Any male who has ever sustained a blow to the scrotum knows how excruciating testicle trauma is. While it can be extremely painful, everyday testicle trauma is usually not a medical emergency. However, anyone experiencing consistent pain in one testicle or both should see a doctor to rule out a serious medical problem.
The testicles hang outside of the body and are particularly vulnerable to injury since they are not protected by muscle or bone. Injuries that can lead to testicle pain include:
Most types of testicle trauma are extremely painful. Usually, however, they simply result in some bruising and heal quickly. While serious testicle injuries could potentially lead to impotence, it is unlikely that a non-severe injury has reproductive complications. However, if you are experiencing constant pain in one of your testicles, see your doctor. If emergency surgery is not required, the doctor may prescribe pain medication to ease the soreness.
While testicle trauma is usually a relatively minor injury, occasionally the damage can be significant. More serious testicle injuries include:
Degloving and dislocation are rare. Degloving usually results from a testicle becoming trapped in heavy machinery or a similar accident. Dislocation often occurs in motorcycle crashes. Rupture is a more common type of testicular trauma. Connective tissue around the testicles rips, resulting in extrusion of the testicular contents.
If you experience any of these more severe types of testicle trauma, see a doctor immediately. Most of these injuries require emergency surgery to repair the testicle. If the testicle is damaged beyond repair, which occurs in particularly severe cases, the testicle may need to be surgically removed. Removal of one testicle will not negatively affect fertility, as long as the remaining testicle is healthy.
The following symptoms all require immediate treatment, especially if the pain is sharp, comes on suddenly and is accompanied by fever, nausea and painful urination:
These symptoms could point to a more serious testicular condition, some of which may require emergency surgery to save the testicle.
Not all causes of testicle pain can be prevented. However, testicle trauma usually can be avoided by taking some basic precautions, including:
In most mild cases of testicle trauma, over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) may ease the pain and swelling. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to repair the testicle.
eMedicine. (2006). Testicular trauma. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from the eMedicine Web site: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/441362-overview.
eMedicineHealth. (2009). Testicular pain. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from the eMedicineHealth Web site: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/testicular_pain/article_em.htm.
State of Victoria. (2008). Testicle injuries and conditions. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from the Better Health Channel Web site: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Testicle_injuries_and_conditions?open.
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