1. Impotence Slideshow Pictures
2. Sex Drive Killers: Causes of Low Libido Slideshow
3. Low Testosterone (Low T) Quiz

Medical Author:

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD

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.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

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.

View Full Profile

In this Article

• Testicular pain facts
• What is testicular pain (pain in the testicles)?
• What function do the testicles have?
• What causes testicular pain?
• Testicular torsion causes
• Epididymitis causes
• Torsion of a testicular appendage causes
• Trauma causes
• Inguinal hernia causes
• Orchitis causes
• Kidney stone causes
• Testicular tumor causes
• What are the signs and symptoms of conditions causing testicular pain?
• How are the causes of testicular pain diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for testicular pain?
• What are the complications of the conditions causing testicular pain?
• How can testicular pain be prevented?
• Patient Comments: Testicular Pain - Cause
• Find a local Urologist in your town
• Testicular Disorders Index

In order to diagnose the underlying condition causing testicular pain, a complete history and physical exam will be performed by a health care professional. Laboratory testing and imaging studies may also be ordered depending on the health care professional's initial impression and evaluation.

Laboratory testing may include:

• blood work
• urinalysis
• a swab of the urethra (if the patient has penile discharge suggestive of a sexually transmitted disease)

Imaging studies may be ordered by your health care professional to further delineate the underlying cause of the testicular pain, and these may include the following.

Imaging tests may include

Ultrasonography

A color Doppler-testicular ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging study that can evaluate the blood flow to the testicles, as well as the presence of testicular tumors, fluid collections, testicular rupture, and hernias. A kidney ultrasound can be helpful in the evaluation of kidney stones.

Radionuclide imaging

This is an imaging study requiring the intravenous administration of a radionuclide, useful for the evaluation of testicular torsion, as well as other causes of testicular pain. It is used less commonly than ultrasound.

CT scan or a kidney/ureter/bladder (KUB) X-ray

These particular imaging studies are sometimes ordered if there is a suspicion that the testicular pain is being caused by kidney stones.

For certain cases of testicular pain, such as those that are strongly suggestive of testicular torsion, immediate urologic consultation prior to testing should be obtained in order to prevent potential delays in definitive surgical management.