The health of the male reproductive system depends on many factors. Deviations in their operation can be caused not only by internal disturbances, but also by mechanical damage. The most vulnerable testicles are the paired glands, which produce male hormones and semen. When injured, the ability to produce these substances is impaired, which affects not only sexual ability and fertility, but also general health.
Basic functions of the testicles
The testicles, also called testicles or testicles, are the male gonads. Each of them is located in the scrotum - its right and left parts. The testicles are attached to the seminal vesicles, which are made up of muscles, nerves, lymph and blood vessels. The right testicle is slightly higher than the left.
The testicles consist of soft tissue divided by a thin connective barrier into peculiar lobules. In them are the seminal tubules, where the production of sperm takes place, and between them the process of production of the hormone testosterone takes place.
The constant formation of male germ cells makes possible the process of fertilization of the egg. Testosterone production in the testicles is also very important for men's health, as this hormone is responsible for the growth of the body and muscles, the development of the body as a whole according to the male type and the formation of sexual desire.
When the testicles are damaged for some reason, the ability to produce hormones and sex cells decreases. This can happen at any age. To avoid complications, you should consult a doctor immediately if you experience pain in the testicles.
Why do the testicles hurt?
The causes of testicular pain in men are numerous. They can be both relatively harmless, associated with defective ejaculation after arousal, and dangerous as a result of the development of malignant tumors or trauma to the external genitalia.
The reasons why the testicles hurt are the following:
- Injury to the perineum or scrotum. If the blow or bruise was not too intense, the pain in the testicle is sharp, but passes quickly enough. At the same time, even a slight mechanical impact contributes to bleeding in the scrotal cavity, which makes his skin red and thick. Such phenomena pass in a few days. In severe injuries, the integrity of the testicles is compromised. The pain in this case is so severe and painful that the victim may lose consciousness. Severe injury can lead to the fact that the gonad completely loses its function - in the future it is fraught with infertility;
- Inflammatory processes occurring in the testicles or their appendages. This may be epididymitis caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the epididymis. In this case, the patient complains not only of pain but also swelling of the testicles. Also, the pathological process can occur as a result of inflammation of the glandular tissue. This phenomenon is called orchitis. This disease, which is a complication of influenza, gonorrhea and others, can affect one or both testicles at once and cause infertility. In orchitis, the skin of the testicles becomes red, the scrotum swells, the man has a fever, has general weakness and constant thirst;
- Abstinence. In this case, the pulling pain in the testicles in men occurs due to the fact that when aroused the penis fills with blood and activates the ductal system - all this indicates readiness for ejaculation. If this does not happen, unpleasant sensations appear in the testicles. Unlike cases where the pain is caused by pathological processes, discomfort in the testicles with prolonged abstinence is not accompanied by general weakness, loss of appetite, dizziness and changes in urine color. This problem does not require treatment, it can be solved either through sexual intercourse or masturbation. Another way to eliminate the discomfort is to take a painkiller;
- Frequent interruptions of sexual intercourse or lack of ejaculation after prolonged arousal, neurological pathologies and inflammatory diseases of the digestive system - all these factors may explain why the testicles hurt after sex;
- Varicocele is a pathological dilation of the veins and vessels of the penis due to their insufficiency. This disease is often encountered by adolescents. If the testicle hurts for this reason, then the disease is at an advanced stage and this is fraught with amputation of the organ. Varicocele is also accompanied by an increase in the size of one half of the scrotum;
- Inguinal hernia. In violation there is acute pain, a specific protrusion in the groin, which increases with exercise and regains its previous shape after occupying a horizontal position. If the violation of the hernial contents does not occur, there is dull pain that radiates to the abdomen, sides, lower limb area;
- Hydrocele or hydrocele. This phenomenon is characterized by accumulation of fluid in the membranes of the testicles, which is associated with impaired circulation. The disease can be hereditary or occur with inflammatory pathologies, the development of tumors, after injuries to the external genitalia. If the testicle is enlarged, then the presence of hydrocele may be suspected. Another symptom characteristic of this pathology is acute pain that occurs when touching the testicles;
- Testicular torsion. This phenomenon usually occurs in boys aged 7-10 years and is characterized by torsion of the spermatic cord, which leads to blockage of local blood flow and compression of the canal. The pain in this case occurs only in one of the testicles. Unpleasant sensations are intensified when walking or pressing on the affected area. There may be redness of the scrotum and enlargement of one side, as well as a burning sensation. Such deviation is corrected either by external reduction of the testis or by the use of surgical methods;
- The development of a malignant tumor. The pathological process can spread both in the glandular tissue and in the secretory ducts. In this case, the testicles in men hurt only when the neoplasm has become large;
- Inflammation of the prostate. If the testicles hurt during prostatitis, this is one of the leading symptoms of the disease;
- Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs cause pain in the lower abdomen in men and testicles;
- Hypothermia. Exposure to low temperatures can result in painful testicular pain in men. In some cases, there is an increase in body temperature.
