A rugby team in the United Kingdom volunteered for a public service announcement to spread the word about testicular cancern and educate you on how to self-examin or examin your partner.
Hold the giggles this is important. Just in the United States alone 1 male every hour is diagnosed resulting in 8760 diagnoises a year. And one male in just the United State dies every day from testicular cancer.
Testicular cancer is a cancer that originates in one or both testicles, or testes. Your testes are the male reproductive glands located inside your scrotum, which is the pouch of skin located underneath your penis. Your testes are responsible for producing sperm and the hormone testosterone.
Testicular cancer most often begins with changes in the germ cells. These are the cells in your testicles that produce sperm. These germ cell tumors account for more than 90 percent of testicular cancers.
There are two main types of germ cell tumors:
Testicular cancer can also occur in the tissues that produce hormones. These tumors are called gonadal stromal tumors.
Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men ages 15 to 35, but it can occur at any age. It’s also one of the most treatable cancers, even if it’s spread to other areas.
According to the American Cancer Society, for those with testicular cancer in early stages, the five-year survival rate is greater than 95 percent.
Risk factors that can increase your risk of developing testicular cancer include:
Some men show no symptoms when diagnosed with testicular cancer. When symptoms do appear, they can include:
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
The tests your doctor may use to diagnose testicular cancer may include:
If your doctor suspects cancer, your entire testicle may need to be removed to obtain a tissue sample. This can’t be done when your testicle is still in the scrotum because doing so can cause cancer to spread through the scrotum.
Once the diagnosis has been made, tests such as pelvic and abdominal CT scans will be done to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else. This is called staging.
The stages of testicular cancer are as follows:
The cancer is also categorized based on the expected response to treatment. The outlook can be good, intermediate, or poor.
There are three general categories of treatments used for testicular cancer. Depending on the stage of your cancer, you may be treated with one or more options.
Surgery is used to remove one or both of your testicles and some surrounding lymph nodes to both stage and treat cancer.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It may be administered externally or internally.
External radiation uses a machine that aims the radiation at the cancerous area. Internal radiation involves the use of radioactive seeds or wires placed into the affected area. This form is often successful in treating seminomas.
Chemotherapy uses medication to kill cancer cells. It’s a systemic treatment, which means it can kill cancer cells that have traveled to other parts of your body. When it’s taken orally or through the veins, it can travel through your bloodstream to kill cancer cells.
In very advanced cases of testicular cancer, high-dose chemotherapy may be followed by a stem cell transplant. Once the chemotherapy has destroyed the cancer cells, the stem cells are administered and develop into healthy blood cells.
Though testicular cancer is a highly treatable cancer, it can still spread to other parts of your body. If one or both testicles are removed, your fertility may also be affected. Before treatment begins, ask your doctor about your options for preserving your fertility.
Testicular cancer can affect men of every age, across the world. But testicular cancer is not just one type of cancer. In fact, there are two main types of testicular cancer: germ cell tumors and stromal cell tumors. Each of these types also have subtypes. In addition, some of those subtypes have their own subtypes, leading to many different types of testicular cancer.
Testicular cancer is a type of cancer that happens in the testicles, or testes. These make male sex hormones and sperm. Testicles are located inside the scrotum, which is underneath the penis.
Testicular cancer is rare. However, it’s the most common cancer in males between ages 15 and 35. It’s a very treatable type of cancer and may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these treatments.
There are two main types of testicular cancer: germ cell tumors and stromal tumors. In addition, both types have subtypes.
Overall, germ cell tumors are the most common type of testicular cancer, accounting for over 90 percent of testicular cancer. There are two main types of germ cell tumors, and you can have one type or a mixed type. Both types occur at about the same rate.
One type is seminoma germ cell tumors, which grow and spread slowly in most cases. There are two types of seminoma germ cell tumors:
Both types of seminoma cell tumors make a type of tumor marker called human chorionic gonadotropin, but no other types of tumor marker. Chemotherapy and/or radiation are usually the best treatments, especially if the cancer has spread, but surgery may also be possible.
The second type of germ cell tumor is nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. There are four main types, but most people will have more than one type:
Stromal tumors make up less than 5 percent of testicular cancers. They develop in tissues around the germ (reproductive) cells in testicles. Most stromal tumors have a good prognosis after surgery.
There are two types of stromal tumors:
Many symptoms of testicular cancer can also be caused by other conditions, such as an injury or certain infections. Therefore, if you have symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor to see if you can rule out any conditions.
Some men may not have symptoms of testicular cancer, even if the cancer starts to spread.
If you do have symptoms, they may include:
There are also symptoms that may be a sign of certain types of testicular cancer. These symptoms are all rare and include:
Symptoms of advanced testicular cancer are dependent on where the cancer has spread:
A lump in your testicle is usually the first sign of testicular cancer. Some men discover the lump on their own, while others learn about it during a physical exam at their doctor’s office.
If you have a lump in your testicle, your doctor will do tests to figure out if the lump is cancer. First, they’ll do an ultrasound of your scrotum. This tells them whether the lump is solid or filled with fluid and whether it’s inside or outside the testicle itself.
Then they’ll likely do a blood test to look for tumor markers. These are substances in your blood that may increase if you have cancer.
If these tests indicate that you have cancer, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove your testicle. The testicle will be analyzed to see if it’s cancerous, and if so, what type of cancer you have.
If a cancer diagnosis is confirmed, you might need tests to figure out if the cancer has spread. These include:
Treatment for testicular cancer depends on several factors, including what stage the cancer is in and your personal preferences, as some treatments can impact fertility.
The first line of treatment for all types of testicular cancer, regardless of type or stage, is removing the affected testicle. If your cancer hasn’t spread, this may be the only treatment you need. Your doctor may also remove nearby lymph nodes if the cancer has spread there.
Radiation is sometimes used for seminoma-type tumors. It uses high-powered beams of energy to kill cancer cells. These beams are targeted at specific areas of your body where there’s cancer. If used on your testicle, radiation therapy may impact fertility.
You may also have chemotherapy as your only treatment or after surgery if your cancer has spread. This type of treatment uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout your body. Chemotherapy may also lead to infertility.
Testicular cancer is considered very treatable in most cases. For all men with testicular cancer, the cure rate is greater than 95 percent.
Even if the cancer has spread, there is an 80 percent overall cure rate. However, different metastase locations have different outlooks, especially in stromal tumors. In patients with stromal tumors, spread to the lung, liver, or bone leads to worse outcomes than spread to distant lymph nodes.
In patients with seminoma, only liver metastases lead to worse outcomes. For all types, the outlook is better if the cancer has only spread to one other area of the body.
The outlook may also depend on the type of testicular cancer. In stage one tumors, germ cell tumors have a better five-year survival rate than stromal tumors. The average cure rates are:
![Testicular Cancer Frequently Asked Questions FAQs [Vidoe] - National Testicular Cancer Awareness Society](https://checkyourpackage.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Testicular-Cancer-Frequently-Asked-Questions-FAQs-Vidoe-National-Testicular-Cancer-Awareness-Society.jpg)
Dr. Phil Pierorazio from the Brady Urological Institute discusses details about testicular cancer types, risk factors and treatment options available at Johns Hopkins. To learn more, please visit: hopkinsmedicine.org/urology
FAQ’s
Testicles are egg-shaped reproductive organs located in the scrotum. Pain in the testicles can be caused by minor injuries to the area. However, if you’re experiencing pain in the testicle, you need to have your symptoms evaluated.
Pain in the scrotum can be the result of serious conditions like testicular torsion or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Ignoring the pain may cause irreversible damage to the testicles and scrotum.
Often, problems with the testicles cause abdominal or groin pain before pain in the testicle develops. Unexplained abdominal or groin pain should also be evaluated by your doctor.
Trauma or injury to the testicles can cause pain, but pain in the testicle is often the result of medical issues that will require treatment. These include:
In some instances, pain in the testicle can be caused by a severe medical condition known as testicular torsion. In this condition, the testicle becomes twisted, cutting off blood supply to the testicle. This can cause damage to the tissue.
Testicular torsion is a medical emergency that must be treated quickly to prevent damage to the testicles. The condition occurs more frequently in males between the ages of 10 and 20.
Pain in the testicle is rarely caused by testicular cancer. Testicular cancer typically causes a lump on the testicles that’s often painless. Your doctor should evaluate any lump that forms on your testicles.
Call your doctor for an appointment if:
You should seek emergency medical attention if your testicular pain:
Pain that doesn’t require medical care can be treated at home using the following measures:
With more severe pain, you’ll need to seek treatment from your doctor. Your doctor will complete a physical exam of your abdomen, groin, and scrotum to determine what’s causing your pain and will also ask you about your current health conditions and any other symptoms.
To accurately diagnose your condition, your doctor may need to order additional tests, including:
Once your doctor diagnoses the cause of your pain, they’ll be able to provide treatment. The treatment may include:
Your doctor can successfully treat most cases of pain in the testicle. An untreated infection such as chlamydia or a serious condition such as testicular torsion may result in permanent damage to your testicles and scrotum.
Damage may affect fertility and reproduction. Testicular torsion that results in gangrene can cause a life-threatening infection that can spread throughout your body.
Not all cases of pain in the testicle can be prevented, but there are some steps you can take to reduce the underlying causes of this pain. These steps include:
If you practice these steps and still experience testicular pain, seek medical treatment immediately.
A testicle lump, or testicular lump, is an abnormal mass that can form in the testicles.
The testicles, or testes, are egg-shaped male reproductive organs that hang below the penis in a sac called the scrotum. Their primary function is to produce sperm and a hormone called testosterone.
A testicular lump is a fairly common condition that can have many different causes. Testicular lumps can occur in men, teenage boys, or younger children. They may be located in one or both of the testicles.
Testicular lumps can be a sign of problems with your testicles. They may be caused by an injury, but they can also indicate a serious underlying medical problem.
Not all lumps indicate the presence of testicular cancer. Most lumps are caused by benign, or noncancerous, conditions. These usually require no treatment.
Still, your doctor should examine any changes in your testicles, especially lumps or swelling.
Nearly all testicular lumps cause noticeable swelling and changes in the texture of your testicle. Other symptoms vary, depending on the underlying cause of your testicular lump:
Though it can occur spontaneously, testicular torsion is a condition that’s typically caused by a scrotal injury. It’s a medical emergency. It can be extremely painful and may involve the following symptoms:
A lump caused by testicular cancer can produce the following symptoms:
There are multiple possible causes of testicular lumps, including injury, birth defects, infection and other factors.
