Testicular Pain

Many men experience testicle pain since this area is highly sensitive. If you experience a sudden onset of pain — or a lingering ache that doesn’t go away — it’s important to see your doctor.

Our experienced specialists at the Henry Ford Men’s Health Center expertly diagnose and treat all types of testicular pain. We successfully use advanced skills and minimally invasive techniques to give you relief.

What causes testicular pain?

A sack of skin (scrotum) surrounds the testicles. It contains parts of the reproductive system as well as numerous nerves, veins and arteries. Injury, infection and other conditions can affect the area, leading to pain.

We understand testicular pain has many potential causes that can be tricky to diagnose. For instance, you may feel pain in your testicles that actually comes from your groin or abdomen.

Our highly trained urologists identify the cause of your pain and create a treatment plan to provide you relief. Possible causes of testicular pain include:

• Trauma: A blow to the testicles causes acute pain that usually goes away on its own.
• Testicular torsion (twisting of the testicles) can cut off blood supply and needs to be treated immediately.
• Infection: Urinary tract infections and some sexually transmitted diseases can result in testicle pain and inflammation.
• Varicocele: These enlarged veins in the testicles sometimes cause pain.
• Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate can cause pain in your testicles and the surrounding area.
• Nerve conditions: In some cases, nerve damage or overactive nerves in the testicles lead to pain. 
• Epididymitis: When the coiled tube behind your testicles (epididymis) gets inflamed, you may feel pain in your testicles. 
• Testicular cancer: Some tumors cause a chronic dull ache in the testicles.

Testicular pain treatment

Your treatment will depend on what’s causing your testicular pain. Once we accurately diagnose the problem, we’ll work with you on a targeted treatment plan. Our options include:

• Pain relievers: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can help relieve mild pain.
• Antibiotics: If you have an infection, we’ll prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear it and eliminate associated pain. 
• Microsurgical varicocelectomy : If enlarged veins in your testicles (varicoceles) cause your pain, we consider surgery. We successfully treat varicoceles using advanced, minimally invasive techniques. 
• Microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord: Our highly skilled surgeons are among only a few in the country who perform this complex procedure. We treat the testicular nerves causing pain without affecting the artery or your sexual function.

If you have testicular pain, consult our specialists at the Henry Ford Men’s Health Center. We have effective treatments to help you find relief.