by Jordyn Taylor, Elizabeth Millard

<p>Testicular pain is so common that its likely every guy, at some point in his life, will have experience with it, says Jamin Brahmbhatt, M.D., co-director at The PUR Clinic, which specializes in urology and mens health.</p>

<p>When you feel pain in your testicles, you might immediately think <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19518687/testicular-cancer/" id="c5ac7549-d8fd-3fda-afa6-102ec060c4b0">  testicular cancer </a> . But in fact, most cases of testicular cancer are painless and are usually detected through a lump instead, Dr. Brahmbhatt says. And if youre fearing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), youre more likely to have <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/g19719487/std-symptoms-that-affect-the-rest-of-your-body/" id="e4fea677-6f52-399d-afd4-b352eb37aefa">  burning during urination </a> , although some degree of painful testes might be present.</p>

<p>So, then, what is causing your painful balls? Here are some reasons your junk could be in a funk and when you should get that pain checked out.</p>

<h1> Cause of Sore Testicles: Testicular Torsion </h1>

<p>This particular ailment happens when your balls get twisted.</p>

<p>"Testicular torsion is caused when the spermatic cord that attaches the testicle to the body becomes twisted and cuts off the flow of blood to the testicle," Michael P. Zahalsky, MD, who specializes in Urology and is the founder of Z Urology in Coral Springs, Florida, previously told <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19533028/what-is-testicular-torsion-justin-bieber-condition/" id="7e973005-c4b3-3898-a84c-900f0dd4adf1">  MensHealth.com </a> . He compared it to picking an apple: "To pick the apple, you need to twist the stem until the apple comes off. That can happen with testicular torsion it's twisted until the testicle dies."</p>

<p>Testicular torsion can happen in a number of ways. It can occur when you're working out, having sex, or even sleeping. It's most common between the ages of 12 and 18, but can happen at any age. </p>

<p>And if this sounds incredibly painful, it's because it is. Sudden, severe pain in the scrotum is a symptom. In addition to pain, symptoms also include swelling, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and a testicle in an unusual positionhigher than normal or at an unusual angleaccording to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/testicular-torsion/symptoms-causes/syc-20378270" id="2c96fbc2-d999-30d9-afa4-538ce3bfbd57">  Mayo Clinic </a> .</p>

<p>Whatever the case, you should visit the doctor immediately if you suspect it's happening to you. In some cases, doctors can manually un-twist the testicles. But most often, you need surgery to fix it. Consider it a medical emergency: If blood flow has been cut off for too long to your testicleas when blood flow is cut off to anything else in your bodytissue can die. And in that case, sometimes the testicle needs to be removed. </p>

<h1> Cause of Sore Testicles: Kidney stones, Constipation, Hernia, or Stomach Issues </h1>

<p>The nerves that lead to your balls come from many places in your abdomen, including the stomach, kidneys, and digestive tract. If youre constipated and cant poop, pressure from the unrelieved waste could be pressing on those nerves, causing those sore testicles.</p>

<p>The same goes if you have a <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19547655/kidney-stone-guide/" id="79c6636f-a973-3a2b-aa04-d357f9bf59e8">  kidney stone </a> working through your system, or if you have an upset stomach. If you have a <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19545477/how-to-treat-a-groin-hernia/" id="72a52264-9f6a-32a0-a6c8-452c91d5f141">  hernia </a> or have had hernia surgery, the nerves there could be inflamed, causing a reaction further south.</p>

<p>This all falls under the designation of referred pain, which means it isnt about your balls at all, but thats where the pain is ending up, Dr. Brahmbhatt says.</p>

<h1> Cause of Sore Testicles: Vasectomy </h1>

<p>Experiencing scrotal pain after a <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19538768/vasectomy-reversal/" id="5d774110-60a4-3f37-a195-4e451462d342">  vasectomy </a> a surgical birth control procedure in which the duct that carries your sperm from your testicles to your urethra is sealed off is super rare, but it can occur. In fact, according to the American Urological Associations <a href="http://www.jurology.com/article/S0022-5347(12)04960-9/pdf" id="2693a70b-bb5d-3ef5-aece-d3b078c9a8ad">  guidelines, </a> chronic scrotal pain occurs in just 1 to 2 percent of men who get the procedure.</p>

<p>Experts arent sure what causes it, but it may have to do with damage to the nerve structures down there, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4854072/" id="c4512189-1d69-334e-a3e5-0db4e2f39cb7">  researchers </a> from Rush University Medical Center say.</p>

