Acute testicular pain

Acute testicular pain constitutes a urological emergency and requires immediate clarification. This symptom can be caused by various conditions.

Testicular pain can be a symptom of the following conditions:

• Testicular torsion
• Torsion of the testicular or epididymal appendix (hydatid torsion)
• Epididymo-orchitis
• Testicular tumours

Testicular torsion

Testicular torsion entails insufficient blood supply in the testicles as a result of compression of the blood vessels similarly to a testicular infarction. If this condition is not detected and corrected surgically within 6 hours, the affected testicle often needs to be removed.

Hydatid torsion

Hydatid torsion is defined as the torsion of the testicular appendix that results from the development of the testicles in the womb. In this case, the testicles themselves are not affected; in some cases, however, this condition also causes intense pain, necessitating surgical intervention.

Epididymo-orchitis

Epididymo-orchitis is by far the most common cause of testicular pain. In this case, the symptoms often develop more slowly. It is usually caused by bacterial infections, less commonly by fungal or viral (mumps) infections.

Testicular tumours

Testicular tumours are only painful in few cases. Typically, the first symptom is a painless lump in the testicles (testicular tumours).