The health of the male reproductive system depends on many factors. Deviations in their activity can be caused not only by internal disorders, but also by mechanical damage. The most sensitive testicles are the paired glands that produce male hormones and sperm. When they are damaged, their ability to produce these substances is impaired, which affects not only their sexual ability and ability to fertilize, but also their overall health.
The 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 connect to the spermatic cords, which are made up of muscles, nerves, lymphatics, and blood vessels. The right testicle is slightly higher than the left.
The testicles are composed of soft tissue divided into distinctive lobules by a thin connective septum. They contain seminiferous tubes, where sperm production takes place and the process of testosterone production takes place between them.
The constant formation of male germ cells makes the process of fertilization of the egg possible. The production of testosterone in the testicles 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 sex. 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. If you feel pain in the testicles to prevent complications, you should see a doctor immediately.
Why do the testicles hurt?
There are many causes of testicular pain in men. They can be relatively harmless, associated with defective ejaculation after awakening, and can be dangerous as a result of the development of malignant tumors or damage to the external genitalia.
The causes of testicular damage are:
- Damage to the perineum or scrotum. If the bruise or bruise is not too intense, the pain in the testicle is sharp, but passes quickly enough. At the same time, even a small mechanical impact helps bleeding into the scrotal cavity, which makes the skin red and thick. Such events take place in a few days. With severe injury, the integrity of the testicles is compromised. In this case, the pain is so obvious and painful that the victim may lose consciousness. A severe injury can lead to complete loss of gonadal function - in the future it is fraught with infertility;
- Inflammatory processes in the testicles or their appendages. It can 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 the flu, gonorrhea and others, can cause infertility by affecting one or both testicles at once. 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 pain in the testicles in men is due to the filling of the penis with blood and the activation of the duct system when excited - all this indicates that it is ready to ejaculate. If this does not happen, the testicles will feel uncomfortable. Unlike pain caused by pathological processes, anxiety in the testicles during long-term abstinence is not accompanied by general weakness, loss of appetite, dizziness and discoloration of the urine. This problem does not require treatment, and can be solved either through sexual intercourse or masturbation. Another way to relieve anxiety is to take painkillers;
- Frequent cessation 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 enlargement of the genitals due to vascular and vascular insufficiency. This disease is most common in adolescence. If the testicle hurts for this reason, the disease is at an advanced stage and is fraught with amputation of this organ. Varicocele is also accompanied by an increase in the size of one-half of the scrotum;
- Inguinal hernia. Acute pain is observed with the violation, there is a special bulge in the groin, which increases with physical force and takes its previous shape after taking a horizontal position. If the contents of the hernia are not disturbed, there is a dull pain that spreads to the abdomen, side, lower extremities;
- Hydrosel or hydrosel. This phenomenon is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the membranes of the testicles, which is associated with circulatory disorders. The disease can be hereditary or occur after inflammatory pathologies, the development of tumors, damage to external genitalia. If the testicle is enlarged, the presence of hydrocele can be suspected. Another symptom of this pathology is characteristic, sharp pain that occurs when touching the testicles;
- Torsion of the testicles. This phenomenon usually occurs in boys aged 7-10 years and is characterized by twisting of the spermatic cord, which leads to blockage of local blood flow and narrowing of the duct. In this case, the pain occurs only in one of the testicles. Unpleasant feelings are aggravated by walking or pushing on the affected area. There may be redness of the scrotum and growth on one of its sides, as well as a burning sensation. Such a deviation is either corrected by external reduction of the testicle, or by the use of surgical methods;
- Development of a malignant tumor. The pathological process can spread to both glandular tissue and secretory ducts. In this condition, the testicles in men only ache when the neoplasm grows;
- Inflammation of the prostate gland. Pain in the testicles during prostatitis is one of the leading symptoms of the disease;
- Inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs cause pain in the lower abdomen and testicles in men;
- Hypothermia. Exposure to low temperatures can result in severe pain in the testicles in men. In some cases, there is an increase in body temperature.
If a man feels pain in the testicles, as well as external changes - an increase in their size, redness, swelling - you should immediately consult a doctor to determine the cause of pathological manifestations as soon as possible and begin appropriate treatment.
Characteristics of pain
The nature of the pain in the testicular region is of great importance in the diagnostic process. Depending on where it is irradiated, preliminary conclusions can be drawn about the nature of the unpleasant sensations.
- If the pain spreads to the lower back or abdomen, it is suspected that there is an inflammatory process in the epididymis;
- If the pain spreads to the side, urolithiasis or inguinal hernia may occur;
- When the pain spreads to the lower extremities, the spermatic cord is twisted or the testicles are bruised, and then there is a suspicion of bleeding.
If the testicles are red and feel pain and discomfort, it is urgent to undergo diagnostic measures prescribed by a doctor. In this case, the delay can lead to infertility, as there will be no mobile sperm in the ejaculate, no impaired potential, or no amputation of the penis.
Diagnostic measures
The diagnosis of pain and suffering of the testicles is made by a urologist and andrologist. The man must go through the following activities:
- A general blood test allows a specialist to determine the inflammatory process;
- Sperm analysis for infections to determine the presence and type of pathogenic microorganisms;
- Analysis of the spermogram, which allows to assess the activity of spermatozoa and identify bacteria;
- ultrasound of the scrotum, which allows to identify tumor neoplasms;
- Take a swab from the urethra to identify pathogens;
- Puncture to determine the nature of diseases of the testicles, appendages (puncture biopsy);
- palpation to detect tumors or testicular enlargement;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and ureters to detect formations that interfere with urine flow;
- CT and MRI to rule out misdiagnosis.
It is not recommended that the patient take painkillers, warm up or cool down before performing diagnostic procedures.
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 of treatment of testicular pain
| reason | Treatment |
| Light bruises of the vulva |
|
| Infectious diseases caused by the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the testicles |
|
| Varicocele |
|
| Swelling | Removal of the tumor by radiation therapy or surgical removal of the affected organ. If metastases are found, chemotherapy is required. |
| Torsion of the testicles | Dissection of the scrotum, assessment of testicular viability, and subsequent correction or removal. The use of painkillers is indicated in the postoperative period. |
| Extensive hematomas | Drainage of affected areas, removal of non-living tissue and construction of cavities. |
It is not recommended to use folk remedies to relieve pain in the scrotum, because such an alarming symptom requires careful diagnosis. However, there are some steps you can take while waiting for a doctor to help reduce the discomfort caused by a small bruise or bruise. At home, you can apply an ice pack to the sore side or give a light massage using an anesthetic cream, but it is better not to touch the affected area until you contact a specialist.
To prevent the appearance of pain in a sensitive organ such as the testicles, you should do the following:
- timely elimination of anomalies in the structure of the genital organs;
- Regular examinations by a urologist 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 impede blood circulation;
- normalize drinking regimen and nutrition;
- Avoid the possibility of traumatic impact on the scrotum.
The condition of the testicles directly affects not only a person's reproductive capacity, but also the general state of health. To prevent undesirable consequences, 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.