Pain in the testicles can overtake absolutely any man, regardless of age and social status. Since this male organ is incredibly delicate, pain can significantly impair a person's quality of life. Why do they appear and what are the methods of dealing with them?
Testicular Functions
The testicles 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 spermatozoa, which are necessary for procreation. They are also able to produce a specific male hormone - testosterone, which affects the appearance, features 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, many blood vessels. That is why there can be a large number of causes of pain in the testicles:
- Traumatic pain is acute and usually begins suddenly. Sometimes they are accompanied by pain shock, hemorrhages, nausea, loss of consciousness. Injuriesclosed type can appear due to a blow, a fall, 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 a blow does not go away within half an hour, then this can be considered a reason to seek medical help.
- Twisting the testicle 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 urgent medical attention, as it threatens with the loss of reproductive function if treatment is not followed within the first hours.
- Infectious diseases, especially those that are sexually transmitted. For example, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea can cause dull pain that is aggravated by touching the testicles. Infections often follow those men who neglect individual contraceptives.
- Epididymitis - inflammation of the seminal ducts 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, an increase in body temperature, 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 parotitis (mumps) that can cause pain in the left testicle or right testicle. In addition to discomfort, there is an increaseaffected testis, fever. Often this pathological condition leads to the loss of function of 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.
- Hematocele is a disease in which there is a violation of blood circulation in the reproductive organ and congestion. Most often this is the result of a severe mechanical injury.
- Spermatoceles are 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 lowered, discomfort occurs, which develops into pain during sudden movements and lifting weights.
- Hypothermia, causing spasm of blood vessels.
- Prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate gland.
- Urolithiasis - the deposition of stones or sand in the kidneys, urinary canals.
- 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 intercourse without ejaculation. Also, short-term pain at the bottom of the testicles in men can occur when toofrequent ejaculations.
- Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, which can often appear after hypothermia.
- Valvular dysfunction of the vas deferens, it can be provoked by the lack of ejaculation during intercourse.
- Urethritis - inflammation of the urinary ducts.
- 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 due to the fact that with this pathology, the outflow of urine from the kidneys is sharply disturbed. Painful sensations are localized in the pelvic organs, including the testicles.
- Injury or pinched nerve in the lower spine.
In addition, discomfort in the groin area may be due to certain medications.
Symptoms
The following signs of pain in the testicles are distinguished:
- an increase in body size;
- sharp or dull pain in testicles;
- scrotal redness;
- testes in the scrotum became too hard to the touch or, on the contrary, soft;
- testicles have changed their shape;
- increase in body temperature.
It is noted that the pain can be of different intensity. In addition, hematomas and bruises may appear on the male genital organs if pain is caused by an injury.
Diagnosis
In order to understand the true cause of acute or aching pain in the testicles, it is necessary to conduct a seriessurveys:
- Medical consultation, during which the urologist finds out the detailed symptoms of the pathology, the time of onset of pain, and also after which the patient supposedly felt discomfort.
- Examination for the presence of external damage to the testicles, hematomas, tumors. Sometimes a rectal examination and palpation of the prostate gland is required.
- A blood test to determine the presence or absence of an inflammatory process.
- Urine test for high protein content.
- Spermogram - a study of male semen to detect fertility and possible sexual infections.
- Puncture biopsy - taking 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 seminal canal, tumors, closed injuries.
- Computed tomography, which helps to assess the general condition of the reproductive system and to see pathological changes in the structure of the tissue of the testicles.
- Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity and small pelvis to identify diseases that can provoke pain in the testicles.
Men also need to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
Therapy
Treatment of pain in the testicles directly depends on the diagnosis, however, regardless of the causes of discomfort, the organ must be anesthetized. Coolants are used for this purpose.ointments, injectables, and painkillers. Treatments for the most common conditions that may be causing pain in the left or right testicle are as follows:
- In case of mechanical damage caused by a blow or a fall, 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, as well as inflammation, it is recommended to use painkillers ("No-Shpa", "Ketanov", "Analgin"), as well as ointments "Fastum Gel", "Finalgel".
- Vesiculitis is eliminated with the help of physiotherapy - electrophoresis, laser therapy. Penicillin antibiotics and uroseptics "Furagin", "Furadonin" are also used.
