The health of the male reproductive organs depends on many factors. Deviations in its operation can be caused not only by internal disturbances, but also by mechanical damage. The most vulnerable testicles are paired glands that produce male hormones and sperm. When they are injured, the ability to produce these substances is affected, which affects not only sexual abilities and the ability to fertilize, but also the general state of health.
Main functions of the testicles.
The testicles, also called testicles or testicles, are the male sex glands. Each of them is located in the scrotum, its right and left parts. The testicles are attached to the spermatic cords, which are made up of muscles, nerves, lymphatic vessels, and blood vessels. The right testicle is slightly higher than the left.
The testicles consist of soft tissue, divided by a thin connective septum into peculiar lobules. In them the seminiferous tubules are located, where the production of spermatozoa occurs, and between them the process of production of the hormone testosterone occurs.
The constant formation of male germ cells makes possible the process of fertilization of the ovum. The production of testosterone in the testes is also very important for men's health, because 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 any reason, their ability to produce hormones and sex cells is reduced. This can happen at any age. To avoid complications, you should immediately see a doctor if you experience pain in the testicles.
Why do the testicles hurt?
The causes of testicular pain in men are numerous. They can be relatively harmless, associated with defective ejaculation after arousal, and dangerous, as a consequence of the development of malignant tumors or trauma to the external genital organs.
The reasons why the testicles hurt are as follows:
- Injury to the perineum or scrotum. If the blow or bruise was not too intense, the pain in the testicle is sharp, but it passes quickly enough. At the same time, even a slight mechanical impact contributes to bleeding in the scrotal cavity, due to which its skin becomes red and thick. Such phenomena pass in a few days. With a serious injury, the integrity of the testicles is violated. The pain in this case is so pronounced and painful that the victim may lose consciousness. A serious injury can lead to the fact that the gonad completely loses its functions; in the future, this is fraught with infertility;
- Inflammatory processes that occur 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 that the testicles are swollen. 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 the same time and cause infertility. With orchitis, the skin of the testicles turns red, the scrotum swells, the man has a fever, there is general weakness and constant thirst;
- Abstinence. In this case, the pulling pain in the testicles in men appears due to the fact that, when excited, the penis fills with blood and the ductal system is activated; all this indicates that he is ready for ejaculation. If this does not happen, unpleasant sensations appear in the testicles. Unlike cases where pain is caused by pathological processes, discomfort in the testicles during prolonged withdrawal 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 through masturbation. Another way to eliminate discomfort is to take an analgesic pill;
- Frequent interruptions of sexual intercourse or lack of ejaculation after prolonged arousal, neurological pathologies and inflammatory diseases of the digestive system - all these factors can explain why the testicles hurt after sex;
- Varicocele is a pathological dilation of the veins and vessels of the penis, due to its insufficiency. This disease is often encountered by adolescents in their teens. If the testicle hurts precisely for this reason, then the disease is at an advanced stage and is fraught with amputation of the organ. Varicocele is also accompanied by an increase in the size of one of the halves of the scrotum;
- Inguinal hernia. With infringement, a sharp pain is noted, a specific protrusion in the groin, which increases with physical exertion and takes its former form after taking a horizontal position. If the infringement of the contents of the hernia does not occur, there is a dull pain radiating into the abdomen, side, lower limb region;
- Hydrocele, or hydrocele. This phenomenon is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the membranes of the testicles, which is associated with circulation problems. The disease can be hereditary or occur with inflammatory pathologies, the development of tumors, after injuries of the external genital organs. If the testicle has increased, then the presence of a hydrocele can be suspected. Another characteristic symptom of this pathology is a sharp pain that occurs when touching the testicles;
- Testicular torsion. This phenomenon usually occurs in children aged 7 to 10 years and is characterized by torsion of the spermatic cord, causing blockage of local blood flow and compression of the duct. The pain in this case occurs only in one of the testicles. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by walking or pressing on the affected area. There may be redness of the scrotum and swelling on one side, as well as a burning sensation. Such deviation is corrected by external reduction of the testicle or by using surgical methods;
- The development of a malignant tumor. The pathological process can spread both to the glandular tissue and to the excretory ducts. In this case, the testicles in men hurt only when the neoplasm has become large;
- Prostate inflammation. If the testicles hurt during prostatitis, this is one of the main symptoms of the disease;
- Inflammatory diseases in the pelvic organs cause pain in the lower abdomen in men and in the testicles;
- Hypothermia. The consequence of exposure to low temperatures can be a painful pain in the testicles 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 size, redness, swelling), he should immediately consult a doctor in order to identify the cause of the pathological manifestations as soon as possible and begin appropriate treatment.
