Most people don’t know that 4 out of 10 young men who have testicular torsion will lose the affected testicle. Testicular torsion causes testicular pain. If you have it without getting medical care within a given time period, you could lose the testicle.
How does a testicular torsion occur?
When a testicle rotates, the spermatic cord that brings blood to the scrotum can become twisted. This in turn may cause reduced blood flow to the testicle and sudden and often severe pain and swelling will occur.
Testicular torsion is most common between ages 12 and 16, but it can occur at any age, even before birth. It can occur many hours after vigorous activity, a minor injury to the testicles or sleep. Cold temperature or the testicle’s speedy growth during puberty may also be responsible.
Other signs and symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- A testicle that’s positioned higher than normal or at an unusual angle
- Painful urination
- Fever
If the testicle pain goes away without treatment, why should you still see a urologist?
Sometimes a testicle twists and then untwists by itself. Surgery is frequently needed to prevent this from happening again.
Many young men feel insecure or ashamed when they get testicular pain. If they’re unaware of how dire this condition is, they will try to “wait it out.” This decision could lead to the loss of the testicle. If you are experiencing any pain in your testicles, it’s important to contact our office immediately. We specialize in treating this issue and “the sooner the better” is the best approach.