Why testicles can hurt in men and how to cure it

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

Main functions of the testes

The testes, also called testes or testes, are the male sex glands. Each of them is located in the scrotum - its right and left parts. The testes are connected to the spermatic cords, which are made up of muscles, nerves, lymphatic and blood vessels. The right testicle is slightly higher than the left.

The testes consist of soft tissue, divided by a thin connective septum into peculiar lobes. In them are located the seminiferous tubules, where the production of sperm occurs, and between them the process of production of the hormone testosterone occurs.

The constant formation of male germ cells makes the process of fertilization of the egg possible. Testosterone production in the testes is also very important for the health of men, as this hormone is responsible for the growth of the body and muscles, for the development of the body as a whole according to the male type, and for the formation of Organs sexual organs. desire.

When the testes are damaged for any reason, their 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 your testicles.

Why do testicles hurt?

The causes of testicular pain in men are numerous. They can be relatively harmless, associated with defective ejaculation after arousal, and dangerous, being a consequence of the development of malignant tumors or trauma to the external genital organs.

The reasons why testicles hurt are as follows:

• Injury to the perineum or scrotum. If the blow or bruise wasn't too intense, the pain in the testicle is sharp, but it goes away quickly enough. At the same time, even a slight mechanical impact contributes to bleeding in the scrotal cavity, due to which its skin becomes red and thickened. Such phenomena pass in a few days. With a serious injury, the integrity of the testicles is violated. The pain in this case is so pronounced and painful that the victim may lose consciousness. A serious injury can lead to the fact that the gonad completely loses its functions - in the future this is fraught with infertility;
• Inflammatory processes that occur in the testes or their appendages. This could 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. In addition, the pathological process can occur as a result of inflammation of the glandular tissue. This phenomenon is called orchitis. This illness, which is a complication of the flu, gonorrhea and others, can affect one or both testicles at the same time and cause infertility. With orchitis, the skin of the testicles turns red, the scrotum swells, the man has a fever, there is general weakness and constant thirst;
• Abstinence. In this case, 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 readiness for ejaculation. If this does not happen, unpleasant sensations appear in the testicles. Unlike cases where the pain is caused by pathological processes, 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 through sexual intercourse or masturbation. Another way to eliminate discomfort is to take a pain reliever pill;
• Frequent interruptions of sexual intercourse or lack of ejaculation after prolonged arousal, neurological pathologies and inflammatory diseases of the digestive system - all these factors can explain why the testicles hurt after sex;
• Varicocele is a pathological expansion of the veins and vessels of the penis, due to their insufficiency. This disease is often encountered by teenagers in their teens. If the testicle hurts for exactly this reason, then the disease is in an advanced stage and this is fraught with amputation of the organ. Varicocele is also accompanied by an increase in the size of one of the halves of the scrotum;
• Inguinal hernia. With infraction, sharp pain is observed, a specific bulge in the groin, which increases with physical exertion and assumes its previous shape after assuming the horizontal position. If the violation of the hernial content does not occur, there is a dull pain that radiates to the abdomen, lateral, lower limb region;
• Hydrocele or hydrocele. This phenomenon is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the membranes of the testes, which is associated with impaired circulation. The disease can be hereditary or occur with inflammatory pathologies, the development of tumors, after injuries to the external genital organs. If the testicle has enlarged, the presence of a hydrocele can be suspected. Another characteristic symptom of this pathology is a sharp pain that occurs when touching the testicles;
• Testicular torsion. This phenomenon usually occurs in boys aged 7 to 10 years and is characterized by torsion of the spermatic cord, which leads to blockage of local blood flow and compression of the duct. The pain in this case occurs only in one of the testicles. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by walking or pressing on the affected area. There may be redness of the scrotum and enlargement of one of its sides, as well as a burning sensation. Such deviation is corrected by external reduction of the testis or by surgical methods;
• The development of a malignant tumor. The pathological process can spread to both glandular tissue and excretory ducts. In this case, the testes in men hurt only when the neoplasm becomes large;
• Prostate inflammation. If the testicles hurt during prostatitis, 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 testicles;
• Hypothermia. The consequence of exposure to low temperatures can be 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 - increase in size, redness, swelling - you should immediately consult a doctor to identify the cause of pathological manifestations as soon as possible and start appropriate treatment.

