Testicle Problems

The testicles (also called testes) are two oval shaped organs that make and store sperm. They also make male sex hormones. The testicles are inside the scrotum. This sac of skin hangs under the penis. The scrotum can swell or be painful without a testicle problem. An example of this is an inguinal hernia.

Problems that affect the testicles include: Injury, swelling and infection; torsion; undescended testicles; and cancer.

Condition	Signs & Symptoms	Causes	Treatment
Injury, Swelling, and/or Infection	Pain and swelling in the scrotum Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum	Trauma to the testicles from being hit, kicked, struck, etc. Often, this occurs during sports. Though rare, trauma to the abdomen can cause the testicles to move outside the scrotum. Orchitis. A testicle is inflamed. Often it is due to an infection, such as mumps or chlamydia. The epididymis can also be inflamed from an infection.	Pain from a minor injury to a testicle usually goes away on its own. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections. Untreated infections can cause infertility.
Torsion of a Testicle	Sudden and severe pain in the scrotum Swelling. Most often, this occurs in one testicle. Visible lump on a testicle Fever Abdominal pain. Nausea. Vomiting	When the spermatic cord twists, a testicle rotates. This cuts off blood supply to and from the testicle. This usually occurs in males under age 30, most often between the ages of 12 and 18. Symptoms often occur after physical activity or during sleep. Symptoms may occur for no known reason.	Emergency medical care is needed. The testicle may be untwisted by hand. If not, surgery is needed to restore blood flow to the testicle.
Undescended Testicles	In baby boys, testicles do not descend into the scrotum from the abdomen before birth or within months of birth like they should.	Testicles fail to drop from inside the pelvic area down into the scrotum before birth or within a year of birth.	Surgery is done to bring the testicles down into the scrotum.
Cancer of a Testicle	In the early stages, there may be no symptoms. When symptoms occur, they include: A lump on a testicle, epididymis, or vas deferens. An enlarged testicle A heavy feeling, pain or discomfort in the testicle or scrotum A change in the way a testicle feels A dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin Enlarged or tender breasts Sudden pooling of fluid in the scrotum	The cause is not known. Risk factors include: Undescended testicles that are not corrected in infants and young children. Parents should see that their infant boys are checked at birth for this problem. Having cancer of a testicle in the past A family history of cancer of a testicle, especially in an identical twin Injury to the scrotum	This kind of cancer is almost always curable if it is found and treated early. Surgery is done to remove the testicle. Other things can further treat the disease: Chemotherapy. Radiation therapy. If needed, lymph nodes are removed by surgery.

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