This type of testicular lump is the most common. It occurs in about 15 to 20 percent of men. Enlarged veins in the testicles cause varicoceles. They become more noticeable after puberty, which is when blood flow increases in fully developed testicles.
A buildup of fluid in the testicles causes a hydrocele. This type of testicular lump occurs in at least 5 percent of newborn males. Premature babies have a higher risk of developing a hydrocele.
An epididymal cyst occurs when the long, coiled tube behind the testicles called the epididymis becomes filled with fluid and can’t drain.
If the cyst contains sperm, it’s known as a spermatocele. This form of testicular lump is very common. It most often resolves on its own.
Epididymitis is an inflammation of the epididymis. A bacterial infection often causes it. This includes some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhea or chlamydia.
An infection also causes orchitis, which is an inflammation of the testicle. Bacteria or the mumps virus can cause the infection.
Testicular torsion occurs when the testicles become twisted, typically due to an injury or accident. This condition most often occurs in boys between the ages of 13 and 17 years old, but it can affect men of all ages.
This is a medical emergency that requires urgent investigation and possible treatment.
One type of hernia occurs when part of your bowel pokes through your groin and into the scrotum. This can cause your scrotum to become enlarged.
Some lumps indicate the growth of testicular cancer. Only a doctor can determine if a lump is cancerous.
Testicular cancer isn’t common overall, but it’s the most common type of cancer among American men between the ages of 15 and 35.
Your doctor can properly diagnose the cause of a testicular lump. Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice a lump during a self-exam or you’re experiencing the symptoms described above.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of testicular torsion after an injury, go to an emergency room immediately. If it’s left untreated, testicular torsion can cause testicle death and infertility.
Before your appointment, write down any symptoms you’re experiencing and how long you’ve felt them. Tell your doctor if you’ve had any injuries recently. You should also be prepared to talk about your sexual activity.
Your doctor will put on gloves and physically examine your testicles to note their size and positioning and to check for swelling and tenderness.
Most testicular lumps can be diagnosed during a physical examination. However, your doctor may order other tests to confirm the diagnosis.
These tests may include:
Your treatment plan will vary, depending on the cause of your testicular lump.
Pain from a varicocele usually subsides without treatment. However, your doctor may prescribe pain medication or advise you to use over-the-counter pain relievers.
In cases of recurring episodes of discomfort, you may need surgery to reduce the congestion in your veins.
The surgery may involve tying off the affected veins or diverting blood flow to those veins through other methods. This causes blood to bypass those veins, which eliminates the swelling.
Treatment for a hydrocele lump may also involve surgery, but it most often clears up on its own by age 2. The surgery involves making a small incision in the scrotum to drain excess fluid.
An epididymal cyst doesn’t require treatment unless it causes pain or discomfort. You may need surgery. During this procedure, your surgeon will remove the cyst and seal your scrotum with stitches that usually dissolve within 10 days.
Testicular torsion requires immediate surgery to untwist your testicle and restore blood flow. Your testicle can die if you don’t get treatment for the torsion within 6 hours.
If your testicle dies, your doctor will have to remove it surgically.
Your doctor can treat infections in your epididymis or testicles with antibiotics if bacteria are the cause. In the case of an STI, your partner may also need to be treated.
A hernia is often treated with surgery. Your doctor may refer you to a hernia specialist for treatment.
Testicular cancer is treated using surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and other methods. Your specific course of treatment will depend on how early your cancer is detected and other factors.
Surgical removal of your testicle may help stop the cancer from spreading to other parts of your body.
Your outlook will depend on the underlying cause of your testicular lump.
Most cases of testicular lumps aren’t serious or cancerous. Testicular cancer is rare. It’s also highly treatable, and it’s curable if you find it early.
Whether or not men should do monthly testicle self-exams is a controversial issue. There is no good evidence that a self-exam leads to a reduction of mortality from testicular cancer.
Since it’s difficult to figure out the cause of a testicular lump based on your symptoms alone, it’s important to visit a doctor if you notice any changes. Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any lumps, swelling, or pain in your testicles.
The groin is an area of your hip between your stomach and thigh. It is located where your abdomen ends and your legs begin. The groin area has five muscles that work together to move your leg. These are called:
Groin pain is any discomfort in this area. The pain typically results from an injury caused by physical activity, such as sports. A pulled or strained muscle in the groin area is one of the most common injuries among athletes.
Groin pain is a common symptom and can happen to anyone. There are some potential causes of groin pain that are more common than others.
The most common cause of groin pain is a strain of the muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the groin area. This type of injury occurs most often in athletes, as noted in a 2019 study published in the BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine journal.
If you play a contact sport, such as football, rugby, or hockey, it’s likely that you’ve had groin pain at some point.
Another common cause of groin pain is an inguinal hernia. An inguinal hernia occurs when internal tissues of the abdomen push through a weak spot in the groin muscles. This can create a bulging lump in your groin area and cause pain.
Kidney stones (small, hard mineral deposits in the kidneys and bladder) or bone fractures can cause groin pain as well.
The less common disorders and conditions that could cause pain or discomfort in the groin are:
Most cases of groin pain do not require medical attention. However, you should see a doctor if you experience severe, prolonged pain accompanied by fever or swelling. These symptoms may indicate a more serious condition.
Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and ask about any recent physical activity. This information will help your doctor diagnose the problem. They will then perform a physical examination of the groin area along with other tests, if necessary.
Your doctor will insert one finger into the scrotum (the sac that contains the testicles) and ask you to cough. Coughing raises the pressure in the abdomen and pushes your intestines into the hernia opening.
X-rays and ultrasounds can help your healthcare provider see if a bone fracture, testicular mass, or ovarian cyst is causing the groin pain.
This type of blood test can help determine if an infection is present.
The treatment for your groin pain will depend on the underlying cause. You can often treat minor strains at home, but more severe groin pain may require medical treatment.
If your groin pain is the result of a strain, treatment at home is probably your best option. Resting and taking a break from physical activity for two to three weeks will allow your strain to heal naturally.
Pain medications, including acetaminophen (Tylenol), may be taken to manage your pain and discomfort. Applying ice packs for 20 minutes a few times per day can help as well.
If a broken bone or fracture is the cause of your groin pain, surgery may be required to repair the bone. You may also need surgery if an inguinal hernia is the underlying cause of your symptoms
If home care methods do not work for your strain injury, your doctor might prescribe medications that reduce inflammation to help relieve your symptoms. If this does not work and you have recurring strain injuries, they might advise you to go to physical therapy.
Talk to your doctor about your symptoms if you have moderate to severe pain in your groin or testicles for more than a few days.
Contact your doctor immediately if you:
If you have any of these symptoms with your groin pain, seek emergency medical care.
These symptoms could be signs of a more serious condition, such as a testicular infection, testicular torsion (twisted testicle), or testicular cancer. You should also seek emergency medical care if you have severe testicular pain that occurs suddenly.
There are a few steps that you can take to avoid groin pain.
For athletes, gentle stretching is a way to help prevent injury. Doing a slow, steady warm-up before physical activity can help reduce your risk of a groin injury, especially if you do it consistently.
Maintaining a healthy weight and being careful when lifting heavy objects can help prevent hernias.
A “penis exam” is more involved than you might think. Doctors know it as a genitourinary (GU) and rectal exam, which involves your:
Let’s go over what’s involved, why you should get it done regularly, what you should look out for during self-exams, and more.
Genital exams keep you intimately aware of how the entire area typically looks and feels.
Having a baseline is key to identifying changes as they happen and seeking out appropriate diagnostic tests sooner rather than later.
In many cases, early detection allows your doctor to develop a treatment plan for cysts, growths, and other abnormalities before more serious complications can occur.
Genital exams most commonly screen for the following conditions:
If you develop a genital or rectal condition at a young age, your doctor may ask you to start doing genital self-exams.
Otherwise, you probably won’t need to do self-exams until you begin going through puberty.
Your doctor may also start performing genital exams at this time — if they aren’t already — as part of your annual physical.
General guidelines suggest:
No lumps, bumps, or tissue issues? No need to take any action.
Found something new or unexpected? See a doctor as soon as possible.
The earlier you find a potential issue, the less likely you are to experience complications in the long run.
Do a self-exam at least once a month to stay on top of any noticeable changes and become more familiar with your genital area.
The more intimately you know your penis, scrotum, and testicles, the more sensitive you’ll become to slight changes that could be worth reporting to a doctor.
Yes! Your doctor is trained to recognize numerous signs and symptoms of genital, urinary, and rectal conditions.
Your doctor also has significant training in diagnosing and treating these kinds of conditions.
This means that they can provide immediate recommendations for treatment or refer you to specialists to ensure that you receive any necessary care.
A general practitioner (GP) or primary care physician (PCP) can do physical examinations, which usually include basic genital exams.
If a genital exam isn’t included, request that your GP or PCP do one for you.
If you feel uncomfortable asking for or receiving this exam, talk to a doctor about the self-examination process.
They can ensure that you’re using the correct method to monitor for changes at home.
If needed, your GP or PCP can refer you to a urologist for specialized diagnosis and treatment.
Urologists are specifically trained in penile, testicular, and genital health, so they can offer individualized information about treatment and prevention.
Depending on your medical history, your doctor may perform one or more of the following exams:
You don’t, but it may happen unintentionally — and that’s completely normal.
Your penis is full of sensitive nerves and erogenous zones that are meant to help you get erect, so it isn’t unusual for an erection to occur while your doctor is physically examining the area.
Your doctor has probably seen this happen hundreds or thousands of times, so they shouldn’t be fazed.
If you’re age 55 or older, you may already be getting annual prostate exams.
Otherwise, your doctor likely won’t recommend this exam unless they observe unusual symptoms that could be related to your prostate.
A prostate exam is actually composed of two different tests: the digital rectal exam and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) exam. Here’s how they’re done.
This is a blood test. Your doctor will take a sample of your blood and send it to a lab to test for PSA.
Here’s what PSA results are read:
The PSA test is somewhat controversial, so your doctor won’t use it to diagnose anything without taking the results of other tests into consideration.
Get a clinical genital exam at least once a year. Basic genital exams that involve checking your genital appearance and lightly feeling around the area are typically done during routine or annual physicals.
You can request that your doctor do more specific or detailed tests if you’re concerned about any changes you’ve noticed in your genitals.
Your next steps will depend on what, if any, symptoms your doctor observed during the clinical exam.
Here are some possibilities:
Genital exams are an important part of ensuring your overall health.