Pain characteristics

In the diagnostic process, the nature of the pain that occurs in the testicular region is of great importance. Depending on where it radiates, preliminary conclusions can be drawn about the nature of the occurrence of unpleasant sensations.

1. In case the pain radiates to the lumbar region or to the abdomen, the presence of an inflammatory process that occurs in the epididymis is suspected;
2. If the pain radiates to the side, urolithiasis or inguinal hernia may occur;
3. When the pain radiates to the lower limb, torsion of the spermatic cord or contusion of the testicle, followed by hemorrhage, is suspected.

If the testicles are reddened and pain and discomfort are felt in them, it is urgent to undergo diagnostic measures prescribed by the doctor. Delay in this case can lead to infertility as the ejaculate will not contain motile sperm, impaired potency or amputation of the penis.

diagnostic measures

The diagnosis of cases where the testicle hurts and pulls is done by a urologist and andrologist. A man needs to go through the following activities:

• A general blood test, thanks to which a specialist can identify the inflammatory process;
• Semen analysis for infections to determine the presence and type of pathogenic microorganisms;
• Analysis of the spermogram, which allows the evaluation of sperm activity and the identification of bacteria;
• Ultrasonography of the scrotum, which allows the identification of tumor neoplasms;
• Take a swab from the urethra to identify pathogens;
• Puncture (puncture biopsy) to determine the nature of diseases of the testicles, appendages;
• Palpation to detect tumors or enlarged testes;
• Ultrasound of the kidneys and ureters to detect formations that impede the flow of urine;
• CT and MRI to rule out diagnostic errors.

Before carrying out diagnostic measures, the patient is not recommended to take analgesics, perform heating or cooling procedures.

treatment methods

Treatment of testicle pain depends on the cause that caused the discomfort. Therapy may be based on medications, special procedures, or surgery.

Table 1. Methods for treating pain in the testicles

Cause	Treatment
Mild bruising of the vulva	Fulfillment of half a bed 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 use of medication; The use of drugs to prevent hematoma formation; Magnetotherapy and sparing thermal procedures after an acute period.
Infectious diseases caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the scrotal organs	Soft mode; Taking antibacterial medications to eliminate harmful microflora; Elimination of inflammation by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Physiotherapy after recovery.
varicocele	Conservative therapy in the initial phase, which involves taking medications to improve blood circulation to the affected area, as well as vitamins C, E, PP; Surgical methods of treatment, in particular - an operation to block the scrotal veins and their sclerosis. After surgery, the likelihood of recurrence is reduced; Refusal of bad habits, weight loss.
Tumor	Removal of the tumor with radiation therapy or removal of the affected organ by surgery. If metastases are detected, chemotherapy is necessary.
testicular torsion	Dissection of the scrotum, assessment of testis viability and its subsequent straightening or removal. In the postoperative period, the use of analgesics is indicated.
extensive hematomas	Drainage of affected areas, removal of non-viable tissue and suturing of gaps.

It is not recommended to use folk remedies to eliminate pain in the scrotum, as such an alarming symptom requires careful diagnosis. However, there are some steps you can take while you wait for the doctor to help ease the discomfort caused by a minor blow or bruise. At home, you can apply an ice pack to the painful side or give it a light massage with an anesthetic cream, but it is best not to touch the affected area until you contact a specialist.

To avoid the onset of pain in an organ as vulnerable as the testicles, you should:

• Timely eliminate anomalies in the structure of Organs genitals;
• Have regular examinations by a urologist to identify asymptomatic pathologies in the early stages of development;
• Having a regular sex life and using barrier contraceptives if the partner is unstable;
• Wear underwear that does not compress the organs and does not interfere with blood circulation;
• Normalize the drinking and nutrition regimen;
• Prevent the possibility of traumatic impact on the scrotum.

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