and tissues can metastasize to the lymph nodes of the groin.
Which doctor should I contact
If pain is associated with pathologies of the genitourinary system, then a consultation with a therapist and a urologist is necessary. The methods of treatment depend on the type of disease.
For diseases of the bones and spine, you need to be examined by a neurologist. He can give a referral to a chiropractor, physiotherapist or exercise therapy doctor. In difficult cases, when there is a question about a possible operation, the consultation of a surgeon is required.
If there is an increase in lymph nodes, then first you need to visit the local therapist and perform a series of tests. Based on the diagnostic results, the doctor will refer you to specialists of other profiles.
Sometimes it is difficult for the patient to determine the nature of the pain and to guess what pathologies this symptom may be associated with. In this case, you should also contact your local doctor. After examining and collecting an anamnesis, he will be able to suggest a diagnosis and send for further examination to a specialist.
Diagnostic Features
What tests need to be passed can only be decided by a doctor. It depends on the clinical picture and on the expected diagnosis. Typically, both laboratory examination methods and instrumental ones are prescribed.
Patients are always given directions for general urine and blood tests. This is necessary to identify signs of an inflammatory process. It is often recommended to donate blood to uric acid levels. Increased levels of this substance may indicate a tendency to form stones. They also take a smear from the urethra and the secretion of the prostate for analysis. This helps to identify urethra infections and prostatitis.
Using endoscopic methods and ultrasound, the genitourinary organs are examined. If the doctor suggests that the cause of the pain is bowel disease, then do a colonoscopy.
If coxarthrosis is suspected, the patient is prescribed an X-ray and an MRI of the hip joint.
Therapies
The choice of treatment depends on the diagnosis. In many cases, medication helps. In this case, both the treatment of the cause of the disease and symptomatic therapy are carried out.
With inflammation, physiotherapy is often prescribed. This is UHF, magnetotherapy or electrophoresis. For diseases of the hip joint, exercise therapy is recommended.
In some cases, surgical treatment is indicated. Sometimes urgent surgery is required. Such methods are necessary for appendicitis, hernia and urolithiasis. These pathologies can not be triggered, as their consequences can be very serious.
What to do with pain in the groin
Often, patients with pain take a large number of various analgesics. However, this should not be done before going to the doctor. Taking painkillers will distort the clinical picture of the disease and make diagnosis difficult.
Unfortunately, helping oneself with men with groin pain is impossible. In this situation, there is only one sure way out - consult a doctor as soon as possible. If the pain becomes unbearable, then you need to call an ambulance. Such a symptom may be a sign of serious pathologies requiring emergency surgical intervention.
Before the doctor arrives, the patient needs to be at rest. Do not eat or drink. Do not apply heat to a sore spot. This can aggravate symptoms and make you feel worse. It is better to put a cold compress on the lower abdomen, this will help to somewhat reduce the pain.