Characteristic features of pain.
In the diagnostic process, the nature of the pain occurring in the testicular region is of great importance. Depending on where it radiates, preliminary conclusions can be drawn about the nature of the appearance of unpleasant sensations.
- In the event that the pain radiates to the lumbar region or the abdomen, the presence of an inflammatory process that occurs in the epididymis is suspected;
- If the pain radiates to one side, urolithiasis or inguinal hernia may occur;
- When the pain radiates to the lower extremity, torsion of the spermatic cord or testicular hematoma is suspected, followed by testicular hemorrhage.
If the testicles are reddened and pain and discomfort are felt in them, it is urgent to undergo diagnostic measures prescribed by the doctor. The delay in this case can lead to infertility, since the ejaculate will not contain motile sperm, decreased potency or amputation of the penis.
diagnostic measures
Diagnosis of cases in which the testicle hurts and pulls is carried out by a urologist and an andrologist. A man needs to go through the following activities:
- A general blood test, thanks to which a specialist can identify the inflammatory process;
- Semen analysis for infections to determine the presence and type of pathogenic microorganisms;
- Analysis of the spermogram, which allows evaluating the activity of sperm and identifying bacteria;
- Ultrasound of the scrotum, which allows you to identify tumor neoplasms;
- Take a smear from the urethra to identify pathogens;
- Puncture (punch 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 impede the flow of urine;
- CT scan and MRI to rule out misdiagnosis.
Before carrying out diagnostic measures, the patient is not recommended to drink painkillers, carry out heating or cooling procedures.
treatment methods
The treatment of pain in the testicles depends on the cause that caused the discomfort. Therapy may be based on medications, special procedures, or surgery.
Table 1. Methods for the treatment of pain in the testicles.
| Cause | Treatment |
| Mild bruising of the vulva |
|
| Infectious diseases caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the organs of the scrotum. |
|
| varicocele |
|
| Tumor | Removal of the tumor with radiotherapy or removal of the affected organ by surgery. If metastases are detected, chemotherapy is required. |
| Testicular torsion | Dissection of the scrotum, assessment of the viability of the testicle and its subsequent straightening or removal. In the postoperative period, the use of analgesics is indicated. |
| Extensive bruising | Drainage of affected areas, removal of non-viable tissues and suture of gaps. |
The use of folk remedies to eliminate pain in the scrotum is not recommended, since such an alarming symptom requires careful diagnosis. However, there are some steps you can take while you wait for your doctor to help ease the discomfort caused by a minor bump or bruise. At home, you can apply an ice pack to the painful side or do a light massage with an anesthetic cream, but it is better not to touch the affected area until you consult a specialist.
To prevent the onset of pain in an organ as vulnerable as the testicles, you should:
- Timely eliminate abnormalities in the structure of the genital organs;
- Regularly undergo examinations by a urologist to identify pathologies that are asymptomatic in the early stages of development;
- Have a regular sex life and use barrier contraceptives if the couple is unstable;
- Wear underwear that does not compress the organs and does not interfere with blood circulation;
- Normalize the drinking regimen and nutrition;
- Prevent the possibility of traumatic impact on the scrotum.
The condition of the testicles directly affects not only the reproductive capabilities of a man, but also the general state of his health. In order to prevent undesirable consequences, it is necessary to minimize the risk of external factors affecting the testicles, as well as timely treat existing diseases that may negatively affect their condition.