If a man notices pain in the testicles, as well as external changes - increase in their size, redness, swelling - you should immediately consult a doctor to identify the cause of the pathological manifestations as soon as possible and begin appropriate treatment.
Characteristic features of pain
In the process of diagnosis, the nature of the pain that occurs in the testicles is of great importance. Depending on where it radiates, preliminary conclusions can be drawn about the nature of unpleasant sensations.
- In case the pain radiates in the lumbar region or in the abdomen, the presence of an inflammatory process that occurs in the epididymis is suspected;
- If the pain radiates to the side, urolithiasis or inguinal hernia may occur;
- When the pain radiates to the lower limb, torsion of the spermatic cord or bruising of the testicle is suspected, followed by bleeding in it.
If the testicles are red and there is pain and discomfort, it is urgent to undergo diagnostic measures prescribed by your doctor. Delay in this case can lead to infertility, as the ejaculate will not contain motile sperm, impaired potency or amputation of the penis.
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosis of cases in which the testicle hurts and pulls is performed by a urologist and andrologist. A man must go through the following activities:
- A general blood test, thanks to which a specialist can identify the inflammatory process;
- Sperm analysis for infections to determine the presence and type of pathogenic microorganisms;
- Spermogram analysis, which allows you to assess the activity of sperm and identify bacteria;
- Scrotal ultrasound, which allows you to identify tumor neoplasms;
- Taking a smear from the urethra to identify pathogens;
- Puncture (puncture biopsy) to determine the nature of diseases of the testicles, appendages;
- Palpation to detect tumors or enlargement of the testicles;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and ureters to detect formations that interfere with the flow of urine;
- CT and MRI to rule out misdiagnosis.
It is not recommended that the patient take painkillers, perform warming or cooling procedures before performing diagnostic measures.
Methods of treatment
The treatment of testicular pain depends on the cause of the discomfort. Therapy can be based on medication, special procedures or surgery.
Table 1. Methods for treating testicular pain
> zxtable border = "1" cellpadding = "0" >- Observance of half-bed rest for several days;
- Applying a bandage on the affected area to prevent blood stasis, reduce tension and pain;
- Pain relief - both locally in the form of cold compresses and general, which includes medication;
- The use of drugs to prevent the formation of hematomas;
- Magnetotherapy and gentle heat treatments after an acute period.
- Gentle mode;
- Taking antibacterial drugs to remove harmful microflora;
- Elimination of inflammation by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Physiotherapy after recovery.
- Conservative therapy in the initial stage, which includes taking drugs to improve blood circulation in the affected area, as well as vitamins C, E, PP;
- Surgical methods of treatment, in particular - surgery to block the veins of the scrotum and their sclerosis. After surgery, the likelihood of recurrence is reduced;
- Give up bad habits, weight loss.
The use of folk remedies to eliminate pain in the scrotum is not recommended, as such an alarming symptom requires careful diagnosis. However, there are some steps you can take while waiting for your doctor to alleviate the discomfort caused by a light blow or bruise. At home, you can apply an ice pack on the inflamed side or do a light massage with anesthetic cream, but it is better not to touch the affected area until you contact a specialist.
To prevent pain in such a vulnerable organ as the testicles, you should:
- Timely removal of abnormalities in the structure of the genital organs;
- Regularly undergo urological examinations to identify pathologies that are asymptomatic in the early stages of development;
- Have regular sex and use barrier contraceptives if your partner is unstable;
- Wear underwear that does not compress the organs and does not interfere with blood circulation;
- Normalization of the drinking and eating regime;
- Prevent the possibility of traumatic impact on the scrotum.
The condition of the testicles directly affects not only a man's reproductive abilities, but also his general health. In order to prevent side effects, it is necessary to minimize the risk of external factors affecting the testicles, as well as timely treatment of existing diseases that may adversely affect their condition.