Medical expert of the article
New publications
Pain in the scrotum
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
With such a problem as pain in the scrotum, not only mature men face, but also teenagers. The annoying pain can be indicative of serious diseases leading to impotence and infertility. Often, the cause of the problem can be detected and eliminated immediately, but the fact that in 25% of cases it remains unknown, nevertheless leads to the conclusion - pain of this nature can not be tolerated in any case!
Causes of the pain in the scrotum
The scrotum is a musculoskeletal formation that is divided into two halves; in each - an egg with an appendage and a spermatic cord. It is thanks to the scrotum, which, depending on external conditions, is lowered or pulled to the body, the testes are always in the most comfortable temperature - 34.4 degrees.
Pain in the scrotum indicates problems that can later lead to serious consequences, so at the first unpleasant sensations you should not delay with a visit to a urologist or andrologist.
The causes of pain in the scrotum can be:
- Testicular torsion.
- Injury.
- Inguinal hernia.
- Hydrocele (accumulation of liquid in the scrotum).
- Varicocele (widening of the veins in the scrotum).
- Infectious and inflammatory processes in the testicle or epididymis.
- Prostatitis.
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
- Oncological diseases (cancer).
- Sexual arousal without intercourse.
Symptoms
Regardless of the nature, pain in the scrotum is a symptom that it is impermissible to ignore. Consultation and assistance of a professional is obligatory.
Immediately go to a doctor if you:
- Feel the pain from just touching the testicles.
- One testicle became noticeably larger, softer, changed shape.
- Pain in the scrotum appeared sharply and intensified.
- Pain after a scrotal injury does not abate within an hour.
- In addition to the pain you have increased temperature, the general condition worsened; there is nausea and vomiting.
- There were involuntary urination and pain in the canal.
Sharp pain in the scrotum
Acute pain in the scrotum occurs most often with trauma or twisting of the testicle. But at the same time, they can appear with neglected diseases.
In case of mechanical damage (in some cases with loss of consciousness) it is necessary to urgently seek medical help in order to avoid a testicle or infertility.
If the acute pain in the scrotum appears abruptly without any obvious effects, then this indicates a torsion of the testicle. The spermatic cord, on which it is suspended, is twisted by 360 degrees (by the way, the reasons for this torsion are not known reliably). In this case, the vas deferens and the blood circulation of the testicle is interrupted. Sharp pain can not be tolerated, because it can lead to the death of the testicle.
In the case when acute pain accompanied by protrusion of the peritoneum, you are faced with inguinal hernia.
Drawing and aching pain in the scrotum
Most often the pain in the scrotum does not appear sharply, but increases with time and has a pulling or aching character. No matter how much one would like, it is impossible to diagnose independently.
The causes of drawing and aching pain in the scrotum can be such diseases:
- Epididymitis is an inflammation of the epididymis caused by bacteria. Usually only one appendage is inflamed, aching pains do not give rest to the patient for about three days. In addition, the temperature may rise, spontaneous urination and burning in the canal appear.
- Varicocele - widening of the veins of the scrotum. Drawing pain grows and becomes unbearable over time.
- Orchitis is an inflammation of the testicles, which occurs after the mumps. The testicle swells and the body temperature "jumps".
In addition, pulling and aching pain in the scrotum can be an echo of other problems - urolithiasis, cysts or kidney tumors.
Pain between anus and scrotum
Sharp, cutting, aching - pain of any kind between the anus and scrotum - a sign of prostatitis.
It breaks the rhythm of life and sleep, but arises regardless of activity.
If the pain in the scrotum is strong and accompanied by chills, fever and rapid urination, then this indicates a neglected disease.
Pain in the scrotum after sex
With pain in the scrotum after sex, both young people and mature men may come across. As in all other cases, an accurate diagnosis of a patient with such a symptom can only be made by a doctor.
Nevertheless, the most common cause of pain in the scrotum after sex is the undeveloped testicles. This occurs when interrupted intercourse or in the case when a man did not reach orgasm and the seminal fluid prepared for the exit remained inside. Then the scrotum swells, and it seems to the man that it is bursting.
Also, pain between the scrotum and anus often occurs with the prostatitis.
Who to contact?
Diagnostics of the pain in the scrotum
With pain in the scrotum, you need to urgently consult a doctor, because the test at home will not give a result.
The doctor examines a patient who is in a standing or lying position, performs palpation (examination by feeling). If necessary, to clarify the clinical picture of the disease, the urologist-andrologist can appoint an ultrasound, in more complicated cases - to pass a seminal fluid or urine for analysis.
The main task is to differentiate the emergency pathology from other causes. Aortic catastrophes occur in elderly patients (over 50 years). Other emergency conditions can occur at any age. A sharp, acutely painful pain suggests a torsion; The pain in the scrotum with the injured hernia or appendicitis occurs gradually. The soreness, limited by the upper pole of the testicle, suggests a torsion of the epididymis. Bilateral pain involves infection or a reflected cause. Education in the groin involves a hernia; the formation of the scrotum is nonspecific. The absence of pathological changes in the scrotum suggests reflected pain. Reduction of pain in the scrotum when raising the testicle assumes orhoepididymitis.
A general urine test is always necessary. The detection of signs of UTI is characteristic of orhoepididymitis. If suspected of torsion of the testicle, ultrasound dopplerography or radionuclide examination of the scrotal organs is indicated, although the latter is less sensitive and specific.
Treatment of the pain in the scrotum
Before treating the pain in the scrotum, you need to determine the root cause. If you have already dealt with this, the doctor will prescribe the treatment for you.
Analgesics are indicated to relieve acute pain in the scrotum; morphine or other opioids can be shown in pathologies requiring surgical treatment. The final treatment is directed to the cause.
In case of trauma or torsion of the testicle, urgent surgical intervention is necessary with subsequent hospitalization. In other cases, drug treatment is prescribed.
- To relieve pain take Ibuprofen - no more than three tablets (600 mg) per day.
- To eliminate the cause of pain, antibiotics are prescribed. Tetracycline - one tablet of 0.25 mg six times a day.
- in order to get rid of prostatitis and support men's health, twist a half kilogram of raw purified pumpkin seeds in a meat grinder and mix them with 200 grams of honey. The resulting mass form in small balls and store in the refrigerator. Twice a day, eat this ball half an hour before meals.
- Effective in the prevention and treatment of pain in the scrotum are baths with essential oils of lemon balm, juniper, myrtle, rosemary, yarrow, tea tree and thyme. For a bathroom, usually take 5-10 drops.
In case you have not yet had time to contact a medical institution, try holding the scrotum in a raised position (lying on your back to put a pillow under your sacrum) and apply a compress to the place of pain with ice (for 15 minutes, with a 10-minute break).
Alternative medicine suggests to pass the course of acupuncture - a rather unpleasant procedure that will help get rid of blood stagnation.
Prevention
In order that the pain in the scrotum does not bother you, it is enough to follow the simple and elementary rules of male health:
- Normalize your sex life (harmful both abstinence and hyperactivity), avoid interruptions in sexual intercourse and determine your normal rhythm.
- Avoid mechanical action on the genital organ.
- Refuse bad habits in favor of a healthy diet and sports.
We do not want to scare you, but pain in the scrotum can result in impotence or infertility, so be attentive to your masculine health and be happy!
[13]