You can do self-exams at home, but you should also get formal genital exams done as part of your annual check-up.
Your doctor can diagnose anything new you may have noticed, catch anything that you may not have observed, or use follow-up tests to determine whether these changes indicate an underlying condition.
Facts about STDs
The term sexually transmitted disease (STD) is used to refer to a condition passed from one person to another through sexual contact. A person can contract an STD by having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has an STD. As you’ll see, some STDs can be transmitted through any body contact in the swimsuit area of another.
An STD may also be called a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or venereal disease (VD).
That doesn’t mean sex is the only way STDs are transmitted. Depending on the specific STD, infections may also be transmitted through sharing needles and breastfeeding.
It’s possible to contract an STD without developing symptoms. But some STDs cause obvious symptoms. In men, common symptoms include:
Specific symptoms can vary, depending on the STD.
In many cases, STDs don’t cause noticeable symptoms. When they do, common STD symptoms in women include:
The specific symptoms can vary from one STD to another.
Many different types of infections can be transmitted sexually. The most common STDs are described below.
A certain type of bacteria causes chlamydia. It’s the most commonly reported STD among Americans, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Many people with chlamydia have no noticeable symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they often include:
If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to:
If a pregnant woman has untreated chlamydia, she can pass it to her baby during birth. The baby may develop:
Antibiotics can easily treat chlamydia.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can be passed from one person to another through intimate skin-to-skin or sexual contact. There are many different strains of the virus. Some are more dangerous than others.
The most common symptom of HPV is warts on the genitals, mouth, or throat.
Some strains of HPV infection can lead to cancer, including:
While most cases of HPV don’t become cancerous, some strains of the virus are more likely to cause cancer than others. According to the National Cancer Institute, most cases of HPV-related cancer in the United States are caused by HPV 16 and HPV 18. These two strains of HPV account for 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases.
There’s no treatment for HPV. However, HPV infections often clear up on their own. There’s also a vaccine available to protect against some of the most dangerous strains, including HPV 16 and HPV 18.
If a person contracts HPV, proper testing and screenings can help their doctor assess and manage your risk of complications.
Syphilis is another bacterial infection. It often goes unnoticed in its early stages.
The first symptom to appear is a small round sore, known as a chancre. It can develop on your genitals, anus, or mouth. It’s painless but very infectious.
Later symptoms of syphilis can include:
If left untreated, late-stage syphilis can lead to:
Fortunately, if caught early enough, syphilis is easily treated with antibiotics. However, syphilis infection in a newborn can be fatal. That’s why it’s important for all pregnant women to be screened for syphilis.
The earlier syphilis is diagnosed and treated, the less damage it does.
HIV can damage the immune system and raise the risk of contracting other viruses or bacteria and developing certain cancers. If left untreated, it can lead to stage 3 HIV, known as AIDS. But with today’s treatment, many people living with HIV don’t ever develop AIDS. As prevention, men who have sex with men should strongly consider pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
In the early or acute stages, it’s easy to mistake the symptoms of HIV with those of the flu. For example, the early symptoms can include:
These initial symptoms typically clear within a month or so. From that point onward, a person can carry HIV without developing serious or persistent symptoms for many years. Other people may develop nonspecific symptoms, such as:
There’s no cure for HIV yet, but treatment options are available to manage it. Early and effective treatment can help people with HIV live as long as those without HIV.
Proper treatment can also lower a person’s chances of transmitting HIV to a sexual partner. In fact, treatment can potentially lower the amount of HIV in a person’s body to undetectable levels. At undetectable levels, HIV can’t be transmitted to other people, reports the CDC.
Without routine testing, many people with HIV don’t realize they have it. To promote early diagnosis and treatment, the CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 is tested at least once. People at high risk of HIV should be tested at least once a year, even if they don’t have symptoms.
Free and confidential testing can be found in all major cities and many public health clinics. A government tool for finding local testing services is available here.
With recent advancements in testing and treatment, it’s possible to live a long and healthy life with HIV.
Gonorrhea is another common bacterial STD. It’s also known as “the clap.”
Many people with gonorrhea develop no symptoms. But when present, symptoms may include:
If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to:
It’s possible for a mother to pass gonorrhea to a newborn during childbirth. When that happens, gonorrhea can cause serious health problems in the baby. That’s why many doctors encourage pregnant women to get tested and treated for potential STDs.
Gonorrhea can usually be treated with antibiotics.
“Crabs” is another name for pubic lice. They’re tiny insects that can take up residence on your pubic hair. Like head lice and body lice, they feed on human blood.
Common symptoms of pubic lice include:
A person might also be able to see the lice or their tiny white eggs around the roots of pubic hair. A magnifying glass can help you spot them.
If left untreated, pubic lice can be transmitted to other people through skin-to-skin contact or shared clothing, bedding, or towels. Scratched bites can also become infected. It’s best to treat pubic lice infestations immediately.
If a person has pubic lice, they can use over-the-counter topical treatments and tweezers to remove them from your body. It’s also important to clean your clothes, bedding, towels, and home.
Trichomoniasis is also known as “trich.” It’s caused by a tiny protozoan organism that can be passed from one person to another through genital contact.
According to the CDC, less than one-third of people with trich develop symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they may include:
In women, trich-related discharge often has an unpleasant or “fishy” smell.
If left untreated, trich can lead to:
Trich can be treated with antibiotics.
Herpes is the shortened name for the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two main strains of the virus, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both can be transmitted sexually. It’s a very common STD. The CDC estimates more than 1 out of 6 people ages 14 to 49 have herpes in the United States.
HSV-1 primarily causes oral herpes, which is responsible for cold sores. However, HSV-1 can also be passed from one person’s mouth to another person’s genitals during oral sex. When this happens, HSV-1 can cause genital herpes.
HSV-2 primarily causes genital herpes.
The most common symptom of herpes is blistery sores. In the case of genital herpes, these sores develop on or around the genitals. In oral herpes, they develop on or around the mouth.
Herpes sores generally crust over and heal within a few weeks. The first outbreak is usually the most painful. Outbreaks typically become less painful and frequent over time.
If a pregnant woman has herpes, she can potentially pass it to her fetus in the womb or to her newborn infant during childbirth. This so-called congenital herpes can be very dangerous to newborns. That’s why it’s beneficial for pregnant women to become aware of their HSV status.
There’s no cure for herpes yet. But medications are available to help control outbreaks and alleviate the pain of herpes sores. The same medications can also lower your chances of passing herpes to your sexual partner.
Effective treatment and safe sexual practices can help you lead a comfortable life with herpes and protect others from the virus.
Other, less common STDs include:
Vaginal and anal sex aren’t the only way STDs are transmitted. It’s also possible to contract or transmit an STD through oral sex. In other words, STDs can be passed from one person’s genitals to another person’s mouth or throat and vice versa.
Oral STDs aren’t always noticeable. When they do cause symptoms, they often include a sore throat or sores around the mouth or throat.
Many STDs are curable. For example, the following STDs can be cured with antibiotics or other treatments:
Others can’t be cured. For example, the following STDs are currently incurable:
Even if an STD can’t be cured, however, it can still be managed. It’s still important to get an early diagnosis. Treatment options are often available to help alleviate symptoms and lower your chances of transmitting the STD to someone else.
It’s possible for pregnant women to transmit STDs to the fetus during pregnancy or newborn during childbirth. In newborns, STDs can cause complications. In some cases, they can be life-threatening.
To help prevent STDs in newborns, doctors often encourage pregnant women to be tested and treated for potential STDs. Your doctor might recommend STD testing even if you don’t have symptoms.
If you test positive for one or more STDs while pregnant, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics, antiviral medications, or other treatments. In some cases, they might encourage you to give birth via a cesarean delivery to lower the risk of transmission during childbirth.
In most cases, doctors can’t diagnose STDs based on symptoms alone. If your doctor or other healthcare provider suspects you might have an STD, they’ll likely recommend tests to check.
Depending on your sexual history, your healthcare provider might recommend STD testing even if you don’t have symptoms. This is because STDs don’t cause noticeable symptoms in many cases. But even symptom-free STDs can cause damage or be passed to other people.
Healthcare providers can diagnose most STDs using a urine or blood test. They may also take a swab of your genitals. If you’ve developed any sores, they may take swabs of those, too.
You can get tested for STDs at your doctor’s office or a sexual health clinic.
Home testing kits are also available for some STDs, but they may not always be reliable. Use them with caution. Check to see if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the testing kit before buying it. There are many online health companies that provide at-home test kits that get sent to professional labs for testing.
It’s important to know that a Pap smear isn’t an STD test. A Pap smear checks for the presence of precancerous cells on the cervix. While it may also be combined with an HPV test, a negative Pap smear doesn’t mean you don’t have any STDs.
If you’ve had any type of sex, it’s a good idea to ask your healthcare provider about STD testing. Some people may benefit from more frequent testing than others.
The recommended treatment for STDs varies, depending on what STD you have. It’s very important that you and your sexual partner be successfully treated for STDs before resuming sexual activity. Otherwise, you can pass an infection back and forth between you.
Usually, antibiotics can easily treat bacterial infections.
It’s important to take all your antibiotics as prescribed. Continue taking them even if you feel better before you finish taking all of them. Let your doctor know if your symptoms don’t go away or return after you’ve taken all of your prescribed medication.
Antibiotics can’t treat viral STDs. While most viral infections have no cure, some can clear on their own. And in many cases, treatment options are available to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of transmission.
For example, medications are available to reduce the frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks. Likewise, treatment can help stop the progression of HIV. Furthermore, antiviral drugs can lower your risk of transmitting HIV to someone else.
Some STDs are caused by neither viruses nor bacteria. Instead, they’re caused by other small organisms. Examples include:
These STDs are usually treatable with oral or topical medications. Ask your doctor or another healthcare provider for more information about your condition and treatment options.
Avoiding sexual contact is the only foolproof way to avoid STDs. But when having vaginal, anal, or oral sex, there are ways to make it safer.
When used properly, condoms provide effective protection against many STDs. For optimal protection, it’s important to use condoms during vaginal, anal, and oral sex. Dental dams can also provide protection during oral sex.
Condoms are generally effective at preventing STDs that spread through fluids, such as semen or blood. But they can’t fully protect against STDs that pass from skin to skin. If a condom doesn’t cover the area of skin with the infection, a person can still contract an STD or pass it to their partner.
Condoms can help protect against not only STDs, but also unwanted pregnancy.
