Testicular pain should not be ignored.
Pain in certain body parts can be embarrassing to discuss with doctors, but ignoring it can lead to more serious problems.
The testicles are sensitive organs, and even minor injuries can result in pain and discomfort, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Causes of Testicular Pain
Kidney stones can cause testicular pain.
Sudden onset of severe testicle pain can be a sign of testicular torsion, a twisted testicle that can quickly lose its blood supply, according to the Mayo Clinic. This condition requires immediate medical treatment to prevent loss of the affected testicle.
Other Causes of Testicular Pain
If pain is accompanied by blood in your urine, see a doctor immediately.
Possible causes of the pain are chlamydia, swollen scrotum, epididymitis (testicular inflammation), inguinal hernia, mumps, kidney stones, cancer, varicocele, an enlarged vein in the scrotum or a retracted testicle, which occurs in young boys.
Should I See a Doctor?
You should go to the emergency room if you have sudden, severe pain or pain accompanied by nausea, fever, chills or blood in the urine, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Schedule a doctor's appointment if your pain is mild and lasts longer than a few days, or you find a lump or swelling in or around the testicle.
Is there a way to get immediate relief?
A man's lifetime chance of having testicular cancer is about 1 in 300.
If you have mild pain, try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as aspirin or ibuprofen acetaminophen, unless your doctor has given you other instructions.
Support the scrotum with an athletic supporter, or with a folded towel when lying down.
Could It Be Cancer?
The American Cancer Society's estimates that 8,400 new cases of testicular cancer were diagnosed in 2009, with 380 deaths.
A man's lifetime chance of having testicular cancer is about 1 in 300, but because of early detection and treatment advances, the risk of dying of this cancer is only about 1 in 5,000.
Testicular Cancer Diagnoses
Doctors are split on the value of self exams.
Most testicular cancers can be found at an early stage. Often a lump on the testicle is the first sign. But some testicular cancers don't cause symptoms until an advanced stage.
In most cases, the man has a lump on a testicle or notices that the testicle is swollen or larger.
But most of the time there is no pain.
Should I Self-Examine Regularly?
Regular self-exams of the testicles have not been studied enough to show that the practice lowers cancer death rates.
The American Cancer Society does not does not have a recommendation about regular testicular self-exams for all men. But some doctors may advise their patients to do self-exams every month.
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