Pain in the testicles can overtake absolutely any man, regardless of age and social status. Since this male organ is incredibly delicate, painful sensations can significantly worsen a person’s quality of life. Because of what they appear and what are the methods of dealing with them?
Testicular function
Testes are paired organs of the reproductive system, which are located in the lower part of the scrotum. The main function of the testicles is the production of sperm, which are necessary for procreation. They are also able to produce a specific male hormone - testosterone, which affects the appearance, characteristics of the voice and hair growth on the body of a man.
Causes of pain
The structure of the male testes is quite complex, it includes not only the testicles, but also the vas deferens, and many blood vessels. That is why there can be a large number of causes of testicular pain:
- Traumatic pain is acute and usually begins suddenly. Sometimes they are accompanied by pain shock, hemorrhage, nausea, loss of consciousness. Closed injuries can occur as a result of shock, falling, too active sexual intercourse, self-satisfaction, improper use of sex toys. Open injuries are the result of gunshot or cutting wounds. If the pain after the blow does not go away within half an hour, then this can be considered a reason for seeking medical help.
- Perekrutaichka is a condition in which the seminal duct of an organ is twisted around its axis, while delivering great discomfort to a man. This condition requires emergency medical attention, as it threatens with a loss of reproductive function if treatment is not followed during the first hours.
- Infectious diseases, especially those that are sexually transmitted. For example, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea can cause dull pain, which intensifies from touching the testicles. Infections often haunt those men who neglect individual contraceptives.
- Epididymitis is an inflammation of the seminal duct due to infection from the urinary tract in the testicles. This pathology is a fairly common cause of pain in the testicles. It is characterized by an increase in the size of the damaged organ, fever, itching, burning and spontaneous urination. In the absence of timely treatment, there is a risk of infertility and sexual dysfunction.
- Orchitis is a complication of mumps (mumps) that can cause pain in the left testicle or right testicle. In addition to uncomfortable sensations, there is an increase in the affected testis, an increase in body temperature. Often this pathological condition leads to loss of function in one of the testicles and in 50% of cases leads to infertility.
- Varicocele is one of the causes of pain in the right testicle in men. With this disease, varicose veins in the testicles are observed. The solution to this problem is surgery.
- A hematocele is a disease in which there is a violation of blood circulation in the reproductive organ and congestion. Most often, this is a consequence of severe mechanical injury.
- Spermatocele - cysts in the testicles that cause pain as they increase in size.
- Hydrocele - accumulation of fluid in the scrotum and testicles (dropsy).
- Benign and malignant neoplasms.
- The cause of pain in the left testicle in a man may be an inguinal hernia. When it is omitted, discomfort occurs, which develops into painful sensations with sudden movements and lifting weights.
- Hypothermia, provoking a spasm of blood vessels.
- Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland.
- Urolithiasis is the deposition of stones or sand in the kidneys, urinary tract.
- Neurological disorders in the lower spine, which can cause pain in the right testicle or left, as well as in the pelvis.
- Prolonged lack of sexual activity or frequent sexual intercourse that does not end with ejaculation. Also, short-term pain at the bottom of the testicles in men can occur with too frequent ejaculations.
- Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder that can often appear after hypothermia.
- Valvular duct dysfunction, it can provoke the absence of ejaculation during sexual intercourse.
- Urethritis is an inflammation of the urinary tract.
- Vesiculitis is an infectious inflammation of the seminal ducts.
- Renal colic, although not directly related to the testicles, can be the cause of pain. This is because with this pathology, the outflow of urine from the kidneys is sharply disturbed. At the same time, painful sensations are localized in the organs of the small pelvis, including the testicles.
- Damage or pinching of the nerve in the lower parts of the spine.
In addition, discomfort in the groin area may be the result of taking certain medications.
Symptoms
The following signs of testicular pain are distinguished:
- organ enlargement;
- sharp or dull pain in the testicles;
- redness of the scrotum ;
- the testicles in the scrotum become too hard to the touch or, conversely, soft;
- the testicles have changed their shape;
- increase in body temperature.
It is noted that the pain can be of varying intensity. In addition, hematomas and bruises can appear on the male genital organs if pain occurs as a result of an injury.
Diagnostics
In order to understand the true cause of acute or aching pain in the testicles, it is necessary to conduct a series of examinations:
- A medical consultation, during which the urologist finds out detailed symptoms of the pathology, the time of onset of pain, and then after which the patient allegedly felt uncomfortable.
- Inspection for external damage to testicles, hematomas, tumors. Sometimes rectal examination and palpation of the prostate is required.
- A blood test to determine the presence or absence of an inflammatory process.
- Urine analysis for high protein content.
- Spermogram - a study of male seed to detect fertility and possible sexually transmitted infections.
- A puncture biopsy is a sampling of a testicle particle with a hollow needle, which is inserted into the testicle through a puncture of the scrotum.
- Ultrasound examination of the scrotum is necessary to determine varicocele, torsion of the spermatic canal, tumors, closed injuries.
- Computed tomography, which helps to assess the general condition of the reproductive system and see pathological changes in the structure of the testis tissue.
- Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity and pelvic organs to identify diseases that can provoke pain in the testes.