In contrast, many other types of birth control lower the risk of unwanted pregnancy but not STDs. For example, the following forms of birth control don’t protect against STDs:
Regular STD screening is a good idea for anyone who’s sexually active. It’s particularly important for those with a new partner or multiple partners. Early diagnosis and treatment can help stop the transmission of infections.
Before having sex with a new partner, it’s important to discuss sexual history. Partners should also be screened for STDs by a healthcare professional. Since STDs often have no symptoms, testing is the only way to know for sure if someone has one.
When discussing STD test results, it’s important to ask a partner what they’ve been tested for. Many people assume their doctors have screened them for STDs as part of their regular care, but that’s not always true. need Ask the doctor for specific STD tests to ensure they’re taken.
If a sexual partner tests positive for an STD, it’s important for them to follow their healthcare provider’s recommended treatment plan. You can also ask your doctor about strategies to protect yourself from contracting the STD from your partner. For example, if your partner has HIV, your doctor will likely encourage you to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Men who have sex with men should strongly consider pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
If you’re eligible, you and your partner should also consider getting vaccinated for HPV and hepatitis B.
If a person tests positive for an STD, it’s important that they get treatment as soon as possible.
If they have one STD, it can often increase their chances of contracting another. Some STDs can also lead to severe consequences if left untreated. In rare cases, untreated STDs may even be fatal.
Fortunately, most STDs are highly treatable. In some cases, they can be cured entirely. In other cases, early and effective treatment can help relieve symptoms, lower your risk of complications, and protect sexual partners.
In addition to taking prescribed medications for STDs, a doctor may advise a person to adjust their sexual habits to help protect them and others. For example, they’ll likely advise them to avoid sex altogether until the infection has been effectively treated. When they resume sex, they’ll probably encourage them to use condoms, dental dams, or other forms of protection.
Following a doctor’s recommended treatment and prevention plan can help improve the long-term outlook with STDs.
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). This STI causes herpetic sores, which are painful blisters (fluid-filled bumps) that can break open and ooze fluid.
About 16 percent of people between the ages of 14 and 49 years old have this condition.
Two types of herpes simplex virus cause genital herpes:
The viruses enter into the body through mucous membranes. The mucous membranes are the thin layers of tissue that line the openings of your body.
They can be found in your nose, mouth, and genitals.
Once the viruses are inside, they incorporate themselves into your cells and then stay in the nerve cells of your pelvis. Viruses tend to multiply or adapt to their environments very easily, which makes treating them difficult.
HSV-1 or HSV-2 can be found in people’s bodily fluids, including:
The appearance of blisters is known as an outbreak. A first outbreak will appear as early as 2 days after contracting the virus or as late as 30 days afterward.
General symptoms for those with a penis include blisters on the:
General symptoms for those with a vagina include blisters around or near the:
General symptoms for anyone include the following:
General symptoms for a baby born with herpes (contracted through a vaginal delivery) may include ulcers on the face, body, and genitals.
Babies who are born with genital herpes can develop very severe complications and experience:
It’s very important that you tell your doctor if you contract genital herpes and are pregnant.
They will take precautions to prevent the virus from being transmitted to your baby during delivery, with one likely method being that your baby would be delivered via cesarean rather than a routine vaginal delivery.
Your healthcare provider can typically diagnose a herpes transmission by a visual examination of the herpes sores. Although they aren’t always necessary, your doctor may confirm their diagnosis through laboratory tests.
A blood test can diagnose herpes simplex virus before you experience an outbreak.
Make an appointment with a healthcare provider if you think you’ve been exposed to genital herpes, even if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms yet.
Treatment can reduce the outbreaks, but it can’t cure herpes simplex viruses.
Antiviral drugs may help speed up the healing time of your sores and reduce pain. Medications may be taken at the first signs of an outbreak (tingling, itching, and other symptoms) to help reduce the symptoms.
People who have outbreaks may also be prescribed medications to make it less likely that they’ll get outbreaks in the future.
Use mild cleansers when bathing or showering in warm water. Keep the affected site clean and dry. Wear loose cotton clothing to keep the area comfortable.
It’s normal to be concerned about the health of your baby when you have any type of STI. Genital herpes can be transmitted to your baby if you have an active outbreak during a vaginal delivery.
It’s important to tell your doctor that you have genital herpes as soon as you know you’re pregnant.
Your doctor will discuss what to expect before, during, and after you deliver your baby. They can prescribe pregnancy-safe treatments to ensure a healthy delivery. They may also opt to deliver your baby via cesarean.
Genital herpes can also cause pregnancy complications such as miscarriage or premature birth.
You should practice safer sex and use condoms or another barrier method every time you have sexual contact with someone. This will help prevent genital herpes cases and the transmission of other STIs.
There’s no current cure for genital herpes, but researchers are working on a future cure or vaccine.
The condition can be managed with medication. The disease stays dormant within your body until something triggers an outbreak.
Outbreaks can happen when you become stressed, sick, or tired. Your doctor will help you come up with a treatment plan that will help you manage your outbreaks.
Highlights
Genital warts are soft growths that appear on the genitals. They can cause pain, discomfort, and itching.
Genital warts a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by certain low-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). These are different from the high-risk strains that can lead to cervical dysplasia and cancer.
HPV is the most common of all STIs. Men and women who are sexually active are vulnerable to complications of HPV, including genital warts. HPV infection is especially dangerous for women because some types of HPV can also cause cancer of the cervix and vulva.
Treatment is key in managing this infection.
Genital warts are transmitted through sexual activity, including oral, vaginal, and anal sex. You may not start to develop warts for several weeks or months after infection.
Genital warts aren’t always visible to the human eye. They may be very small and the color of the skin or slightly darker. The top of the growths may resemble a cauliflower and may feel smooth or slightly bumpy to the touch. They may occur as a cluster of warts, or just one wart.
Genital warts on males may appear on the following areas:
For females, these warts may appear:
Genital warts may also appear on the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat of a person who has had oral sexual contact with a person who has HPV.
Even if you can’t see genital warts, they may still cause symptoms, such as:
If genital warts spread or become enlarged, the condition can be uncomfortable or even painful.
Most cases of genital warts are caused by HPV. There are 30 to 40 strains of HPV that specifically affect the genitals, but just a few of these strains cause genital warts.
The HPV virus is highly transmittable through skin-to-skin contact, which is why it’s considered an STI.
In fact, HPV is so common that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that most sexually active people get it at some point.
However, the virus doesn’t always lead to complications such as genital warts. In fact, in most cases, the virus goes away on its own without causing any health problems.
Genital warts are usually caused by strains of HPV that differ from the strains that cause warts on your hands or other parts of the body. A wart can’t spread from someone’s hand to the genitals, and vice versa.
Any sexually active person is at risk of getting HPV. However, genital warts are more common for people who:
HPV infection is the main cause of cancer in the cervix. It can also lead to precancerous changes to the cells of the cervix, which is called dysplasia.
Other types of HPV may also cause cancer of the vulva, which are the external genital organs of women. They can also cause penis, anal, throat, tongue, tonsil, vocal cord, and vaginal cancers. Watch or listen to an in-depth interview with the founder of HPV Global Action discussing the causes, cancers, tests, and vaccination prevention. Vist https://www.hpvglobalaction.org for more inforation.
To diagnose this condition, your doctor will ask questions about your health and sexual history. This includes symptoms you’ve experienced and whether you’ve engaged in sex, including oral sex, without condoms or oral dams.
Your doctor will also perform a physical examination of any areas where you suspect warts may be occurring.
Because warts can occur deep inside a woman’s body, your doctor may need to do a pelvic examination. They may apply a mild acidic solution, which helps to make the warts more visible.
Your doctor may also do a Pap test (also known as a Pap smear), which involves taking a swab of the area to obtain cells from your cervix. These cells can then be tested for the presence of HPV through an additional specific test – only for women. There is no test for persons with penises.
Certain types of HPV may cause abnormal results on a Pap test, which may indicate precancerous changes. If your doctor detects these abnormalities, you may need either more frequent screenings to monitor any changes or a specialized procedure called a colposcopy.
If you’re a woman and concerned that you may have contracted a form of HPV known to cause cervical cancer, your doctor can perform a DNA test. This determines what strain of HPV you have in your system. An HPV test for men isn’t yet available.
While visible genital warts often go away with time, HPV itself can linger in your skin cells. This means you may have several outbreaks over the course of your life. So managing symptoms is important because you want to avoid transmitting the virus to others. That said, genital warts can be passed on to others even when there are no visible warts or other symptoms.
You may wish to treat genital warts to relieve painful symptoms or to minimize their appearance. However, you can’t treat genital warts with over-the-counter (OTC) wart removers or treatments.
Your doctor may prescribe topical wart treatments that might include:
If visible warts don’t go away with time, you may need minor surgery to remove them. Your doctor can also remove the warts through these procedures:
Don’t use OTC treatments meant for hand warts on genital warts. Hand and genital warts are caused by different strains of HPV, and treatments designed for other areas of the body are often much stronger than treatments used on the genitals. Using the wrong treatments may do more harm than good.
Some home remedies are touted as helpful in treating genital warts, but there is little evidence to support them. Always check with your doctor before trying a home remedy.
HPV vaccines called Gardasil and Gardasil 9 can protect men and women from the most common HPV strains that cause genital warts, and can also protect against strains of HPV that are linked to cervical cancer.
A vaccine called Cervarix is also available. This vaccine protects against cervical cancer, but not against genital warts.
Individuals up to age 45 years can receive the HPV vaccine, as well as those as young as age 9. The vaccine is administered in a series of two or three shots, depending on age. Both types of vaccine should be given before the person becomes sexually active, as they’re most effective before a person is exposed to HPV.
Genital warts are a complication of HPV infection that’s common and treatable. They can disappear over time, but treatment is essential in preventing their return and possible complications.
If you think you have genital warts, talk to your doctor. They can determine if you have warts and what your best treatment options are.
In addition, it’s important to talk to your sexual partner. This may sound difficult, but being open about your condition can help you protect your partner from also getting an HPV infection and genital warts.
What is a skin tag?
Skin tags are benign growths that usually appear in areas where your skin has folds. Skin tags are also called acrochordons. They occur in at least 25 percent of adults. These growths are typically brown or beige and are attached to the rest of your skin by a thin stalk. Skin tags are commonly found on eyelids, armpits, neck, and genital areas.
Genital skin tags are benign, but some people want them removed because of how they look. They can also look similar to sexually transmitted infections, like genital warts.
Genital skin tags aren’t painful unless they are pulled on or aggravated. Unlike genital warts, which appear flush against your skin, skin tags are connected to your skin by a short stalk.
