Nagging pain in the testicles in men is one of the most common reasons for visiting a urologist or andrologist, if such a specialist is available at the local clinic.Patients' concerns are associated not only with unpleasant symptoms, but also with psychological discomfort, as well as the inability to perform full sexual intercourse.In turn, psychological discomfort leads to destructive processes in a man’s potency.
The testicles are the sex glands of the stronger sex, which are designed to produce semen and sex hormones.The testicles are located inside the scrotum and can be easily felt through the skin of this external genitalia.To eliminate testicular pain in men, only a doctor can determine the causes, and he also looks for ways to eliminate such preconditions for discomfort.
Why do a man’s balls hurt: possible reasons
Most often, aching pain in the right or left testicle in men can be a signal of various diseases of the genitourinary system, be it prostatitis, testicular torsion, varicocele and many other complex ailments.There can be many reasons for this phenomenon; without qualified specialist help and thorough diagnostics, it is almost impossible to understand it.
For reference!If a man does not promptly seek help from a doctor, simple pain in the scrotum and testicles can cause reproductive dysfunction, as well as impotence and erectile dysfunction.
Common reasons:
- Inflammatory processes or infections.If a man feels pain under or in the testicles, or pain in the epididymis, this is most likely due to several common ailments - inflammation of the testicle (orchitis), prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland), epididymitis (inflammatory process in the epididymis).
- Diseases that can be acquired through sexual intercourse.In this case, there is a constant dull pain under the testicles or in them, the reasons for this may be several types of diseases - chlamydia, mycoplasmosis and ureaplasmosis.And until a specialist discovers and cures the disease, the patient will suffer from such a symptom.
- Injuries in the scrotum area.If the scrotum and testicles hurt when touched, and also for an hour after that, most likely we are talking about serious consequences after suffering an injury to this organ.Urgent diagnosis and examination by a doctor is necessary.
- Hernia.Sometimes pain in the lower abdomen and testicles may appear after a large part of the intestine has fallen onto the scrotum, squeezing it.While the formation of tumors does not cause any pain until the last moment.
- Varicose veins (varicocele).This disease can be treated, that is, it will not be difficult for an experienced specialist to cure varicocele.But the sooner therapy begins, the greater the chance a man has of avoiding surgery.
In any case, it is clear that the cause of such pain in men signals the presence of a serious concomitant disease.Negligence towards the manifestation of pain can lead to serious disorders and dysfunction of the reproductive system.
Is there a difference whether the right or left testicle hurts?
In medical practice, situations often occur when a patient complains of unilateral pain in the scrotum.Therefore, it makes sense to consider the reasons for each individual case separately.
Cause of pain in the right testicle in men:
- orchitis and inflammation;
- epididymitis - inflammation of the appendages;
- testicular trauma;
- testicular torsion;
- hernia;
- varicocele or swollen veins;
- hydrocele - dropsy;
- spermatocele is a cyst in the scrotum area.
In this case, nagging pain in the testicles in men (on the right) may indicate serious disorders of the body.In severe situations, this symptom is accompanied by fever, worsening pain and nausea.Long-term abstinence from sexual intercourse may also be a cause of pain.
Pain in the left testicle in men - causes:
- bruises and injuries;
- urological infections and inflammatory processes;
- tight underwear;
- hypothermia or overheating;
- long-term abstinence from sexual intercourse;
- torsion;
- cysts;
- varicose veins;
- tumors in the scrotum area;
- hernia;
- dropsy;
- Cancer;
- problems with nerve conduction after a lower back injury.
But according to medical practice, acute or nagging pain in the left testicle is a consequence of inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis), without which sperm motility is impossible.
Different nature of pain
Such a seemingly simple symptom as pain can have a completely different character, from which one can predict almost exactly the type of disease that precedes it.As for painful manifestations in the testicular area, the pain can be nagging, constant or intermittent, sharp or dull.Moreover, they can worsen during movement, sexual intercourse or active pastime.
