The health of the organs of the male reproductive system depends on many factors. Deviations in their 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 injured, the ability to produce these substances is impaired, which affects not only sexual abilities and the ability to fertilize, but also general health.
Main functions of the testicles
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 attached to the spermatic cords, which are made up of muscles, nerves, lymphatics, and blood vessels. The right testicle is slightly higher than the left.
The testes are made up of soft tissue, divided by a thin connective septum into peculiar lobules. The seminiferous tubules are located in them, 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 fertilization process of the egg possible. The production of testosterone in the testicles is also very important for men's health, because this hormone is responsible for the growth of the body and muscles, the development of the body as a whole according to the male type and the formation of the desire sex.
When the testicles are damaged for any reason, the ability to produce sex cells and hormones is reduced. This can happen at any age. To avoid complications, you should see a doctor immediately if you experience pain in the testicles.
Why do the testicles hurt?
The causes of testicular pain in men are numerous. They can be both 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 the testicles hurt are as follows:
- Injury to the perineum or scrotum. If the blow or bruise was not too intense, the pain in the testicle is acute, but passes fairly quickly. At the same time, even a slight mechanical impact contributes to hemorrhage in the scrotal cavity, as a result of which its skin turns red and thickens. Such phenomena pass in a few days. With a severe 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 severe injury can lead to the fact that the gonad completely loses its functions - in the future this is fraught with infertility;
- Inflammatory processes occurring in the testicles or their appendages. It 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 of swelling of the testicles. Also, the pathological process can occur due to inflammation of the glandular tissue. This phenomenon is called orchitis. This disease, 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 excited, 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 in cases where 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 both through sexual intercourse and through masturbation. Another way to get rid of the discomfort is to take a painkiller tablet;
- Frequent interruptions in 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 adolescence. If the testicle hurts precisely for this reason, 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 of the halves of the scrotum;
- Inguinal hernia. With violation, acute pain is observed, a specific protrusion in the groin, which increases with physical exertion and takes its former form after taking a horizontal position. If the violation of the contents of the hernia does not occur, there is a dull pain that radiates to the abdomen, to the side, to the region of the lower limb;
- Hydrocele, or hydrocele. This phenomenon is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the membranes of the testicles, which is associated with impaired circulation. The disease can be hereditary or manifest itself with inflammatory pathologies, the development of tumors, after injuries of the external genital organs. If the testicle has increased, the presence of a hydrocele may be suspected. Another characteristic symptom of this pathology is a sharp pain that occurs when the testicles are touched;
- Testicular torsion. This phenomenon usually occurs in boys between the ages of 7 and 10 and is characterized by twisting of the spermatic cord, which leads to blockage of local blood flow and squeezing of the duct. 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 a redness of the scrotum and an increase in one of its sides, as well as a burning sensation. This deviation is corrected by external reduction of the testis or by surgical methods;
- The development of a malignant tumor. The pathological process can spread both to the glandular tissue and to the excretory ducts. In this case, the testicles in men hurt only when the neoplasm has become large;
- Inflammation of the prostate. If the testicles hurt during prostatitis, then this is one of the main symptoms of the disease;
- Inflammatory diseases in the pelvic organs cause pain in the lower abdomen in men and testicles;
- Hypothermia. The consequence of exposure to cold temperatures can be aching 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 - an increase in their size, redness, swelling - you should immediately consult a doctor to identify the cause of the 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 region is of great importance. Depending on where it radiates, preliminary conclusions can be drawn about the nature of the occurrence of unpleasant sensations.
- In the event that the pain radiates to the lumbar region or abdomen, the presence of an inflammatory process manifesting itself in the epididymis is suspected;
- If the pain radiates laterally, urolithiasis or inguinal hernia may occur;
- When the pain radiates to the lower limb, twisting of the spermatic cord or bruising of the testicle is suspected, followed by bleeding within it.
If the testicles are red and pain and discomfort are felt, it is urgent to undergo diagnostic measures as prescribed by the doctor. Delay in this case can lead to infertility, as the ejaculate will not contain motile sperm, reduced potency or amputation of the penis.
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosis of cases in which the testicle hurts and pulls is made by a urologist and andrologist. A man must perform 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;
- Spermogram analysis, which allows you to evaluate the activity of spermatozoa and identify bacteria;
- Ultrasound of the scrotum, which allows you to identify tumor neoplasms;
- Taking a smear 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 testicles
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and ureters to detect formations that impede the flow of urine;
- CT and MRI to rule out misdiagnosis.
Before carrying out diagnostic measures, the patient is not recommended to take painkillers, conduct warming or cooling procedures.
Methods of treatment
Treatment of testicular pain depends on the cause that caused the discomfort. Therapy can be based on drugs, special procedures or surgery.
Table 1. Methods for treating testicular pain
| Cause | Treatment |
| Slight bruises of the vulva |
|
| Infectious diseases caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the organs of the scrotum |
|
| Varicocele |
|
| Cancer | Removal of the tumor with radiation therapy or surgical removal of the affected organ. If metastases are detected, chemotherapy is required. |
| Testicular torsion | Dissection of the scrotum, evaluation of the viability of the testicle and its subsequent straightening or removal. In the postoperative period, the use of painkillers is indicated. |
| Extensive hematomas | Drainage of affected areas, removal of non-viable tissues and suturing of lacunae. |
It is not recommended to use folk remedies to eliminate pain in the scrotum, since such an alarming symptom requires careful diagnosis. However, there are some steps you can take while you wait for your doctor to help relieve the discomfort caused by a mild blow or bruise. At home, you can apply an ice pack on the sore side or give a light massage using anesthetic cream, but it is best not to touch the affected area until you contact a specialist.
To prevent the appearance of pain in such a vulnerable organ as the testicles, you should:
- Timely eliminate anomalies in the structure of the genital organs;
- Undergo 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
- Wearing underwear that does not compress organs and does not interfere with blood circulation;
- Normalize the diet and nutrition;
- Prevent the possibility of traumatic impact on the scrotum.
The condition of the testicles directly affects not only a man's reproductive abilities, but also his general state of health. In order to prevent undesirable consequences, it is necessary to minimize the risk of external factors affecting the testicles, as well as to timely treat existing diseases that may adversely affect their condition.