Skin tags won’t bleed unless you’re trying to remove them, but they may itch. Sometimes they appear in clusters or patterns on your skin. You may not notice a skin tag when it first forms, because often they are the same color or only slightly darker than your natural skin tone.
Though the cause of skin tags isn’t clear, researchers believe that irritation from clothing and rubbing against other areas of skin can contribute to their formation. Since your genitals are an area of your body made up of multiple folds of skin, it’s not surprising that skin tags form there. Genital skin tags can’t be transmitted through sex with another person that has them. They aren’t contagious.
In some cases, having a skin tag can be an early indication that you have a metabolic syndrome, such as diabetes. Skin tags are more likely to occur in people that are obese or people with a family history of skin tags.
Whenever you notice a new bump or mark on your genitals, it’s a good idea to see your doctor to confirm what it is. There’s no reason to risk transmitting a sexually transmitted infection to another person, or to live with an STI that could be easily treated. Women should make an appointment with an OB/GYN or general practitioner. Men can make an appointment with their regular doctor, although skin tags on the penis are somewhat rare.
At the appointment, you will be asked some questions about your sexual activity and family history. If you have had a new sexual partner recently, you may be asked if you want to undergo a blood test to check for other STIs. After finding out if there are other risk factors at play, your doctor will leave the room while you get undressed. Upon returning, the doctor will examine the bump to tell you if it’s a benign skin tag or something else that requires further testing. You may also be advised on options to remove the bump if you’re interested.
Some people try to treat skin tags at home using remedies like tea tree oil, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and castor oil to weaken the stalk of the skin tag. These remedies supposedly weaken the stalk that attaches your skin tag, claiming to make it easier to pull off.
But with genital skin tags, it’s important to be extremely careful with any home remedy that you attempt to use. This is especially true when dealing with the sensitive skin in this area of your body. These remedies have not yet been proven by clinical research. Using a home remedy to get rid of genital skin tags can even result in a chemical burn if it’s not done carefully.
If you want to remove your skin tags, talk with your doctor. A dermatologist, OB/GYN, or general practitioner can remove a skin tag for you in their office. They can apply a local anesthesia so that you don’t feel discomfort during the removal process. Your doctor may use forceps dipped in liquid nitrogen to quickly grasp the stalk of a skin tag and remove it from your body. This procedure is called cryotherapy — removal by freezing. Surgical excision (removal with a scalpel), and cauterization (removal by burning) are also possible treatment methods.
In the case of multiple skin tags, you may be able to get all of them removed at once, or you may have to return to your doctor for a repeat treatment. Having skin tags removed is an outpatient procedure with little to no recovery time required. The risk to you is minimal and the chance of getting an infection is not likely. But the skin tag may appear again in the same place if your skin gets rubbed against or irritated again.
Having a skin tag on your genitals is not a reason for concern. Having multiple skin tags in your genital area can’t hurt you and isn’t a sign of a deeper problem.
It’s a good idea to get your skin tag looked at by a doctor to confirm that it isn’t a symptom of a more serious condition. If your skin tags bother you, having them removed by your doctor is a simple and low-risk elective procedure.
What is a hydrocele?
A hydrocele is a sac filled with fluid that forms around a testicle. Hydroceles are most common in babies.
Nearly 10 percent of males are born with a hydrocele. However, they can affect males of any age.
Hydroceles generally don’t pose any threat to the testicles. They’re usually painless and disappear without treatment. However, if you have scrotal swelling, see your doctor to rule out other causes that are more harmful such as testicular cancer.
Towards the end of pregnancy, a male child’s testicles descend from his abdomen into the scrotum. The scrotum is the sac of skin that holds the testicles once they descend.
During development, each testicle has a naturally occurring sac around it that contains fluid. Normally, this sac closes itself and the body absorbs the fluid inside during the baby’s first year. However, this doesn’t happen for babies with a hydrocele. Babies born prematurely are at a higher risk for hydrocele, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Hydroceles can also form later in life, mostly in men over 40. This usually occurs if the channel through which the testicles descend hadn’t closed all the way and fluid now enters, or the channel reopens. This can cause fluid to move from the abdomen into the scrotum. Hydroceles can also be caused by inflammation or injury in the scrotum or along the channel. The inflammation may be caused by an infection (epididymitis) or another condition.
The two types of hydroceles are non-communicating and communicating.
A non-communicating hydrocele occurs when the sac closes, but your body doesn’t absorb the fluid. The remaining fluid is typically absorbed into the body within a year.
A communicating hydrocele occurs when the sac surrounding your testicle doesn’t close all the way. This allows fluid to flow in and out.
Hydroceles usually don’t cause any pain. Usually, the only symptom is a swollen scrotum.
In adult men, there may be a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. In some cases, the swelling might be worse in the morning than in the evening. It is not usually very painful.
Seek medical treatment if you or your child has sudden or severe pain in their scrotum. This could be the sign of another condition called testicular torsion. Testicular torsion occurs when the testicles become twisted, typically due to an injury or accident. Testicular torsion isn’t common, but it’s a medical emergency because it can lead to blocked blood supply to the testicle and ultimately infertility if untreated. If you think you or your child has testicular torsion, go the hospital emergency room right away or call 911. It needs to be evaluated and treated immediately.
To diagnose a hydrocele, your doctor will perform a physical exam. If you have a hydrocele, your scrotum will be swollen, but you won’t have any pain. Your doctor won’t be able to feel your testicle well through the fluid-filled sac.
Your doctor may check for tenderness in the scrotum and shine a light through the scrotum. This is called transillumination. It allows your doctor to determine if there’s fluid in the scrotum. If fluid is present, the scrotum will allow light transmission, and the scrotum will appear to light up with the light passing through. However, if scrotal swelling is due to a solid mass (cancer), then the light will not shine through the scrotum. This test does not provide a definite diagnosis but can be very helpful.
Your doctor may also apply pressure to the abdomen to check for another condition called inguinal hernia; your doctor may also ask you to cough or bear down to check for this. This can occur when part of the small intestine protrudes through the groin due to a weak point in the abdominal wall. While it’s usually not life-threatening, a doctor may recommend surgery to repair it.
They may take a blood or urine sample to test for infections. Less commonly, your doctor may administer an ultrasound to check for hernias, tumors, or any other cause of scrotal swelling.
If your new infant has a hydrocele, it will probably go away on its own in about a year. If your child’s hydrocele doesn’t go away on its own or becomes very large, he might need surgery by a urologist.
In adults, hydroceles typically go away within six months, according to the Mayo Clinic. A hydrocele usually only needs surgery if it causes discomfort or if it’s a communicating hydrocele, which can lead to hernias.
Surgery to remove a hydrocele is performed under anesthesia. In most cases, you’ll be able to go home within a few hours of the surgery.
A small cut is made in the abdomen or scrotum (depending on the location of the hydrocele) and the hydrocele is surgically removed. Your surgeon will most likely apply a large dressing to the site of your incision. Depending on the location and size, you may also need a drainage tube for a few days.
Risks associated with anesthesia include:
Risks associated with this procedure include:
Ice packs, a support strap for your scrotum, and plenty of rest will ease discomfort after the surgery. Your healthcare provider will likely recommend a checkup exam because a hydrocele can sometimes reoccur.
Another option for hydrocele treatment is to drain it with a long needle. The needle is inserted into the sac to draw out the fluid. In some cases, a drug may be injected to prevent the sac from filling again. Needle aspiration is commonly performed on men who are at high risk for complications during surgery.
The most common side effects of needle aspiration are temporary pain in your scrotum and the risk of infection.
Whether your hydrocele goes away on its own or requires surgery, the outlook is excellent.
If you have surgery, the pain will probably go away in about a week. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication if you find it necessary. You probably won’t return to normal activities for a few weeks. This includes avoiding anything involving straddling, like riding a bike, for at least three weeks. Other strenuous activities should also be avoided during that time.
Stitches at the incision site usually dissolve on their own, but your doctor may want to check them after a few weeks. Keeping the area clean using showers or sponge baths will help prevent infection.
A spermatocele is an often pain-free benign cyst that occurs close to a testicle. It may also be known as a spermatic or epididymal cyst.
The cyst forms in the epididymis. The epididymis is a coiled tube behind each testicle. The cyst is filled with fluid and may contain dead sperm. Read on to learn more about identifying and treating this condition.
Spermatoceles cannot be seen during a visual exam. That’s because they’re contained within the scrotum. They can be felt, however. A spermatocele feels like a smooth, but separate, firm lump. The lump is found near the top of, or behind, a testicle.
Spermatoceles are most likely to be discovered during your yearly physical when your doctor checks for any signs of a testicular growth. Spermatoceles are benign and only appear in the scrotum. That means they’re not a sign of testicular cancer.
If the cyst grows too large, you may feel discomfort or pain in the testicle. You may also experience heaviness, as well as a feeling of fullness in the testicle.
A mass in your scrotum could signal another issue as well. Talk to your doctor about any unexplained lumps in your scrotum. That way they can rule out more serious causes and come up with a treatment plan.
Doctors don’t consider spermatoceles a cause of infertility. It may reduce the quantity and quality of sperm produced if the spermatocele is large, however. If you’ve been trying to conceive for over a year and are concerned about your fertility, talk to your doctor. There are several possible causes for male infertility. The first step is having a semen analysis to determine the health of your semen.
Researchers don’t know what causes spermatoceles. Spermatoceles are neither cancerous nor do they increase your risk of testicular cancer.
A spermatocele can be diagnosed through a detailed examination of the genital area. Your doctor will feel your testicles to search for masses, or areas that are tender or painful to the touch. You can expect to feel some pain when your doctor touches the affected areas.
Your doctor may also do the following tests:
Spermatoceles aren’t cancerous and are usually pain-free. Most people won’t need treatment. Instead, your doctor will monitor the cyst during regular doctor appointments.
Spermatoceles may require medical attention if they grow too large or begin to cause pain.
Medical therapy is limited to oral medications to fight pain and reduce swelling. No drug has been developed to cure or prevent spermatoceles.
There are two minimally invasive therapies available, but these are rarely used.
These therapy options have been shown to work, but they aren’t usually recommended. That’s because there’s a risk that the epididymis may be harmed, leading to fertility problems. Another common problem is that the spermatoceles can come back.
Surgical therapy known as spermatocelectomy is the most common treatment for asymptomatic spermatocele. The aim is to remove the cyst from the epididymis while, at the same time, preserve the genital system. This surgery is done as an outpatient procedure. That means you won’t need to stay in a hospital overnight. It may be done with either local or general anesthesia, and it’s usually complete in under an hour.