Also, a man needs to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
Therapy
Treatment of pain in the testicles directly depends on the diagnosis, but regardless of the causes of the discomfort, the organ must be anesthetized. For these purposes, cooling ointments, injectables, and painkillers are used. The methods for treating the most common diseases that can be causes of pain in the left testicle or right are as follows:
- With mechanical damage caused by shock or falling, blood may accumulate in the scrotum. In turn, it can cause inflammation. In such cases, surgical removal of the hematoma is necessary. To reduce pain and inflammation, it is recommended to use painkillers (No-Shpa, Ketanov, Analgin), as well as Fastum Gel and Final Gel ointments.
- Vesiculitis is eliminated with the help of physiotherapy - electrophoresis, laser therapy. Also used are antibiotics of the penicillin series and uroseptics "Furagin", "Furadonin".
- Urolithiasis requires surgical removal of salt stones. This requires open surgery, endoscopy or lithotripsy (crushing large formations using a laser, ultrasound or pneumatic method). In addition, the patient is recommended to drink a large amount of fluid during treatment to avoid dehydration.
- Sexually transmitted diseases require treatment with antibiotics that are active against the infectious causative agent of a particular disease.
- Varicocele is eliminated exclusively by surgery. However, it is also necessary to take medications to improve blood circulation (Troxevasin, Detralex).
- Inguinal hernia and torsion of the seminal duct of the testis are also eliminated only by surgery.
- Urethritis and cystitis must be treated with antibiotics and uroseptics.
- With hydrocele with a small accumulation of fluid, anti-inflammatory and decongestant drugs are prescribed, the patient is also shown bed rest. If the pathology is complicated by a large accumulation of fluid, then the patient needs surgical intervention.
Different causes of pain in the right testicle, as well as in the left, require different therapy. That is why self-medication should be avoided, since there is a high risk of exacerbating the situation.
Folk remedies
According to the recommendation of the attending urologist, along with pharmacy medicines, herbal preparations can also be used to relieve pain in the testicles:
- Dried grass of goose cinquefoil and omentum, celandine roots, birch leaves and juniper fruits in equal proportions must be poured with boiling water and insisted for 4-5 hours in a thermos. Use infusion before each meal of 180 ml.
- Flaxseed is ground in a coffee grinder and poured with warm water. The resulting substance must be evenly applied to gauze and used as a compress to relieve swelling from the scrotum.
- Dried leaves and flowers of winter wheat in the amount of 5 tbsp. l it is necessary to pour 0.75 liters of boiling water and insist in a thermos for several hours. The resulting liquid must be taken in 50 ml 3 times a day.
- In equal quantities, it is necessary to mix dried nettle, linden and elderberry flowers, mint and calamus root. Pour 2 liters of boiling water and drink instead of tea, to improve the taste it is allowed to add honey.
Vitamins found in herbs help the body recover. Plants also have anti-inflammatory effects and remove toxins. You can buy the desired herbal collection in any pharmacy.
Possible complications
If a man experiencing pain in the left testicle (or right) does not consult a urologist in a timely manner, then he may have such consequences that cause discomfort:
- sexual or erectile dysfunction;
- disorders in the reproductive system, infertility;
- malignant tumors of the testicles and appendages;
- atrophy of testicles;
- early ejaculation or its absence;
- the formation of cysts of different origin;
- violation of the production of sex hormone testosterone;
- the appearance of chronic pain in the groin, lower back, buttocks;
- the appearance of an inflammatory process in neighboring organs.
In severe cases, amputation of the testicles is possible.
Causes of pain in children
A boy is a small man, so he has a risk of also experiencing discomfort in his testicles. However, the causes of pain may vary slightly:
- The absence of testicles in the scrotum. Such a pathology does not always mean that the genitals are absent, in most cases the testicles did not fall from the abdominal cavity, as is normal. In this case, surgery is required to return the testicles to the scrotum. If you abandon surgery before the age of 6 years, then in the future it may threaten the lack of the production of the hormone testosterone, which is necessary for men.
- Unpleasant sensations can be caused by insufficient hygiene of the baby, in which the upper layer of the skin becomes inflamed. In order to avoid such a problem, it is not recommended to constantly use disposable diapers. In addition, you need to pay great attention to the hygiene of the child, in particular daily washing.
It is important not to ignore the baby's problems, as they can lead to serious consequences in more mature age.
Preventative measures
Unfortunately, not in all cases it is possible to prevent the appearance of pain in the testicles. Despite this, it is possible to minimize the risk of the disease if you adhere to the following recommendations:
- Regularly undergo preventive examinations of the reproductive system.
- Eat right and not have excess weight.
- Strengthen your health with moderate exercise.
- Regularly have sex.
- Do not have bad habits.
- Protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases by using individual contraceptives.
- Refuse from narrow underwear and clothes that can cause discomfort and squeeze the genitals.
In addition, it is important to pay enough attention to your health and timely treat all emerging diseases, as some of them can have serious complications.
Conclusion
Fear for the health of one's own genital organs is deep in the subconscious of every man, therefore, having felt aching or sharp pain in the testicles, the male can fall into a panic state. Despite the many possible pathologies in which soreness of the organ occurs, in most cases it does not pose a particular danger to the health of a man. Caution should be taken if the pain appeared for no apparent reason and is aching or acute in nature. In this case, you need to contact a urologist or andrologist. To temporarily alleviate the condition, it is allowed to take an anesthetic drug or apply ice to a sore spot.