Why Are My Balls Hurting So Much!?

Testicular Rupture

A testicular rupture is usually caused by external trauma as a result of an auto accident, a sports injury, or a direct blow to the groin. The membrane that encases the testicle becomes torn and blood leaks into the scrotum. If this happens to you, it must be treated within 72 hours in order to save the testicle.

Kidney Stone

One thing that could be making your balls hurt could have nothing to do with your testicles. A kidney stone is extremely painful and is usually more of a problem for men. A kidney stone is so called because they are made up of crystals in your urinary tract and have jagged edges and are very hard like a rock. Treatment for this pain consists of flushing your system with water until the stone passes or surgery for larger stones.

Spermatocele

Pain in the back of your testicles could be from a spermatocele, or cyst, that grows in the epididymis. This is the area that contains and stores your semen. This condition is fairly common and can be treated without any major medical procedure. The main thing a physician will check is to see if it is cancerous and if it is growing in size.

Varicocele

Varicose veins in your testicles, or varicocele, will make your balls feel like you have a bag of worms in your lap while you’re sitting down but disappear when you stand up. Try to get to a doctor’s office right away so he can determine if this is the cause of your discomfort. It is easy to diagnose and usually only requires an anti-inflammatory for treatment.

Epididymitis

An infection in the epididymis could cause you to ask “why do my balls hurt?” This is a tube that can be found toward the back of each of your testicles and it stores your sperm. The infection could be from either bacteria from the intestines or an STD (chlamydia, gonorrhea). If your testicles are swollen and inflamed, see a doctor. A prescription for antibiotics will help relieve the pain of epididymitis.

Orchitis

If you have a good deal of pain in your penis and/or testicles along with blood in your semen and a fever, you may have orchitis. Your doctor can run a test to determine what has caused this condition to occur. The right antibiotics along with plenty of rest will have you back on your feet in no time.

Hematocele

If you have ever watched even one episode of America’s Funniest Videos, you have seen at least one man take a blow to the groin area. When this happens, the sac that encompasses the testicles can fill with blood creating a hematocele. It may be rectified by a little rest or you could need a surgical procedure that can be performed in an outpatient facility.

Testicular Torsion

Having a sore testicle could be a sign of testicular torsion. The pain could become severe and hard to ignore but the repercussions of not dealing with this right away could mean you might lose the enflamed testicle. A prompt surgical procedure can keep this from happening and precautions would be put into place to keep this from happening again.

Testicular Cancer

Whenever something on our body hurts, we immediately think it could be cancer. Testicular cancer is not signaled by pain but is detected through a lump. Additional symptoms include discomfort in the chest, lower back pain, and fluid that has accumulated in the scrotum. See a doctor immediately as early detection will give you a better chance of a successful recovery.

Inguinal Hernia

Hernias are a fairly common condition for many men. Usually they are not painful, just uncomfortable. An inguinal hernia could show up in your inner thigh area. It would start in your abdomen and complete its run in your scrotum following the same path that your testicles followed when you were a fetus. See your doctor immediately if you think you may have this type of hernia.

Other Causes

Besides the causes listed above, there are several other causes making you ask, “Why do my balls hurt?” Here are a few more:

• An inflammation of the blood vessel called Henoch-Schonlein

• An infection of the urinary tract

• Masses in the scrotum

• Aftermath of a vasectomy

• If you are diabetic, you could have nerve damage called neuropathy.

• If you experience pain in the right testicle or the left, you could have a retractile testicle where either one could retreat into the groin area.

Seek Medical Help

Whether you have suffered an injury in the groin area or you just wake up one day and experience pain in your testicles, you should see a doctor if the pain is mild to strong and doesn’t go away after a day or two. You should also seek help if you are nauseous, have found blood when you urinate, and have either a fever or chills or both. Swelling around the area or a lump in the testicle should also be checked out by a physician.

Self-Care at Home

If the symptoms are not that severe you can try a pain reliever from the drug store such as Tylenol, Advil or Motrin IB. Alternate between a warm bath and the application of ice to any swollen areas. Take precautions when having sex to prevent yourself from contracting any STDs. Children should have vaccinations for the measles, mumps, and rubella. And try to incorporate an athletic supporter to protect your scrotum from further injuries.

When you are faced with the dilemma, “why do my balls hurt?” now you don't need to worry.