Sometimes part or even all of the epididymis may need to be removed along with the cyst.
Most people won’t experience any symptoms from a spermatocele. If you do experience pain or discomfort, spermatocelectomy should provide relief, though there is a risk for complications that may affect fertility. It’s also possible that your spermatocele might come back, even after surgery.
Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment options with your doctor, and let them know about any concerns you have, including the effective treatment will have on fertility.
What is testicular atrophy?
Testicular atrophy refers to the shrinking of your testicles, which are the two male reproductive glands located in the scrotum. The scrotum’s main function is to regulate the temperature around the testicles, which it does by shrinking in response to cold temperatures and relaxing in response to warmer temperatures. This can make it feel like your testicles are larger or smaller than usual sometimes.
However, testicular atrophy refers to shrinkage in your actual testicles, not your scrotum. This can be due to several things, including an injury, an underlying condition, or exposure to certain chemicals.
Keep reading to learn more about the possible causes and whether testicular atrophy is reversible.
While the main symptom of testicular atrophy is shrinkage of one or both testicles, several other symptoms can accompany it, depending on your age.
For people who haven’t gone through puberty, additional symptoms of testicular atrophy include not developing secondary sexual characteristics, such as:
If you’ve gone through puberty, additional symptoms of testicular atrophy can include:
Orchitis refers to inflammation of the testicles. Its main symptoms are pain and swelling in the testicles, but it can also cause nausea and fever. While the swelling can initially make your testicles look larger, orchitis can eventually lead to testicular atrophy.
There are two main types of orchitis:
In addition to orchitis, several other things can cause testicular atrophy, including:
To figure out what’s causing your testicular atrophy, your doctor may ask you some questions about your lifestyle and sexual history. This will help them determine whether alcohol or an STI could be the cause.
Next, they’ll likely examine your testicles, checking their size, texture, and firmness. Depending on what they find, they may order some tests, including:
Treating testicular atrophy depends on its cause. If it’s due to an STI or other infection, you’ll likely need a round of antibiotics. In other cases, you’ll need to make some lifestyle changes. In rare cases, you may need surgery to treat cases of testicular torsion.
While the conditions that can cause testicular atrophy are usually easy to treat, testicular atrophy itself isn’t always reversible. In many cases, early treatment increases the likelihood of testicular atrophy being reversible. This is especially important if your testicular atrophy is due to testicular torsion. Waiting more than even a few hours to seek treatment can lead to permanent damage.
There’s no proven way to naturally reverse testicular atrophy.
Many things can cause your testicles to shrink, from steroid use to STIs. Regardless of the cause, it’s important to talk to your doctor as soon as you start noticing any shrinkage. Early treatment is key for successfully reversing testicular atrophy.
The most common cause of an emergency related to the male genitourinary tract is a highly painful one called testicular torsion.
Men have two testicles that rest inside the scrotum. A cord known as the spermatic cord carries blood to the testicles. During a torsion of the testes, this cord twists. As a result, blood flow is affected and the tissues in the testicle can start to die.
According to the American Urological Association, this condition is uncommon and affects only about 1 in 4,000 under the age of 25.
Torsion is most common in adolescent males. Those between 12 and 18 years old account for 65 percent of people with the condition, according to Cleveland Clinic. However, infants and older adults can also be affected.
Many of those who have testicular torsion are born with a higher risk for the condition, although they may not know it.
Normally, the testicles can’t move freely inside the scrotum. The surrounding tissue is strong and supportive. Those who experience torsion sometimes have weaker connective tissue in the scrotum.
In some instances, this may be caused by a congenital trait known as a “bell clapper” deformity. If you have a bell clapper deformity, your testicles can move more freely in the scrotum. This movement increases the risk of the spermatic cord becoming twisted. This deformity accounts for 90 percent of testicular torsion cases.
Testicular torsion can run in families, affecting multiple generations as well as siblings. The factors contributing to a higher risk aren’t known, though a bell clapper deformity may contribute. Knowing that others in your family have experienced testicular torsion can help you request emergency treatment immediately if its symptoms affect you or someone in your family.
Not everyone who experiences this condition has a genetic predisposition to it, however. Approximately 10 percent of those with testicular torsion have a family history of the condition, according to one small study.
The condition can occur at any time, even before birth. Testicular torsion can occur when you’re sleeping or engaging in physical activity.
It can also occur after an injury to the groin, such as a sports injury. As a preventive step, you can wear a cup for contact sports.
Rapid growth of the testicles during puberty may also cause the condition.
Pain and swelling of the scrotal sac are the main symptoms of testicular torsion.
The onset of pain may be quite sudden, and the pain can be severe. Swelling may be limited to just one side, or it can occur in the entire scrotum. You may notice that one testicle is higher than the other.
You may also experience:
There are other potential causes of severe testicular pain, such as the inflammatory condition epididymitis. You should still take these symptoms seriously and seek emergency treatment.
Testicular torsion usually occurs in only one testicle. Bilateral torsion, when both testes are simultaneously affected, is extremely rare.
Tests that can be used to diagnose torsion include:
During a physical exam, your doctor will check your scrotum for swelling. They may also pinch the inside of your thigh. Normally this causes the testicles to contract. However, this reflex may disappear if you have torsion.
You might also receive an ultrasound of your scrotum. This shows blood flow to the testicles. If blood flow is lower than normal, you may be experiencing torsion.
Torsion of the testes is a medical emergency, but many adolescents are hesitant to say that they’re hurting or seek treatment right away. You should never ignore sharp testicular pain.
It’s possible for some to experience what’s known as intermittent torsion. This causes a testicle to twist and untwist. Because the condition is likely to recur, it’s important to seek treatment, even if the pain becomes sharp and then subsides.
Surgical repair, or orchiopexy, is usually required to treat testicular torsion. In rare cases, your doctor may be able to untwist the spermatic cord by hand. This procedure is called “manual detorsion.”
Surgery is performed as quickly as possible to restore blood flow to the testicles. If blood flow is cut off for more than six hours, testicular tissue can die. The affected testicle would then need to be removed.
Surgical detorsion is performed under general anesthesia. You’ll be asleep and unaware of the procedure.
Your doctor will make a small incision in your scrotum and untwist the cord. Tiny sutures will be used to keep the testicle in place in the scrotum. This prevents the rotation from occurring again. The surgeon then closes the incision with stitches.
Orchiopexy doesn’t typically require an overnight stay in the hospital. You’ll stay in a recovery room for several hours prior to discharge.
As with any surgical procedure, you may have discomfort after surgery. Your doctor will recommend or prescribe the most appropriate pain medication. If your testicle needs to be removed, you’ll most likely stay in the hospital overnight.
Your doctor will most likely use dissolvable stitches for your procedure, so you won’t need to have them removed. After surgery, you can expect your scrotum to be swollen for two to four weeks.
You can use an ice pack several times a day for 10 to 20 minutes. This wll help to reduce swelling.
The incision made during surgery may also ooze fluid for one to two days. Make sure to keep the area clean by washing gently with warm, soapy water.
Your doctor will recommend refraining from certain types of activities for several weeks following surgery. These include sexual activity and stimulation, such as masturbation and intercourse.
You’ll also be advised to avoid athletic or strenuous activities. During this time, it’s also important to refrain from heavy lifting or straining during bowel movements.
Make sure to get plenty of rest to allow your body to fully recover. Don’t remain completely sedentary, however. Walking a little bit each day will help increase blood flow to the area, supporting recovery.
Testicular torsion is an emergency requiring immediate care. When not treated quickly, or at all, this condition can result in severe complications.
If a dead or severely damaged testicle tissue isn’t removed, gangrene may occur. Gangrene is a potentially life-threatening infection. It can spread rapidly throughout your body, leading to shock.
If damage occurs to both testicles, infertility will result. If you experience the loss of one testicle, however, your fertility shouldn’t be affected.
The loss of one testicle can create a cosmetic deformity that may cause emotional upset. This can, however, be addressed with the insertion of a testicular prosthesis.
Untreated testicular torsion can result in testicular atrophy, causing the testicle to shrink significantly in size. An atrophied testicle can become unable to produce sperm.
If left untreated for more than several hours, the testicle may become severely damaged, requiring its removal. The testicle can usually be saved if it’s treated within a four-to-six-hour window.
After a period of 12 hours, there’s a 50 percent chance of saving the testicle. After 24 hours, the chances of saving the testicle drop to 10 percent.
Other conditions affecting the testicles may cause symptoms similar to those of testicular torsion.
No matter which of those conditions you think you may have, it’s important to see your doctor immediately. They can rule out testicular torsion or help you obtain any necessary treatment.
This condition is typically caused by a bacterial infection, including sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Symptoms of epididymitis tend to come on gradually and may include:
Orchitis causes inflammation and pain in one or both testicles as well as the groin.
It can be caused by either a bacterial or a viral infection. It’s often associated with the mumps.
The appendix testis is a small piece of normal tissue located at the top of the testis. It serves no function. If this tissue twists, it can cause symptoms similar to testicular torsion, such as pain, redness, and swelling.
This condition doesn’t require surgery. Instead, a doctor will observe your condition. They’ll also recommend rest and pain medication.
According to TeensHealth, 90 percent of people treated for testicular torsion within four to six hours of the onset of pain don’t ultimately require testicle removal.
However, if treatment is delivered 24 hours or more after the pain starts, an estimated 90 percent do require surgical removal of the testicle.
Removal of a testicle, called orchiectomy, can affect hormone production in infants. It may also affect future fertility by lowering sperm count.
If your body begins to make anti-sperm antibodies because of torsion, this can also lower sperm’s ability to move.
To avoid these possible complications, you should seek emergency medical attention right away if you suspect that you or your child are experiencing testicular torsion. Testicular torsion surgery is highly effective if the condition is caught early.
Testicles are male sex organs that are responsible for producing sperm and hormones. Typically, they form in a male’s abdomen and descend into his scrotum during fetal development. If one or both of your child’s testicles remain in his abdomen, it’s known as an undescended testicle.
This common condition typically resolves on its own within the first few months of life. However, surgery may be necessary in some instances.
The medical term for an undescended testicle is “cryptorchidism.”
The exact cause of an undescended testicle isn’t known. However, researchers believe that a combination of certain factors likely plays a role. These include genetics, the mother’s health, and environmental factors, such as exposure to pesticides or secondhand smoke.
