Testicle pain can be caused by various factors and conditions. These conditions range from simple ones that can be taken care of with simple medications to the complicated ones where surgical intervention is necessary.

Sometimes the condition can be such that immediate medical attention is needed to save the testicle from permanent damage. So it is better to know what the normal causes of testicular pain are.

Though the testicles are located outside the body in the scrotum, they are connected to the body with the spermatic cord which keeps the vital connection by carrying the nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, etc.

The testicles are also connected by the epididymis, the coiled structure at the back and top which stores and transports the sperm. These make up a complex system and problem with any one of these may lead to testicular pain.

7 Causes Of Testicle Pain

Injury and Trauma

This is one of the commonest causes of testicular pain. Most of these injuries can happen from sports injuries, accidents, kicks and blows, etc. However, in most cases, the pain caused is of temporary nature and dies down with time.

In some extreme cases medical intervention is needed and sometimes surgical intervention may be needed also.

Testicular Torsion

This is a condition when the testicles twist inside the scrotum and along with it spermatic cord gets twisted also. As a result the blood supply to the testicles dries up. Such deformity is sometimes caused by anatomical problems like the ‘Bell Clapper deformity’ seen in about a tenth of the men. Such defect generally occurs in both the testicles. Sometimes trauma may be responsible for the condition. Correction is to be done only by surgical procedures.

Testicular Appendage Torsion

In this situation, the functionless tissues called testicular appendages and epididymal appendages, which stay over from the embryonic stage, get twisted. The effect is similar to testicular torsion. The blood flow diminishes causing pain. This is seen basically in young boys in the age group of 7 to 14.

Epididymitis

This is a situation when the epididymis, the coiled structure at the back of the testicles, suffers from any infection. The causes of such infection can be many ranging from sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and Chlamydia to urinary tract infection.

Generally this is seen in the sexually active age group of men older than 18 years. The pain in this condition can be terrible at some times and epididymitis can be of both acute and chronic nature. Another cause of this situation is the enlargement of the prostrate gland.

Inguinal Hernia

This is not a common cause of testicle pain, but can be one of the causes. In this condition a part of the intestine slips into the scrotum due to a muscular defect of the groin area.

Inflammation of the Testicle or Orchitis

Though inflammation of testicles can accompany almost all of the causes of pain, sometimes infections like viral mumps and other ones caused by virus and bacteria can be the cause.

Tumor or Cancer of the Testicle

Tumor of the testicle are rarely seen and in very few cases they can be of cancerous nature. However, it is better to self-examine for masses and lumps if testicular pain is felt from time to time.