Drawing pain
Most likely, periodic or constant nagging pain may indicate irritation or compression of the nerve endings.Therefore, the causes of this symptom may be compression from the inside or outside, tissue swelling, as well as problems with nerve patency.Thus, we can talk about:
- inflammatory processes against the background of hypothermia;
- urogenital pathologies;
- infectious diseases that are sexually transmitted.
Therefore, if you experience nagging pain, there is a reason to first visit a venereologist, in addition to this urologist.In rare cases, such sensations can be caused by kidney pathology due to inflammation and infection.Doctors also always check to see if there have been previous injuries to the scrotum, as this can also lead to frequent nagging pain in the testicular area.
It's a dull pain
Aching pain in the testicles in men can be a consequence of the negative impact of various factors.But most often, the doctor assumes the presence of mechanical injury or inflammation.This can also be caused by pathogenic bacteria, gonococci or chlamydia, as well as inflammation of the urethra (pain appears in the testicles when urinating).
Other reasons:
- torsion;
- hernia;
- orchitis;
- epididymitis;
- hypothermia;
- benign tumors;
- hydrocele and varicocele;
- long-term abstinence from sexual intercourse;
- impaired blood supply to the tissues of the scrotum and testicles;
- disorders in the area of nerve endings.
If such a symptom is permanent, most often we are talking about diseases that are transmitted between sexual partners during intercourse.The chronic nature of the pain may indicate a previous injury to the scrotum.
Pain during abstinence
Pain in the testicular area is not always a consequence of diseases and serious pathologies; most often it can occur from abstinence.Sometimes this situation can be accompanied by pain in the kidney area, which also indicates a long absence of sexual intercourse.Most often, such pain does not require medical intervention, but only prompt active sexual activity.
The consequences of abstinence and pain after arousal can be different - from masturbation to emission.But if the pain in the testicles during overexcitation is isolated, the pain does not entail any dangers, except for physiological and psychological discomfort.If abstinence is prolonged, this can cause erectile dysfunction and even impotence.
During or after the act
There are times when pleasure and pain go hand in hand, for example, when a man’s testicles hurt after or during sex.In addition to pain, a man may experience nausea, malaise and excessive sweating.The causes of acute or dull pain during sexual intercourse and its completion may be the following situations:
- infectious diseases;
- body reactions to taking medications;
- trauma to the pelvic organs;
- blockage of the vas deferens;
- consequence of operations;
- pinched nerves;
- torsion;
- spermatocele and varicocele;
- neurological pathologies;
- benign tumors.
For reference!If the pain remains even after ejaculation, a doctor’s consultation is necessary, since pathological processes and illnesses usually contribute to this.
In addition, soreness of the testicles after intercourse may indicate a lack of pleasure and orgasm, that is, lack of emptying and bursting pain in the testicular area in the future.Therefore, experts strongly recommend not to push yourself to the point of abstinence and the consequences of this.
What to do?
Negligent treatment of pain can lead to serious disorders and consequences.You should immediately visit a urologist, venereologist and andrologist for consultation and subsequent diagnosis.
Diagnostic methods:
- taking anamnesis;
- palpation;
- general blood and urine analysis;
- spermogram;
- Ultrasound;
- biopsy;
- MRI.
The treatment of the problem directly depends on the data obtained.It is impossible to give a general option for eliminating pain in the scrotum and testicles, since this can be preceded by completely different serious diseases and physiological disorders.Not least important in determining therapy is the patient’s age, his general health, individual characteristics of the body, way of life and the degree of manifestation of symptoms.
When is testicular pain not dangerous?
In addition to the serious reasons mentioned above that cause acute pain in the scrotum and testicles, one factor can lead to discomfort and pain - sexual overstimulation.Most often, men's eggs hurt when they are excited at a young age during puberty, when the body is already ready for sexual activity, but due to a number of reasons it is absent.A prolonged absence of ejaculation is accompanied by throbbing pain.
During sexual arousal, a large volume of blood flows to the genitals.At the same time, the penis greatly increases in size, and the testicles swell.If there are no opportunities to ejaculate for a long time, such abstinence may be accompanied by pain.In this case, there is no need for treatment; sexual contact or masturbation is necessary.It is worth remembering that sharp pain is not characteristic of simple abstinence.