Severe Testicle/Scrotum Swelling Symptom, Causes & Questions

Epididymitis

Epididymitis is an inflammation of one or both of the tubes of the epididymis, a coiled tube which stores sperm inside each testicle. It is caused by a bacterial infection, most often from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Epididymitis can also be caused by a urinary tract or prostate infection, or by trauma due to injury or heavy lifting.

Symptoms include redness, swelling, and pain in the testicle; pain on urination or ejaculation; discharge from the penis; and blood in the semen.

Men having unprotected sex are at the highest risk for developing this condition. Treatment involves antibiotics as well as rest, cold packs to the testicles, wearing an athletic supporter, and refraining from lifting and sexual intercourse until the infection is gone.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: nausea, fever, chills, pain in one testicle, vomiting

Urgency: In-person visit

Intermittent testicular torsion

Intermittent testicular torsion is also called ITT or chronic testicular torsion. Torsion refers to an abnormal twisting of the spermatic cord, which runs from each testicle up into the abdomen and carries blood vessels, nerves, and sperm-transporting ducts.

In intermittent cases, the testicle becomes untwisted on its own and the symptoms spontaneously resolve. The condition nearly always returns, however, and may continue to come and go.

The cause is believed to be a congenital abnormality that leaves the testicle insufficiently anchored within the scrotum.

Symptoms include sudden, severe groin and testicular pain with nausea and vomiting, followed by spontaneous relief of symptoms even without treatment.

Eventually, testicular torsion can result in loss of circulation followed by tissue death and loss of the testicle. Any type of testicular torsion is a medical emergency. Take the patient to the emergency room or call 9-1-1.

Diagnosis is made through physical examination and sometimes ultrasound.

Treatment involves emergency surgery to untwist the spermatic cord and anchor the testicle in its proper place within the scrotum.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: nausea, testicle pain that comes and goes, vomiting, pain in one testicle, testicular swelling

Symptoms that always occur with intermittent testicular torsion: testicle pain that comes and goes

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Testicular cancer

The testicles, or the male sex glands, are two egg-shaped glands located in a sac of skin (scrotum) beneath the penis. Most testicular cancers originate in the germ cells of the testicles, which produce immature sperm that then matures in order to fertilize a female egg and start a pregnancy.

Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include a lump in the testicle, a change in how the testicle feels, aching in the lower abdomen of the groin, swelling of the scrotum, and pain in the scrotum.

Treatment for testicular cancer typically includes surgical removal of the affected testicle (orchiectomy). It may also include radiation or chemotherapy. Since treatment for testicular cancer can lead to infertility, sperm banking early in treatment is important to preserving fertility options for the future.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: testicular lump, spontaneous testicle pain, hard testicle lump, swelling of one ear

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Testicular torsion

In torsion, the testicle is inadequately attached to the scrotum, allowing it to rotate freely within. This can lead to twisting of the testicle about the blood vessels to which it is connected, cutting off blood flow and leading to severe pain and the eventual death of the testicle. Testicular torsion can occur spontaneously, after several hours of exercise, or after an event such as trauma to the scrotum.

Symptoms include.

Treatments include manual de-torsion, which is a temporary fix, and necessary emergency surgery in order to salvage the affected testicle.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: testicle pain, nausea, pain in one testicle, vomiting, testicular swelling

Symptoms that always occur with testicular torsion: testicle pain

Urgency: Hospital emergency room

Non-serious testicle injury

Being struck in the testicles is very common, and despite the intense pain that follows, rarely requires professional medical care.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: testicle pain from an injury, testicle injury

Symptoms that always occur with non-serious testicle injury: testicle injury

Urgency: Self-treatment

Orchitis

Orchitis occurs when one or both testicles are inflamed. This is often caused by sexually transmitted infections like gonorrhea or chlamydia. More rarely, orchitis is caused by a virus.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: spontaneous testicle pain, fever, tender testicular swelling, muscle aches, new headache

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Groin hernia

A groin hernia, also called an inguinal hernia, means that a structure in the lower abdomen – a loop of intestine or a section of fat – has pushed through the muscles of the abdominal wall. This creates a bulge, or hernia, that can be seen and felt in the groin.

A hernia is caused by a weak spot in the abdominal wall muscles, which can separate under heavy lifting or repeated straining. The weakness may be inherited or may be from previous surgery, injury, or pregnancy.

Symptoms include a bulge low down in the abdomen, most visible when the person stands; and pain in the bulge with any strain on the abdominal muscles, such as lifting a heavy object or bending over.

A hernia will not heal on its own. There is the risk of serious complications if the blood supply to the herniated organ becomes reduced or cut off.

Diagnosis is made through physical examination and x-ray or CT scan.

A small hernia may need no treatment. A larger one can be repaired with surgery.

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: pain in the lower right abdomen, pain in the lower left abdomen, groin pain, testicle pain, groin lump

Urgency: Primary care doctor

To diagnose this condition, your doctor would likely ask the following questions:

• Do you feel pain when you urinate?
• Do you notice anything going on with your testicles or scrotum?
• Are you sexually active?
• Do you notice anything going on with your penis?

The above questions are also covered by our A.I. Health Assistant.

People who have experienced severe testicle/scrotum swelling have also experienced:

• 13% Testicle Pain
• 10% Severe Penis Swelling
• 8% Severe Testicle Pain

People who have experienced severe testicle/scrotum swelling were most often matched with:

• 38% Epididymitis
• 30% Intermittent Testicular Torsion
• 30% Testicular Cancer

People who have experienced severe testicle/scrotum swelling had symptoms persist for:

• 39% Less than a week
• 25% Less than a day
• 19% Over a month

Source: Aggregated and anonymized results from visits to the Buoy AI health assistant (check it out by clicking on “Take Quiz”).