Testicle Pain

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Testicle Pain: Common Causes

The most common causes of testicle pain include:

• Injury
• Infection or inflammation
• Testicular torsion -- most common in young men between 10 and 20 years old

Possible infections include:

• Epididymitis -- inflammation of the ducts through which sperm leaves the testicle. This is often caused by bacteria like chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease.
• Orchitis -- inflammation of one or both testicles, which may be caused by bacteria or a virus like mumps. Orchitis can occur at the same time as epididymitis or prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland).

Fluid in the testicles often causes painless swelling, but may cause mild discomfort. There are several main types of fluid collection:

• Varicocele -- enlarged veins in the scrotum that carry blood away from the testicles.
• Spermatocele -- fluid in the epididymis forms a cyst and often contains dead sperm cells.
• Hydrocele -- fluid in the area inside the scrotum, surrounding the testicle; common in newborns.

Pain may also be caused by a hernia or an unrelieved penile erection.