Scrotum enlargement is not a disease, but a symptom. This clinical manifestation worries most of the strong half of humanity. The increase causes inconvenience, but is not always accompanied by pain. The absence of physical suffering gives men reason to assume that the problem is not serious, it is not worth focusing on it. The factors contributing to the change in the size of the testicles are very diverse, many require special attention. Whatever the reason for an enlarged testicle in men, illness or injury, a mandatory consultation with a doctor is necessary. Early diagnosis and treatment will help to quickly forget about the symptom.
Anatomy and functions
Testicles, gonads, testicles are important organs of the male reproductive system. Anatomically they are located inscrotum. The testicles are suspended from the spermatic cord, and are covered with seven membranes, each of which performs its own function. The cord consists of the vas deferens vessels and nerves.
The testicles are located asymmetrically, they have the shape of a flattened ellipse. Each of them weighs about 30 g, has a length of 4-6 cm and a width of 2.5-3.5 cm. Exceeding the size is usually a consequence of pathology. Depending on the cause of the disease, an enlarged testicle in men may be accompanied by painful sensations.
Testicles have two main functions:
- External secretory - production of germ cells - spermatozoa.
- Intrasecretory - production of sex hormones - mainly testosterone.
Functions are tightly coupled and interdependent.
Causes of testicular enlargement in men
Changes in gonad size are a common problem. If you believe the statistics, half of the male population has encountered it at least once. Moreover, the increase can be both in young and in men aged.
The testicles have a very complex structure. Blood supply is provided by the testicular artery, which departs from the abdominal cavity. Diseases of the peritoneal organs can contribute to abnormal blood circulation, which leads to the development of pathologies.
The functions of the testicles are correlated with the functions of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands. Malfunctions in the thyroid gland in childhood lead to a delay in puberty, in the future this contributes to the formation of various anthologicalpathologies.
The cause of the disease in men, an increase in the left testicle or the right one, can be local or general. Also, the factors for the occurrence of pathology are divided into infectious and non-infectious, age.
What affects testicular enlargement in a child?
At the age of five, the gonads are in a resting phase. Their size is small, and the increase is immediately evident.
The most common disease in which one testicle is enlarged is cryptorchidism. In fact, this is not an increase in one testicle, but the absence of another in the scrotum. Non-descension is common, so it is discovered by a pediatrician at the initial appointment, he gives a referral to a pediatric surgeon. In addition to cryptorchidism, hydroceles occur in babies, characterized by a change in the size of the entire scrotum.
From 11 to 17 years old, the phase of puberty begins, characterized by active growth and the formation of testicles. In boys and men, the causes and symptoms of testicular enlargement are slightly different:
- Injury. During puberty, the gonad begins to intensively synthesize testosterone. Excess hormone affects the activity of the child. Boys are seriously interested in sports. Testicular enlargement may occur as a result of hitting a sports equipment, bicycle.
- Anemia of the testicle occurs due to compression of the spermatic cord. In the formation phase, you need to pick up free underwear - squeezing the testicle even for 15-20 minutes leads to dystrophic changes, and subsequently to the destruction of the spermatogenic epithelium.
- dropsytesticles - accumulation of serous fluid between the membranes. The disease is characterized by an increase in the scrotum and difficulty in deurination. Every tenth boy suffers from the disease.
- Hemangioma is a benign neoplasm caused by proliferation of blood vessels. It occurs due to genetic mutations. The course passes without discomfort, the child may complain only of discomfort when walking.
Infectious pathologies
The most common cause of testicular enlargement in men is a disease of infectious genesis. Causative agents of pathologies: mycelium, bacteria, viruses. They provoke the development of such pathologies:
- Orchitis - inflammation of the testicle, appears again due to the spread of infection.
- Tuberculosis - defeat of the gonad with a Koch stick.
- Mumps is an infectious disease that affects the glands.
- Venereal diseases. An increase in the testicles occurs in the later stages of syphilis, gonorrhea.
Modification of the size of the scrotum can be a complication of diseases of the genitourinary system and even the respiratory organs.
Non-infectious factors affecting scrotum size
The reason why one testicle in a man has increased, but does not hurt, can be many factors. Most pathologies at the developmental stage do not cause any discomfort, and a change in the size of the scrotum is the only clinical manifestation. Non-infectious causes have different origins:
- Injuries caused by crushing or bruising. Testicles atinjuries are not damaged, but shifted or pulled up. Due to the accumulation of blood vessels, a hematoma quickly develops. Often, not only the testicle, but also the penis swells and changes color.
