Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
An inguinal hernia is a bulge or protrusion of intestine
through a defect in the abdominal wall musculature of the groin area. This
protrusion can sometimes cause swelling of the scrotum and testicular pain.
Orchitis
This condition is characterized by inflammation of the testicle,
typically as a result of an infection. Most cases of orchitis arise from a viral
infection, with mumps being the most common causative illness. Mumps orchitis
most commonly occurs in children less than 10 years of age. Less commonly,
orchitis can occur from a bacterial infection, most often as a result of
epididymitis (epididymo-orchitis).
Kidney stone
Occasionally, the pain associated with kidney stones can
radiate into the groin area and cause testicular pain.
Testicular tumor
Though generally painless, tumors of the testicle can
sometimes cause pain and discomfort of the testicle.
What are the signs and symptoms of conditions causing testicular pain?
Because there are numerous medical conditions that can lead to testicular
pain, the symptoms and signs may vary depending on the underlying cause.
However, often times the symptoms can be very similar between the various
causes, making it difficult to distinguish among the conditions which require
urgent medical attention. Therefore, if you experience testicular pain, seek
medical evaluation immediately by a trained professional.
Testicular torsion
Testicular torsion generally presents as sudden onset, severe testicle pain
(localized to one testicle) that may be accompanied by any of the following
signs and symptoms:
Elevation of the affected testicle within the scrotum
Horizontal positioning of the affected testicle within the scrotum
Loss of the cremasteric reflex on the affected side (normally, the testicle
elevates with light stroking of the upper inner thigh area).
Epididymitis
Epididymitis generally presents as gradual onset, mild to severe testicle
pain (localized to one testicle) that may be accompanied by any of the following
signs and symptoms:
Nausea and vomiting
Testicular and/or scrotal tenderness, typically localized to the area of
the epididymis, though it can become more generalized and involve the whole
testicle as the illness progresses.
Testicular and/or scrotal swelling and redness
Abdominal pain
Fever
Urethral discharge
Urinary symptoms, such as burning, urgency, or frequency
Torsion of a testicular appendage
With torsion of a testicular appendage, the onset of testicle pain may be
sudden or gradual, and the severity of pain may range from mild to severe.
Generally, patients do not experience systemic symptoms, such as nausea,
vomiting, and fever. Other signs and symptoms may include the following:
the testicle and/or scrotum generally appear normal, without swelling
and redness, though these findings may be present;
testicular tenderness, typically only localized to the top of the
testicle;
in about 20% of cases, a small blue-dot is visualized near the top of
the affected testicle (blue-dot sign);
preservation of the normal vertical positioning of the affected testicle
within the scrotum, and
preservation of the cremasteric reflex is generally maintained.
Trauma
In general, patients will relate a history of trauma to the genital area and
testicular pain may range from severe to absent at the time of presentation to a
health care practitioner. Though in some cases the mechanism of injury may seem
minor, serious underlying testicular injury may be present, and the following
signs and symptoms may be observed:
Testicular and/or scrotal tenderness, swelling or bruising
Bruising of the area between the scrotum and the anus (perineum)
Nausea and vomiting.
Inguinal hernia
Inguinal hernias are common and they can sometimes cause discomfort in the
scrotum and/or testicles. Signs and symptoms an inguinal hernia may include:
a bulge in the scrotum or in the inguinal area, that may become more
pronounced with coughing or straining; and
a dull ache or burning sensation in the scrotum and/or testicles.
Orchitis
Because orchitis generally occurs as a consequence of an infection (most
often mumps), it is typically also accompanied by other systemic infectious
symptoms. Testicular pain may range from mild to severe. Signs and symptoms of
orchitis may
include the following:
testicular and/or scrotal tenderness, swelling or redness;
parotid gland inflammation (parotitis) in cases of mumps.
Kidney stone
Occasionally, kidney stones can cause pain in the testicles. The testicles,
however, appear normal without swelling or redness. Other signs and symptoms of
kidney stones may include:
back (flank) pain and tenderness,
abdominal pain,
nausea and vomiting,
urinary symptoms, such as blood in the urine, discomfort with urination and
urinary frequency.
Testicular tumor
Although testicular tumors can occasionally cause testicular pain, they are
usually painless. Signs and symptoms may include:
a lump or mass of the testicle,
a change in the size or texture of the testicle,
a dull ache of the lower abdomen, lower back or groin area, and
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder, and/or urethra. Not
everyone with a UTI has symptoms. Common symptoms include a frequent urge to
urinate and a painful, burning when urinating.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
One in every 20 people develop a kidney stone at some point in their life. A kidney stone is a hard mineral and crystalline material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones symptoms and signs are, blood in the urine and pain in the abdomen, flank (lower back), or groin. A number of different conditions can lead to kidney stones including: gout, hypercalciuria, people with inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, and hypoparathyroidism. Some medications also increase the risk of kidney stones.
A hernia is an opening or weakness in the muscular structure of the wall of the abdomen. This defect causes a bulging of the abdominal wall. Symptoms of a hernia include pain or discomfort and a localized swelling somewhere on the surface of the abdomen or in the groin area.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, are infections that are transmitted during any
type of sexual exposure, including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and
the sharing of sexual devices, such as vibrators. Although treatment exists for many STDs, others currently are
usually incurable, such as those caused by HIV, HPV, hepatitis B and C, and HHV-8.
Male sexual dysfunction can be caused by physical or psychological problems. Common sexual problems in men include erectile dysfunction (impotence or ED), premature ejaculation and loss of libido. Treatment for sexual dysfunction in men may involve medication, hormone therapy, psychological therapy, and the use of mechanical aids.
Mumps is an acute viral illness caused by the mumps virus. Symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite; followed by swelling of the salivary glands.
Testicular cancer symptoms include a painless lump or swelling in a testicle, testicle or scrotum pain, a dull ache in the abdomen, back, or groin, and a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. Treatment for cancer of the testicles depends on the type of cancer (seminoma or nonseminoma), the stage of the cancer, and the patient's age and health.
Infertility is the diminished ability to conceive a child. The primary cause of infertility in men is a sperm disorder. In women, the primary cause of infertility is an ovulation disorder. Most forms of infertility can be treated. Conventional infertility therapies include drugs or surgery.
Hydrocele is a collection of clear fluid in a thin walled sack that also contains the testicle. Hydroceles are more common in males than females. There are two types of hydroceles: 1) communicating and 2)non-communicating. Hydroceles present at birth may resolve on their own. Hydroceles that appear in the teen or adult years may require surgery.
Sexual health information including birth control, impotence, herpes, sexually transmitted diseases, staying healthy, women's sexual health concerns, and men's sexual health concerns. Learn about the most common sexual conditions affecting men and women.
Men's health is an important component to a happy lifestyle and healthy relationships. Eating healthy, exercise, managing stress, and knowing when to have medical tests for a particular age is key to disease prevention in men.
Children's health is focused on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. There are many aspects of children's health, including growth and development, illnesses, injuries, behavior, mental illness, family health and community health.
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