Doctors consider premature birth to be a major contributing risk factor for an undescended testicle. Nearly one-third of premature baby boys have the condition, reports the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. An estimated 3 to 5 percent of male babies have it.
Excess fibrous tissue or muscles that won’t stretch in your child’s groin can cause an undescended testicle. A surgeon can correct these issues.
An undescended testicle can affect a man’s fertility if left untreated. The higher temperature inside his body can affect his testicle’s development and sperm production. Men with two undescended testicles are more likely to experience fertility-related issues than men with only one undescended testicle.
Men with an undescended testicle are more likely to develop an inguinal hernia. This causes their intestine to push out through a weakened area in their abdominal wall. Only surgery can correct this painful condition.
Undescended testicles are also a risk factor for testicular cancer, even when they’re corrected. This is true for both the descended and undescended testicle.
Your child’s doctor may be able to palpate or feel his undescended testicle in his abdomen. In other cases, the testicle can’t be felt. In some cases, the testicle isn’t present at all.
An X-ray or ultrasound imaging test may help your child’s doctor diagnose an undescended testicle. Imaging scans, including an MRI with contrast dye, can confirm the presence or absence of his testicle.
Two conditions can mimic an undescended testicle. A retractile testicle is one that moves back and forth between your child’s groin and his scrotum. This condition typically subsides as your child ages. An ascending testicle is one that returns to your child’s groin and can’t be easily guided back.
The outlook for children with an undescended testicle is very good. Your child’s undescended testicle will typically come down on its own by the time he reaches 6 months old. His doctor will probably perform a physical examination at that time. They may recommend testing if your child’s testicle hasn’t descended.
Hormones that stimulate testosterone production may be used to cause your child’s testicle to descend. This involves injecting a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). According to research published in American Family Physician, this treatment method has about a 20 percent success rate. It’s not as effective as surgery. It can potentially lead to early puberty.
Your child may need surgery if his testicle hasn’t descended by age 1. The surgery is called “orchiopexy.” It’s usually done as an outpatient procedure. Your child’s surgeon will make a small incision in his groin to allow his testicle to descend to an appropriate position. Recovery typically takes about one week.
Extra tissue may keep your child’s testicle from descending. Your child’s surgeon can remove the excess tissue if this is the case. In other cases, your child may need surgery to stretch the ligament that holds his testicle. This helps his testicle descend into a normal position.
In some cases, the testicle is poorly developed or contains abnormal tissue or tissue that isn’t viable. If this is the case, your child’s surgeon will completely remove this testicular tissue.
If your child reaches adulthood without having his condition treated and he then sees a surgeon, the surgeon will probably recommend removing his testicle. At that point, his testicle is unlikely to produce sperm.
Most people with a penis have two testicles in their scrotum — but some only have one. This is known as monorchism.
Monorchism can be the result of several things. Some people are simply born with just one testicle, while others have one removed for medical reasons.
Read on to learn how having one testicle can impact your fertility, sex drive, and more.
Having one testicle is usually the result of an issue during fetal development or surgery.
During late fetal development or shortly after birth, testicles descend from the abdomen into the scrotum. But sometimes, one testicle doesn’t drop into the scrotum. This is called an undescended testicle or cryptorchidism.
If the undescended testicle isn’t found or doesn’t descend, it will gradually shrink.
The procedure to remove a testicle is called orchidectomy.
It’s done for a range of reasons, including:
In some cases, an undescended testicle may be the result of testicular regression syndrome. This condition is also known as vanishing testes syndrome.
It involves the “disappearance” of one or both testicles shortly before or after birth. Before birth, the fetus might appear to have two testicles, but they eventually wither away.
Usually not. Many people with one testicle have a healthy and active sex life.
A single testicle can produce enough testosterone to fuel your sex drive. This amount of testosterone is also enough for you to get an erection and ejaculate during an orgasm.
However, if you recently lost a testicle, your healthcare provider can give you a some more detailed guidance on what to expect. It may take a bit of time for things to get back to normal.
Yes, in most cases, people with one testicle can get someone pregnant. Remember, one testicle can provide enough testosterone for you to get an erection and ejaculate. This is also enough to produce adequate sperm for fertilization.
As long as you’re in good health and don’t have any underlying conditions that could impact your fertility, you should be able to have children.
If you have one testicle and seem to be having fertility issues, consider following up with a healthcare professional. They can do some quick tests using a sperm sample to check for any issues.
Having just one testicle is rarely a risk factor for other health conditions. However, it can lead to some health complications.
These include:
Several human organs come in pairs — think about your kidneys and lungs. Usually, people can live with just one of these organs while maintaining a healthy, normal life. Testicles are no different.
But it’s still important to regularly follow up with a doctor, especially if you have an undescended testicle. This will help to catch any complications, such as testicular cancer, early on, when they’re easier to treat.
While having one testicle is unlikely to have an impact on your health, it can affect your self-esteem, especially in sexual relationships.
If you feel self-conscious about it, consider a few sessions with a therapist. They can help you work through these feelings and give you tools to help you navigate sexual relationships.
The scrotum is a skin-covered sac that holds your testicles. It also contains the arteries and veins that deliver blood to the reproductive glands. A vein abnormality in the scrotum may result in a varicocele.A varicocele is an enlargement of the veins within the scrotum. These veins are called the pampiniform plexus.
A varicocele only occurs in the scrotum and is very similar to varicose veins that can occur in the leg. A varicocele can result in decreased sperm production and quality, which in some cases can lead to infertility. It can also shrink the testicles.
Varicoceles are common. They can be found in 15 percent of the adult male population and around 20 percent of adolescent males. They’re more common in males aged 15 to 25.
Varicoceles generally form during puberty and are more commonly found on the left side of your scrotum. The anatomy of the right and left side of your scrotum isn’t the same. Varicoceles can exist on both sides, but it’s extremely rare. Not all varicoceles affect sperm production.
A spermatic cord holds up each testicle. The cords also contain the veins, arteries, and nerves that support these glands. In healthy veins inside the scrotum, one-way valves move the blood from the testicles to the scrotum, and then they send it back to the heart.
Sometimes the blood doesn’t move through the veins like it should and begins to pool in the vein, causing it to enlarge. A varicocele develops slowly over time.
There are no established risk factors for developing a varicocele, and the exact cause is unclear.
You may have no symptoms associated with a varicocele. However, you might experience:
This condition can have an effect on fertility. Varicocele is present in 35 to 44 percent of men with primary infertility and in 45 to 81 percent of men with secondary infertility.
Primary infertility is generally used to refer to a couple that hasn’t conceived a child after at least one year of trying. Secondary infertilitydescribes couples that have conceived at least once but aren’t able to again.
Your doctor usually diagnoses the condition after a physical exam. A varicocele can’t always be felt or seen when you’re lying down. Your doctor will most likely examine your testicles while you’re standing up and lying down.
Your doctor may need to perform a scrotal ultrasound. This helps measure the spermatic veins and allows your doctor to get a detailed, accurate picture of the condition.
Once the varicocele is diagnosed, your doctor will classify it with one of three clinical grades. They’re labeled grades 1 through 3, according to the size of the lump in your testicle. Grade 1 is the smallest and grade 3 the largest.
The size doesn’t necessarily affect the overall treatment because you may not require treatment. Treatment options are based on the degree of discomfort or infertility issues you have.
It’s not always necessary to treat a varicocele. However, you may want to consider treatment if the varicocele:
You may also want to consider treatment if you’re thinking about assisted reproductive techniques.
This condition can cause problems with testicular functioning in some people. The earlier you start treatment, the better your chances of improving sperm production.
Wearing tight underwear or a jockstrap can sometimes provide you with the support that alleviates pain or discomfort. Additional treatment, such as varicocelectomy and varicocele embolization, might be necessary if your symptoms get worse.
A varicocelectomy is a same-day surgery that’s done in a hospital. A urologist will go in through your abdomen or pelvis and clamp or tie off the abnormal veins. Blood can then flow around the abnormal veins to the normal ones. Talk with your doctor about how to prepare for the surgery and what to expect after the operation.
Varicocele embolization is a less invasive, same-day procedure. A small catheter is inserted into a groin or neck vein. A coil is then placed into the catheter and into the varicocele. This blocks blood from getting to the abnormal veins.
Infertility is a common complication of a varicocele. Talk to your doctor about seeing a reproductive specialist if you and your partner are having problems getting pregnant.
Surgery is only necessary if the varicocele is causing you pain or if you’re trying to have a child. Talk to your doctor about which treatment is right for you.
What is a testicular ultrasound?
A testicular ultrasound is a diagnostic test that obtains images of the testicles and the surrounding tissues in your scrotum. Ultrasound is also called sonography or ultrasound scanning. Your doctor may refer to a testicular ultrasound as a testicular sonogram or scrotal ultrasound.
The two testicles are the primary male reproductive organs. They produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone. Your testicles are in your scrotum, which is the fleshy pouch of tissue that hangs under your penis.
An ultrasound is a safe, painless, and non-invasive procedure. The procedure uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of organs inside your body.
An ultrasound uses a probe or transducer. This handheld device converts energy from one form to another. It’s moved against the targeted part of your body in sweeping motions. The transducer emits sound waves as it moves across your body. The transducer then receives the sound waves as they bounce off your organs in a series of echoes. A computer processes the echoes into images on a video monitor. Normal and abnormal tissue transmit different types of echoes. A radiologist can interpret the echoes to distinguish between benign conditions like a collection of fluid around your testicle and a solid mass that could be a malignant tumor.
A testicular ultrasound is the primary imaging method used to observe and diagnose abnormalities in the testicles. Your doctor may recommend a testicular ultrasound to:
Ultrasound echoes can provide real-time still or moving images. Data from moving images is useful in examining blood flow to and from your testicles.
Each testicle connects to the rest of your body by a spermatic cord. This tube contains an artery and a vein. The tube also includes the vas deferens, which carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra. Your doctor can study blood flow in your testicles to find narrowing or blockages interfering with the flow of semen and hindering fertility.
A testicular ultrasound won’t put you at risk for any health problems. There’s no radiation exposure during the procedure. However, you may have increased pain or discomfort during the procedure if you have certain testicular issues, such as testicular torsion or an infection.
Typically, there’s no special preparation necessary for a testicular ultrasound. There’s no need for dietary restrictions, fasting, or a full bladder before the exam.
Speak with your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you take. There rarely is a need to interrupt or discontinue medication before a testicular ultrasound.
A testicular ultrasound is usually an outpatient procedure performed in the radiology department of a hospital or at your doctor’s office.
