Testicular Pain / Scrotal Pain

Home » Testicular Pain / Scrotal Pain » Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention

Pain Management Information for Patients
(Free Handout)

Diagnosis

Doctors may use the following tests to determine the cause of pain in the testicles or scrotum:

• Physical examination
• Ultrasound of testicles
• Urinalysis
• Examination of prostate secretions

Depending on the initial findings and the patient history, additional tests may be used. These tests include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, prostate exam, urethral smear (to check for presence of chlamydia and gonorrhea), blood tests, and testicular scan. Exploratory surgery may be necessary if testicular torsion cannot be ruled out by other tests.

Treatment

Treatment for testicular or scrotal pain depends on the diagnosis. It may involve self-care at home, pain relief medication, antibiotics for a bacterial infection, untwisting of the testicles by a doctor, or surgery (e.g., to treat testicular torsion, hernia, varicocele). Self-care for scrotal pain may include over-the-counter pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen), applying ice to the scrotum, reduced activity, placing a rolled towel under the scrotum while lying down, and wearing scrotal support.

Prevention

Some types of testicular or scrotal pain can be prevented. The following measures may be helpful:

• Practice safer sex to prevent sexually transmitted infections.
• Protect the scrotal area from injury by wearing a protective cup or athletic supporter while playing sports.
• Limit repetitive stress on the perineum and pudendal nerve, which may occur with excessive bicycling or weight-lifting.
• Perform regular testicular self-exams for early detection of tumors.
• Promptly treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) and prostatitis, and address any underlying causes.
• Learn about prevention of urinary tract infections and kidney stones.

Testicular Pain / Scrotal Pain, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention reprinted with permission from urologychannel.com
© 1998-2008 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Testicular Pain / Scrotal Pain Resources

	Join Our Testicular Pain/Scrotal Pain Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer