Testicular Pain

Testicular pain can affect anyone with testicles at any age. It can be acute or chronic. “Acute” means that it develops suddenly, rises sharply and lasts for a short period. “Chronic” means that the pain gradually grows and lasts for a long period. Your testicles contain many sensitive nerves, which can cause severe pain in the area.

You may feel it in one or both testicles. But sometimes, the pain may not actually be coming from the testicles themselves. It may come from another part of your body, like your stomach, groin, hips or back. This type of pain is referred pain.

There are many different causes of testicular pain. Sometimes, the cause is obvious, like you got hit in the area. But other times, the cause isn’t clear. It may develop due to an infection, kidney stones or other more serious conditions.

If your testicles hurt for more than an hour, reach out to a healthcare provider. If the pain is intense, go to the nearest emergency room. It could be a sign of a serious medical emergency.

What are the symptoms?

Depending on the cause, other symptoms that may occur alongside testicular pain include:

• Bruising on your scrotum
• Nausea and vomiting
• Swelling
• Fever
• Peeing problems, including peeing more than usual, pain when you pee or blood in your pee

How do you know if it’s serious?

Talk to a healthcare provider or go to the ER if you have:

• Sudden, intense pain in one or both of your testicles
• Testicular pain along with nausea, vomiting and/or stomach pain
• Swelling
• Pain that lasts for more than an hour or doesn’t get better while you’re lying down

What are the most common causes of testicular pain?

There are many common causes. The cause may be clear if you’ve had a recent injury or accident while playing a sport or exercising. But in other cases, it may not be as obvious why you have pain. Some of these common causes include:

• Orchitis: This is a bacterial or viral infection that causes inflammation in one or both of your testicles.
• Inguinal (grown) hernia: This is when part of your intestine pushes through a weak part of your abdominal muscles near your groin.
• Epididymitis: This is inflammation in your epididymis. Your epididymis is a coiled tube at the back of your testicle. It helps store and transport sperm.
• Spermatocele: This is a fluid-filled cyst that can form near your testicle.
• Hydrocele: This is when abdominal fluids build up in your scrotum around one or both testicles.
• Varicocele: This is a group of swollen veins in your testicles.
• Testicular torsion: This is a medical emergency in which the spermatic cord twists and cuts off blood flow to your testicle.
• Kidney stones: These are small, hard stones or crystals that form from salts and minerals in your pee.
• Post-vasectomy pain: A vasectomy is a type of birth control procedure that seals tubes that carry sperm. Some people have pain after a vasectomy due to higher pressure in the tubes.
• Testicular cancer: This is the most common cancer in males between the ages of 15 and 35.

Can a sexually transmitted infection cause testicular pain?

Yes, it’s a symptom of some sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs that may cause testicular swelling and inflammation include:

• Gonorrhea (“the clap”)
• Syphilis
• Chlamydia

Can sitting for long periods cause testicular pain?

Yes. Crossing your legs can also cause pain if your thighs squeeze your testicles. You can help reduce pain by standing or moving more.

Why would only one testicle hurt?

Experts believe it’s because testicles aren’t symmetrical. It’s normal for them to be different sizes. It’s also normal for the surrounding veins, tubes, cords and other parts of your anatomy to be different lengths or slightly different shapes. As a result, you may be more likely to have pain in one testicle but not the other. For example, varicoceles and testicular torsion can affect either testicle. But it’s more common for these conditions to affect your left testicle than your right.

Who is most at risk?

Anyone at any age who has testicles can get testicular pain. But you may be at a higher risk of hurting your testicles if you:

• Do heavy physical work, including lifting weights
• Play contact sports such as baseball, football, hockey, soccer, lacrosse or martial arts
• Are sexually active

How do I relieve testicular pain?

You may be able to relieve pain at home. Some remedies include:

• Applying a cold compress or an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the area
• Placing a rolled-up towel under your scrotum while lying down on your back
• Taking a warm bath
• Taking NSAIDs or another pain reliever

What medicine is good for testicular pain?

If home remedies don’t work, your healthcare provider may prescribe:

• Antibiotics or anti-infective medications to treat a bacterial or viral infection
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), including amitriptyline, which can treat nerve pain

Can it go away on its own?

Testicular pain may or may not last. It depends on whether it’s acute or chronic.

If a simple injury — like a sudden hit or a fall — causes pain, it should only hurt for about an hour. But if the pain lasts longer or worsens, you should get medical attention quickly.

What are the possible complications or risks of not treating it?

For some causes, the complications are very serious. For example, your testicle may die if you have testicular torsion and don’t get medical help quickly. Or if you don’t treat testicular cancer, the cancer may spread and be harder to treat. It can also be deadly.

If you have testicular pain and you aren’t sure of the cause, it’s a good idea to see a healthcare provider.

Can testicular pain be prevented?

You can help prevent testicular pain by:

• Treating any conditions that may cause it
• Wearing an athletic cup to protect your testicles if you play contact sports or participate in high-contact activities, like paintball

When should testicular pain be treated by a doctor or healthcare provider?

Call a provider immediately if you also have swelling with the pain, or if the pain gets worse or you feel sick.

If you have symptoms of testicular torsion, go to the ER as soon as possible.