- Diaper rash occurs in hot weather in obese men due to poor hygiene. The scrotum rubs against the thigh or clothing, irritation occurs, the skin increases in size.
- Edema occurs due to a breakdown in the systems that regulate water metabolism.
- Torsion of the testicle is an abnormal condition in which testicular torsion leads to compression of the nerves and blood vessels of the spermatic cord.
- Varicocele is a cluster swelling on the veins of a soft cord located in the inguinal canal. In 92% of cases, the vessels of the left testicle are affected. Older men are more susceptible to the disease.
- Benign tumors. Adenomatoid tumor occurs at the age of 30-50 years, does not develop into cancer. Another non-malignant formation - atheroma, is characterized by redness, swelling of the testicle, pain.
- Inguinal-scrotal hernia.
- Sarcoma is a malignant neoplasm of non-epithelial nature.
- Testicular cancer. The main cause of cancerous tumors is hormonal disorders.
Clinical manifestations
The causes of scrotal enlargement in older men and in young men are mostly the same. The only difference is that the younger generation, unlike the older ones, does not hesitate to go to the doctor, they try to solve the problem. With any pathology, a timely visit to a specialist helps to avoid chronicform.
Not all diseases are accompanied by pain, but the symptoms are the same in most cases:
- Discomfort when walking, feeling that "something is in the way between the legs."
- Difficulty urinating with frequent urges.
- Pain during intercourse, especially during ejaculation.
- In some cases, you can see swollen veins, discoloration of the skin in the scrotum.
The presence of blood in the urine or semen is a sign of a serious illness that requires immediate medical attention.
When is it necessary to visit a urologist?
Swollen testicles - a consequence of the developed pathology. Even with the same symptoms of testicular enlargement, the causes may be different. For small changes, you need to contact a specialist:
- The testicle grows quite fast within two days.
- Swelling does not go down even after changing clothes and cooling compresses.
- Changes in the color of the skin.
- There is an increase in local or general temperature.
- Various rashes appeared.
- Painful deurination and ejaculation.
Usually several symptoms appear at the same time, but are not always accompanied by painful sensations.
Diagnosis
To determine why a man's testicle is enlarged and hurts, a comprehensive examination will help. Diagnosis and therapy is carried out by a urologist or urologist-andrologist. The establishment and study of signs of testicular pathology consists of severalstages.
In the anamnesis, attention is focused on previous diseases and injuries, complaints of pain in the inguinal region, their direction and intensity are specified. Visually assess the shape, size, condition of the skin. On palpation, the location of the testicle, consistency, the presence of nodes, seals are determined.
Laboratory tests are carried out: complete blood count and urine test, radioimmunoassay method for determining testosterone content, semen analysis, smear and biopsy of the urethra.
Instrumental diagnostics: radiography, ultrasound, diaphanoscopy, CT.
Therapy Methods
After a complete examination, the doctor determines and prescribes the treatment. There are 3 options for therapy: waiting, medical, surgical. The latter is used in case of ineffectiveness of the previous two or in severe pathologies.
The development of some diseases is significantly influenced by lifestyle. The doctor recommends in such situations to give up bad habits, follow the diet, prescribe vitamins. The patient is regularly examined.
In case an infectious cause of the disease is an enlarged testicle in men, treatment is prescribed with antibacterial or antifungal drugs. Additionally, the urologist may prescribe immunomodulators and antihistamines. Course therapy, lasting from two weeks.
Forecast
Treatment of diseases in which swelling (enlargement) of the testicles occurs should be carried out by a specialist. The prognosis depends on the complexity of the pathology, the correctness of the prescribed therapy.
Timely treatment increases the chances of a favorable outcome. If the reason for the increase in the gonad was an infection, then the man should carefully monitor hygiene, maintain immunity through proper nutrition, physical education.
After operations, the patient must strictly follow all the recommendations of the urologist.
Prevention measures
Whatever the cause of the disease, testicular enlargement in men, simple preventive measures will help to avoid it. The anatomy of the organ is quite complex, so you should not carry out therapy on your own. Even if nothing bothers you, you need to visit a urologist every 6 months.
Testicular enlargement is a rather disturbing clinical manifestation. The list of possible pathologies is long, as a result of which a complete examination is necessary. Correctly and timely prescribed therapy guarantees a favorable prognosis.