<p>I dont want to scare anyone away from having a vasectomy, says Dr. Brahmbhatt. But just be aware that it can happen. But it can also be corrected if it does. That could mean another surgical procedure.</p>

<h1> Cause of Sore Testicles: Hydrocele </h1>

<p>When you look at the anatomy of the testes, its basically just balls dangling on a couple of cords. Making up those cords are blood vessels, nerves, and tissue that allow for the dangle.</p>

<p>Everyone has some degree of fluid around the testicle and these cords, Dr. Brahmbhatt notes, but sometimes, that fluid balance gets out of whack. When there's too much fluid in the ball sac, you can end up with a hydrocele. The hydrocele itself typically isn't painful, but guys may feel pain from having a heavy, swollen scrotum, according to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hydrocele/symptoms-causes/syc-20363969" id="7a624966-4922-3e5e-ad56-4d10befffc3d">  Mayo Clinic </a> .</p>

<p>Go see a doctor whenever you notice swelling in your balls. If it turns out to be a hydrocele, it might go away on its own <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/hydrocele#treatment" id="d1cc306b-1363-3b48-abf9-5e57c405fd15">  within six months </a> . In some cases, it could require surgery.</p>

<h1> Cause of Sore Testicles: Varicocele </h1>

<p>A varicocele is the enlargement of veins in the testicle, more or less. It's actually the enlargement of veins in your scrotum, the bag that holds your testicles. You can <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19548539/what-are-varicoceles/" id="c4e7b11a-67b5-32d3-a3b7-f3187a48e877">  think of varicocele as spider veins for your balls </a> . Its not likely to cause true sore testicles as much as discomfort. Theres a feeling of fullness and a certain look to it, similar to a bag of worms, Dr. Brahmbhatt says.</p>

<p>The symptoms depend on which stage varicocele you have. Grade 3 varicoceles are largest and most noticeable, and will feel thick and lumpy. Grade 2 are less severe, though they still may feel a little ropey. Sometimes, you wont even notice if you have a Grade 1 varicocele. Many develop during puberty, and often develop on the left side, possibly due to the position of the left testicular vein. </p>

<p>If you have a more severe varicocele, buildup of pressure in the veins can cause nagging scrotal discomfort, Paul Turek, M.D., a California-based urologist previously told Men's Health. Varicoceles have also been associated with low sperm production and quality, so doctors often check for them when people are having issues with fertility. </p>

<p>For severe cases, you may need surgery, where your doctor will divert blood flow away from the damaged vein into functioning ones.</p>

<h1> When to See a Doctor About Sore Testicles </h1>

<p>For all of these issues, the answer to, When should I see a doctor? has to do with time and severity. Pain that fades quickly for example, if your balls get twisted but quickly straighten out isnt much cause for concern, Dr. Brahmbhatt notes. But if youre experiencing a high degree of pain instead of a dull ache, and it lasts for more than 15 minutes, it could be a medical emergency and you should head to the E.R.</p>

<p>If you wait too long, you could potentially lose the testicle, he says. That would negatively affect your fertility. Also, the pain could be a huge warning sign of problems elsewhere in the body, such as kidney stones, bladder issues, or appendicitis, Dr. Brahmbhatt notes.</p>

<p>Even if you have an ache instead of shooting pain, or youre noticing fluid collection, get it checked out. Testicular pain may not be caused by just one thing. "Testicular pain can be multifactorial," Dr. Brahmbhatt says. "More than 30 percent of the time, we never figure out the exact cause of the pain. In layman's terms, we know there is pain, and it may be due to disturbed nerves, and we have good treatments, but we may never know the 'why.'"</p>

<p>Dr. Brahmbhatt also suggests doing a self-check monthly to detect any changes in your testes health. There's nothing weird about it, and it's not complicated (find out more about <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19735104/how-to-check-for-testicular-cancer/" id="d88299e2-c3fe-39c0-a98f-b881272b8e57">  how to do it right </a> here). Basically, get to know your balls.</p>

Even if you're fortunate enough to never get <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19537053/why-getting-kicked-in-the-balls-hurts/" id="278d4c43-df01-3c98-a989-349beb38e5a0">  kicked in the balls </a> , there are other reasons you might feel some soreness down there.

8 Reasons Your Balls Hurt

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by Jordyn Taylor, Elizabeth Millard

Articles written by the author

8 Reasons Your Balls Hurt