Sometimes testicular pain seems to come out of nowhere. Even if you haven't had an injury, one of your testicles may start gradually aching and swelling. This is often the first sign of
epididymitis, a bacterial infection in the tubes that store sperm. The pain may spread to your lower back or side, and it may hurt when you urinate. Some men may also have fever or a milky discharge.
Several different kinds of bacteria can cause epididymitis. You might have caught the germs during sex, or they may be bacteria that have spread from the urinary tract. No mater how it starts, epididymitis is easily treated with oral antibiotics. So don't put up with that achy feeling. Make an urgent appointment with your family doctor or urologist. With the right medication, you'll feel much better within a few days. If the symptoms don't get better or if they return, see your doctor promptly.
Other causes of scrotal pain and swelling
There are a few other, less common causes of pain or swelling in a testicle. The testicle itself can become inflamed, a complication of an infection from a bacteria or a virus. This condition, called
orchitis, may follow a viral illness such as the mumps. In fact, about one in three males who get the mumps after puberty will develop orchitis in one or both testicles. Treatment for bacterial orchitis is similar to the treatment for epididymitis. A short course of antibiotics should clear up the problem. If a viral infection is to blame, the only treatment is time. The pain will fade and the swelling will recede. In some cases, the testicle may end up smaller than it was to begin with.
If fluid builds up around a testicle, it can start swelling. It is usually painless, even when it grows rather large. This fluid accumulation is called a hydrocele (HI-dro-seel), and it is generally harmless. Hydroceles usually occur in men over age 40 who have experienced injury or infection in the scrotum or who have had radiation therapy. If the scrotum grows large enough to cause discomfort, the hydrocele may have to be surgically removed.
In cases where surgery is especially risky, a needle may be used to remove the fluid instead.
A kidney stone can also cause pain in the groin if it moves into the urinary tract. In addition to pain in the groin, you may feel nausea or the need to vomit. Men are twice as likely as women to form kidney stones. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms.
