In this article
- Types of Testicular Injury
- Symptoms of Testicular Injury
- Diagnosing Testicular Injuries
- Treating Testicular Trauma
- Preventing Testicular Injuries
Symptoms of Testicular Injury
As many men and boys know all too well, a testicular injury typically causes substantial pain in the scrotum. There is sometimes pain in the abdomen, as well.
Other symptoms can include:
- Nausea (especially common with testicular torsion)
- Bruising or discoloration of the scrotum
- Swelling of the scrotum
- Blood in the urine
- Difficulty urinating
- Fever
Diagnosing Testicular Injuries
It's important to see your doctor if you have more than a minor testicle injury. Some of these problems, like testicular torsion, are a medical emergency.
Serious injuries can cause you to lose the testicle or cause the testicle to shrink. They may also threaten your future fertility (the ability to have children). Seeing your doctor promptly can lower your chances of these complications.
Quick medical treatment may also help you feel better and get you back to your usual activities faster.
Your doctor will get your medical history. The doctor will want to know about the accident, as well as other information. Be prepared to discuss:
- When the injury occurred
- How it happened
- How you felt after the injury
- How you feel now
- If you've ever had other problems with your penis, scrotum, or testicles
Even if you're embarrassed about how the injury occurred, be sure to answer your doctor's questions honestly.
The doctor will also check your scrotum for signs of injury. And the doctor may examine your penis and other body parts that could be injured.
In some cases, you may also need:
Ultrasound imaging. A health care provider will hold an ultrasound device against your scrotum. This uses painless sound waves to create an image of the testicle and other tissues on a viewing screen.
MRI. This creates detailed images of your testicle and other structures inside your scrotum.
Exploratory surgery. In some cases, a surgeon will need to make an incision (cut) in your scrotum to look inside it. The surgeon can see which structures are injured, and if needed, treat them during the procedure.
Treating Testicular Trauma
Depending on how seriously you're injured, you may be able to treat testicular injuries on your own. However, severe testicular trauma requires treatment from a surgeon or other specialist.