Navigating the Uncomfortable: Understanding Testicular Pain and its Causes

It goes without saying, testicle pain is not fun and like the organ itself the topic can be pretty sensitive. The testes are vital for male sexual development and are responsible for producing testosterone as well as sperm.

Pain in the testes, is not always straightforward and it can be a symptom of a number of illnesses, so it’s important to know what to look out for. Many may fear testicular cancer if they have a constant pain in the testes, however, most causes of testicular cancer are painless. Another commonly attributed condition is STIs, however, these are more likely to manifest as pain in the urethra.

If you have any lingering pain or are in any doubt about the health of your testes, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a urology specialist, but for the time being let’s take a look at some of the more common culprits when it comes to testicular pain.

Testicular Torsion

Testicular Torsion occurs when the spermatic cord within the testes becomes twisted, leading to a restricted blood flow. Torsion can occur when exercising, during sex or even while sleeping and it often leads to severe pain and can potentially cause permanent damage. The pain can spread to the abdomen and surrounding regions and the condition is usually obvious as the testes will appear twisted and misshapen.

If you suspect this is your condition you shouldn’t hesitate in seeing a doctor. A practitioner will usually ‘untwist’ the testes, however, a for more severe conditions surgery may be needed.

Orchitis

Orchitis is the inflammation of the testicles, it can be caused by many things, however, it is mostly due to a bacterial or viral infection, with mumps being a common candidate. This condition is generally only felt in a singular testicle and treatment is dependent on the microbe responsible.

Inflammation of the Prostate and Epididymis

Inflammation of the organs surrounding the testes is another common cause, with two main subjects being epididymitis or the inflammation of the epididymis (the tube located behind the testicals)and prostatitis, which is the inflammation of the prostate gland. Inflammation can be caused by many things, such as damage, stress, infection and injury, so treatment will be different for everyone.

Kidney Stones/Other Pains

Kidney stones are a solid crystal mass that originate in the kidneys but can make way through to the urinary tract. The nerves that lead to your testes come from the stomach, kidneys and digestive tract, so pain in these areas can reach all of the way down the line. Kidney stones are a common condition that can cause stress on these nerves.

Polyarteritis Nodosa

Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN) is a rare and serious disease of the blood vessels that causes an immune system malfunction. There is no cure for this illness however, the symptoms can be managed.

Varicoceles

A varicocele is a vein within the scrotum that has become enlarged, similar to varicose veins in the legs. These veins look and feel like worms in the scrotum and usually arise during puberty and grow over time. Severe cases may require surgery, which involves redirecting blood flow from the damaged vein into an undamaged one, however, most surgerys are minimally invasive.

Dr Arianayagam is an expert in the field of urology and is widely considered one of the top urological oncologists in Australia.

If you have any further questions about testicular cancer and would like to book an appointment, please feel free to contact or call Dr Arianayagam’s office on 1300 307 990 and his staff will be able to assist.