Why Do You Have Pain In Your Testicles?

Do your testicles sometimes hurt? Pain in the testicles is a common problem that men of all ages encounter at some point in their lives. Because it occurs in a sensitive part of the male anatomy, it is no surprise if a lot of guys start to worry so much the moment they feel that first aching or stinging sensation. If you are one of them, you should learn how to do a quick checkup of your balls to put your mind at rest, at least for the meantime, until you get the opportunity to see a doctor.

How do you perform testicle check at home?

Even by yourself, you can do a simple testicle exam to see if there is anything wrong down there. The following are the steps on how to do a testicle check at home:

• Take a warm shower or bath to relax your scrotal skin.
• Inspect one testicle by rolling it between your thumb and your fingers, working up and down. Do the same to your other testicle.
• Do not panic if you notice one of your testicles is bigger than the other, or if one is sitting lower than the other, as these phenomena are totally normal.
• Look for the cord-like structure behind each of your testicle. It is called the epididymis, where your sperm is stored and released from.
• Feel for any bumps or lumps in both of your epididymes. If there is something in there even the size of a piece of gravel, you should see your doctor right away, as it may be a cyst or something that needs immediate medical attention.

What can cause pain in the testicles?

If you hit or kicked in the balls, you will experience pain that is so extreme and intense. If no serious damage is done, the throbbing and discomfort should disappear in about 30 minutes or so. However, if the hurting continues for hours or days, your testicles might have sustained an injury that you should let a medical professional examine as soon as possible. Below are examples of common testicular injuries:

• Fracture or rapture – This is a type of testicular injury in which the tough and hard protective covering of your testicles is torn and damaged.
• Torsion – This occurs when the spermatic cord is twisted and causes an interruption in the blood supply flowing to the testicles, resulting to swelling and pain.
• Contusion – This damages the blood vessels found in your testicles, and results to bruising and even bleeding.
• Dislocation – This is characterized by the pushing out of the testicle from the scrotum, which puts them over your penis, up in your abdominal area, or just outside of your scrotal region.

Testicular pain can also be caused by other health problems, including:

Testicular cancer 

This is a type of cancer that affects the testicles, and is most common in men who are between the ages of 15 years old and 35 years old. It comes with a number of signs and symptoms, such as a lump in your testicle, aching in the groin or abdomen, pain in the testicle, tenderness in the breast, and back pain. If you have been diagnosed with it, do not lose hope, as testicular cancer is very treatable, and there are different helpful treatment solutions available today.

Diabetic neuropathy

This is a disease in which your nerves are damaged due to diabetes. Because of your body’s high blood sugar levels, your nerves are weakened, and you feel numbness and pain usually in your lower body, such as your feet and legs.

Epididymitis

This is a type of inflammation that affects the epididymis, which is a cord-like structure found at the back of each testicle and is the storage place for your sperm. It is often caused by gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and other sexually transmitted diseases brought about by bacteria. If you have it, you not only experience pain in your balls, but also pain when urinating, pain in the pelvic or lower abdominal area, blood or odd discharge from the penis, and fever.

Prostatitis

This disorder is characterized by the inflammation of your prostate gland, a vital male reproductive part that spearheads the production of quality semen for the efficient transport of sperm. Usually, it is caused by a variety of factors, such as bacteria in your prostate or nerve damage in your lower urinary tract. Among its symptoms are pain in the scrotal area, cloudy urine, blood in the urine, pain in the lower back or abdomen, and painful ejaculation.

Kidney stones

This condition is caused by the hardened deposits of salts and minerals inside your kidneys. It not only makes urinating painful, but it also triggers pain that extends to your lower abdominal region and your groin. It turns your urine brown, pink, or red, and causes fever, nausea, vomiting, and chills, if there is an infection.

Urinary tract infection

This is an infection that strikes the components of your urinary system, which are the kidneys, bladder, urethra, and ureters. It does not always trigger signs and symptoms, but when it does, watch out for a burning sensation when urinating, cloudy urine, blood traces in your urine, and pain in the pelvic area and groin.

Orchitis

This is an inflammatory condition that can affect one or both of your testicles. It is usually caused by viruses or bacteria, such as a sexually transmitted disease or mumps. Its common symptoms include swelling in one or both of your testicles, mild to severe pain in your testicles, vomiting, nausea, and fever.

When is the right time to visit your doctor?

Some cases of testicular pain can be treated by simply applying an ice pack or by just letting a short period of time, i.e. 30 minutes or less, pass. There are also others that can be relieved by taking over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin.

However, if you experience a sudden and sharp extremely painful sensation in your balls, if your testicle pain lasts for a couple of hours or longer, or if there is swelling or a strange lump that appeared in or around your balls, you need to seek medical help immediately.