- Urolithiasis requires surgical removal of s alt stones. This requires open surgery, endoscopy or lithotripsy (crushing large formations with a laser, ultrasound or pneumatic method). In addition, the patient is advised to drink plenty of fluids during treatment to avoid dehydration.
- Sexually transmitted diseases require treatment with antibiotics that are active against the infectious agent of the specific disease.
- Varicocele is eliminated exclusively by surgery. However, it also requires taking medications to improve blood circulation (Troxevasin, Detralex).
- Inguinal hernia and seminal torsiontesticular ducts are also eliminated only by surgery.
- Urethritis and cystitis should be treated with antibiotics and uroseptics.
- With a hydrocele with a small accumulation of fluid, anti-inflammatory and decongestant drugs are prescribed, and the patient is also shown bed rest. If the pathology is complicated by a large accumulation of fluid, then the patient needs surgery.
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, as there is a high risk of aggravating the situation.
Folk remedies
According to the recommendation of the attending urologist, along with pharmaceutical medicines, herbal preparations can also be used to relieve pain in the testicles:
- Dried herb cinquefoil goose and omentum, celandine roots, birch leaves and juniper fruits in equal proportions must be poured with boiling water and infused for 4-5 hours in a thermos. Infusion to use before each meal, 180 ml.
- Flaxseed is ground in a coffee grinder and poured with warm water. The resulting substance should be evenly applied to gauze and used as a compress to relieve swelling from the scrotum.
- Dried wintergreen leaves and flowers 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 should be taken 50 ml 3 times a day.
- In equal quantities, you need to mix dried nettle, linden and elderberry flowers, mint and calamus root. Pour 2 liters of boiling water anduse instead of tea, honey can be added to improve the taste.
Vitamins found in herbs help the body recover. Also, plants have anti-inflammatory effects and remove toxins. You can buy the desired herbal collection at any pharmacy.
Possible Complications
If a man experiencing pain in the left testicle (or right) does not turn to a urologist in a timely manner, then he may have such consequences that cause discomfort:
- sexual or erectile dysfunction;
- disturbances in the reproductive system, infertility;
- malignant tumors of testicles and appendages;
- testicular atrophy;
- early ejaculation or lack thereof;
- formation of cysts of different origin;
- impaired production of the sex hormone testosterone;
- appearance of chronic pain in the groin, lower back, buttocks;
- appearance of an inflammatory process in neighboring organs.
In severe cases, amputation of the testicles is possible.
Causes of pain in children
The boy is a small man, so he is at risk of experiencing discomfort in the testicles as well. However, the causes of pain may be slightly different:
The absence of testicles in the scrotum. Such a pathology does not always mean that the genitals are absent, in most cases the testicles have not descended from the abdominal cavity, as is normal. In this case, surgery is required to return the testicles to the scrotum. If you refuse operationalintervention before the age of 6 years, then in the future it may threaten the lack of production of the hormone testosterone, which is necessary for men
Unpleasant sensations can be caused by insufficient hygiene of the baby, in which the top layer of the skin becomes inflamed. In order to avoid this problem, it is not recommended to constantly use disposable diapers. In addition, great attention should be paid to the hygiene of the child, in particular daily washing
It is important not to ignore the problems of the baby, as they can lead to serious consequences in later life.
Preventive 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 be overweight.
- Promote he alth with moderate exercise.
- Be sexually active regularly.
- Do not have bad habits.
- Protect against sexually transmitted diseases with personal contraception.
- Refuse tight underwear and clothes that can cause discomfort and squeeze the genitals.
In addition, it is important to pay enough attention to your he alth and treat all emerging diseases in a timely manner, as some of them can have serious complications.
Conclusion
Fear for the he alth of their own genitals is deep in the subconscious of every man, therefore, feeling aching or sharp pain in the testicles, a male representative may fall into a panic state. Despite the many possible pathologies in which the soreness of the organ occurs, in most cases it does not pose a particular danger to the he alth of a man. You should be wary if the pain appeared for no apparent reason and has a aching or sharp character. In this case, it is necessary to consult a urologist or andrologist. For temporary relief, it is allowed to take pain medication or apply ice to the sore spot.
