Testicular pain is no joke, and it’s definitely not something you want to push to the side to see if it ‘gets better.’
Other than the common reason for testicular pain (being kicked in the balls), there are numerous other reasons you could be experiencing pain down there. Don’t think it’s abnormal, though, as practically every guy on the face of the Earth experiences it at one point or another. Though this is true, it’s still hard to believe when you’re the one experiencing the pain.
Most of the time, when a man feels pain in their testicles, they automatically resort to the worst thought process they could: Testicular cancer. I’ll have to admit that yes, testicular cancer can be a reason for testicular pain, but it is by far the most common reason. In fact, often times testicular cancer causes little to no pain.
Your second thought process that crosses your mind when you have testicular pain is whether or not you have an STI. Rest assured that that’s most likely not the case, either, as STI’s typically cause a burning and itchy sensation, not a painful one.
So, at this point, you must be wondering what is causing the pain down there? I’ve listed and briefly provided a description to each reasoning below. If you start to feel pain in your testicles, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Testicular Torsion
Testicular torsion happens when your balls get all twisted. Scientifically speaking, this happens when the spermatic cord (the cord that attaches your testicles to your body) gets twisted and cuts off the regular flow of blood to your testicles.
Testicular torsion can happen in the following ways:
- When you’re working out
- When you’re having sex
- When you’re sleeping
Other than pain and swelling, you’re likely to experience the following symptoms:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unusually placed testicle
Once you start to suspect you have testicular torsion, head to your nearest doctor as soon as possible. In certain cases, the doctor will be able to untwist the testicle. In other cases, you may have to go in for surgery.
Kidney Stones, Hernia, Constipation, Stomach Issues
All of the above could very likely end up giving you testicular pain. Let me explain.
The nerves that lead to your balls come from various areas throughout your body, including your kidneys, stomach, and digestive tract. All of the following instances could very well bring you testicular pain:
- If you’re constipated and unable to poop, pressure from that waste could be pressing on your testicles
- If you have a kidney stone, pressure from that could be pressing on your testicles
- If you have a stomachache, pressure from your stomach and intestines could be pressing on your testicles
- If you have a hernia, the nerves surrounding it could be inflamed, therefore causing pressure on your testicles
Basically, any of these instances have nothing to do with your balls, it just so happens that the pain ends up there as a result of the other bodily functions.
Vasectomy
Though this example is super rare, it is still possible for the procedure to lead to testicular pain.
Medical professionals are unsure why 1% of patients that undergo this procedure feel testicular pain, but they are quite certain as to an estimated guess; according to experts, if the nerve structures down there are severely damaged after the procedure, there is a chance pain in the balls may occur.
Doctors don’t want to scare men away from having a vasectomy, they just have to warn that this could happen. Though it can rarely happen, there are surgical procedures to reverse the pain.
Hydrocele
When you look at the anatomy of the testes, you see that it’s basically a pair of balls dangling off the body, attached by chords. These chords are made up of blood vessels, nerves, and tissues. What you probably don’t know is that the testicles and the chords have a small amount of fluid around them just to make sure they’re balanced properly at all times. If there’s ever too much fluid in the sac, you’ll end up with a hydrocele. The pain will not typically be brought on by the hydrocele itself, but instead by the heavy and swollen scrotum hanging around.
Go get medical attention if you suspect this is what’s going on. In some cases, hydrocele’s clear up on their own within six months. In other cases, they may need surgery.
Varicocele
A varicocele is when the veins in your scrotum become enlarged. Basically, it’s spider veins present in your balls. Though it may not cause too much pain, varicoceles do cause a lot of discomfort.
There are stages of varicocele. Depending on the stage you’re at will depend on the symptoms you’ll experience. Check it out below.
Grade 1: Hardly severe. You may not even know you have the condition in this instance.
Grade 2: Not too severe, but your balls will feel a little ‘ropey.’
Grade 3: Largest and most noticeable. You may feel thick and lumpy down there.
For severe cases, your doctor may recommend surgery, where he/she will take the blood away from the damaged veins and put it into the functioning veins.
If you’re still wondering when you should go see a doctor, that all depends on your pain scale and discomfort levels. Keep in mind the time and severity of your condition and make your best judgment call.
For example, if you have a dull pain-like feeling down there and you can handle it, give it time and see what happens. On the other hand, if you’re experiencing excruciating pain that lasts longer than a few minutes, a trip to the ER is highly recommended.
By Jenny Lyn