Typically, a testicular ultrasound takes about 20 to 30 minutes. It involves the following steps.
You may need to change into a hospital gown. You won’t typically receive sedatives, anesthesia, or topical numbing agents.
You’ll lie on your back with your legs spread. The ultrasound technician may place a towel underneath your scrotum to keep it elevated. They may place wide strips of tape across your thighs and under your scrotum to elevate your scrotum.
You’ll need to lie completely still during the procedure.
The technician will apply a warm, water-based gel to your testicles. This gel will allow the transducer to glide over your body. It also facilitates the conduction of the sound waves.
The technician will glide the transducer around your scrotum, moving back and forth. You may feel pressure as the technician pushes it firmly against your body. You may feel discomfort if there’s pressure on an area where you have tenderness due to an abnormality.
The technician will position the transducer against your body from different angles.
The technician will wipe the gel off your body after the procedure.
After your testicular ultrasound, you can resume your normal activities and diet. No recovery time is necessary.
A radiologist will analyze the images obtained during your testicular ultrasound. They’ll then send a report detailing the results of the test to your doctor.
If there are abnormal findings on your testicular ultrasound, they may indicate:
Your doctor will probably recommend further investigation if the testicular ultrasound identifies a tumor.
The sac of skin that contains the testicles is called the scrotum. A scrotal mass is an abnormal bulge or lump inside the scrotum.
A scrotal mass can be a swollen testicle or it can contain fluid or other tissue. It’s possible that the mass could be cancerous, but there are also a number of noncancerous causes of a mass in the scrotum.
The symptoms you experience will vary depending on the cause of your scrotal mass. In some cases, there aren’t any symptoms other than a mass that you can feel with your fingers.
Other symptoms might include:
If your scrotal mass is the result of an infection, you might have a fever and feel you need to urinate more often. There might also be blood or pus in your urine.
Many conditions can cause scrotal masses.
Orchitis is inflammation of the testicle. Although orchitis can occur in both testicles simultaneously, it typically only affects one testicle.
Orchitis can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection and is commonly associated with the mumps.
Epididymitis is inflammation of the epididymis.
Most cases of epididymitis are caused by a bacterial infection. In people under 35 years old, epididymitis is most often caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia. Older people are often diagnosed with nonsexually transmitted epididymitis.
There’s also a rare form of the condition known as chemical epididymitis. It can be attributed to urine flowing into the epididymis.
A hydrocele occurs when one of the naturally occurring sacs that surrounds each testicle fills with fluid.
These sacs normally contain only a small amount of fluid. If the fluid collects, swelling can take place.
A hematocele is a type of blood clot that occurs when one of the sacs surrounding each testicle fills with blood. It’s usually associated with trauma or a prior surgery.
A spermatocele occurs when a benign and typically painless cyst develops near one of the testicles. Although spermatoceles are usually harmless, they can get quite large and become bothersome due to their bulk.
Other names for this condition include spermatic cyst and epididymal cyst.
A varicocele is an enlarged vein in your scrotum. Varicoceles mostly affect the left testicle.
They’re usually not symptomatic, but they can cause fullness, pain, aching, or even infertility in some cases.
An inguinal hernia occurs when fatty or intestinal tissue bulges through a weak section of your abdominal wall. It’s also known as a groin hernia.
Testicular torsion occurs when the spermatic cord, which connects your penis to your testicles, gets twisted.
Most people with testicular torsion are teens. This condition is painful, rare, and appears to have a genetic component.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe testicle pain. Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency. People who have it need to be brought to the emergency room as soon as possible for repair. If not, then they risk testicular loss.
Testicular cancer starts out as abnormal cells in the testicles and can be a potential cause of scrotal masses.
Some causes of scrotal masses don’t require immediate attention. However, it’s generally a good idea to talk with your doctor about any masses in your scrotum.
Other causes of scrotal masses can result in permanent damage to your testicles.
Your doctor can help properly diagnose and treat any masses you find.
Tests that they may perform in order to diagnose your condition include:
If your scrotal mass is the result of a bacterial infection, antibiotics will be a part of your treatment. If you have a viral infection, the best course of treatment is rest and pain medication.
In other scenarios, your doctor may simply leave the mass alone, depending on its size.
If the mass is noncancerous and doesn’t cause you severe pain or discomfort, you may not need treatment.
If your mass causes you discomfort, it might be removed. It can be surgically removed or your mass might be drained of fluid as is done for a hydrocele. Testicular torsion is considered a medical emergency and is almost always treated with surgery.
If the masses in your scrotum are caused by cancer, speak with a cancer treatment specialist to evaluate whether or not you’re a good candidate for treatment.
Important factors in determining if cancer treatment is right for you are your age, your overall health, and whether the cancer has spread outside of your testicles.
Treatments for cancer include:
You can help prevent scrotal masses caused by STIs by using condoms or other barrier methods during sex. While these methods aren’t 100 percent effective against all STIs, they can help reduce your risk.
Wearing a cup while playing sports will protect your testicles from injury.
Checking your scrotum and testicles for lumps each month can also help you and your doctor detect any problems as early as possible.
A bump on your scrotum isn’t usually a serious problem. But some bumps may be a sign of an underlying condition.
We’ll lay out the causes that you shouldn’t be concerned about as well as the ones that might warrant a trip to the doctor. We’ll also review treatment options for each cause.
Here’s a quick overview of potential causes:
| Common causes | Less common causes | Rare causes |
| pimple | genital herpes | orchitis |
| epidermal/sebaceous cyst | testicular mass | testicular cancer |
| spermatocele | idiopathic scrotal calcinosis | |
| varicocele |
Here are some of the possible causes of a bump on your scrotum, including minor conditions and more serious conditions.
Your scrotum has many follicles that contain hairs. These follicles can experience pimples for a number of reasons, including:
Pimples are easy to spot because of their recognizable symptoms:
Pimples are only a minor issue.
A sebaceous cyst happens when air, fluid, or another substance gets trapped inside a sebaceous gland. These glands contain an oil called sebum that helps keep your skin coated and protected.
These cysts are benign and not a cause for concern.
A spermatocele happens when a cyst grows in the epididymis, a tube in each of your testicles that contains fluid and unused sperm. It doesn’t cause any pain, but you can feel a spermatocele as a tiny, firm lump underneath the skin of the scrotum.
Spermatoceles are harmless and can’t become cancerous. They can grow and cause pain, discomfort, and a sensation of swelling in your scrotum.
They also share some symptoms with cancerous testicular masses. See a doctor to get your scrotum examined to make sure the mass isn’t cancerous.
A varicocele happens when a vein in your scrotum becomes enlarged.
This type of vein abnormality only happens in the scrotum, and more commonly in the left side of your scrotum, but varicoceles are a lot like varicose veins that can happen in your leg.
They’re usually not worth worrying about, but some of them can affect your fertility.
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that can result in bumps known as herpetic sores. These sores can become blisters that fill with infected fluid, which oozes out and causes pain when they’re broken open.
There are two types of herpes: HSV-1, the cause of cold sores, and HSV-2, the cause of genital herpes. HSV-2 can be transmitted through any kind of oral, anal, or genital sexual contact not protected by condoms or other barrier methods. It can also be transmitted through any infected spit, semen from the penis, or fluids from the vagina.
Genital herpes can’t be cured, but your doctor may be able to give you treatments that help reduce outbreaks or keep it from spreading.
Genital warts and genital skin tags can also be causes of bumps on the scrotum.
A scrotal mass happens when you have a lump, bulge, or some kind of swelling within your scrotum.
A number of things can cause a scrotal mass, such as swelling from an injury or infection, fluid build-up, or a non-cancerous tumor. Scrotal masses can be cancerous, too, so see your doctor as soon as possible to have the mass examined and diagnosed.
Orchitis happens when your testicles become swollen due to an infection from a virus or bacteria. It typically happens to a single testicle at a time, but it can happen to both.
Here are some common signs of orchitis:
This condition isn’t necessarily a major cause for concern, but see your doctor to get treatment for any bacterial or viral infections to prevent any complications or damage to your testicles.
Testicular cancer can happen to just one or both of your testicles. It usually starts as a small tumor in germ cells that make sperm inside your testicles.
See a doctor right away if you believe you have testicular cancer. The sooner it’s treated, the more likely it can be removed and stopped from spreading.
Idiopathic scrotal calcinosis (SC) is a rare condition in which large, discolored, lumpy bumps grow on the outside of the scrotum.
These lesions can be anywhere from a millimeter to a few centimeters across. They don’t usually cause any pain or result in any development of cancerous tissue.
See your doctor if you’re concerned about their appearance or to rule out cancer as a cause.
Here are some treatment options for each of the possible causes of bumps on your scrotum.
If necessary, a doctor will run imaging tests to look more closely at the bumps. Or, they make take a biopsy (tissue sample) either from the bump or from inside your scrotum to test for the presence of cancerous cells or other infected tissues. They may also ask for a urine or semen sample.
See your doctor right away if you notice any of the following symptoms along with bumps on your scrotum:
A bump on your scrotum isn’t usually much to worry about.
But see your doctor if you’re experiencing any uncomfortable, painful, or disruptive symptoms, or if you have any concerns about the bump being cancerous or having long-term complications.
Scrotal swelling is an enlargement of the scrotal sac. The scrotal sac, or scrotum, houses the testicles.
Scrotal swelling can occur due to injury or an underlying medical condition. It may be caused by a buildup of fluid, inflammation, or an abnormal growth within the scrotum.
The swelling may be painless or very painful. If the swelling is painful, seek emergency treatment. In severe cases and depending on the cause, not receiving timely treatment can result in the loss of your testicles due to the death of tissue.
Scrotal swelling can happen rapidly or slowly over time. One of the main causes of painful scrotal swelling is testicular torsion. This is an injury or an event that causes a testicle in the scrotal sac to twist and cut off blood circulation. This very painful injury could cause tissue death to the scrotum in a matter of hours.
Medical conditions and diseases can also cause the scrotum to swell. These conditions include:
Other symptoms related to these conditions may be present before scrotal swelling.
In addition to a visible enlargement of the scrotal sac, you may have additional symptoms. The symptoms you experience will depend on the cause of the swelling.
Common symptoms that may be experienced alongside scrotal swelling include a lump in the testicle and pain in the testicles or scrotum.
Contact your doctor if you notice either of these symptoms.
Mention to your doctor any symptoms you’re experiencing with the scrotal swelling. Let them know if your scrotum is painful or contains a lump. After gathering this information, your doctor will perform a physical examination.
The examination will include a physical inspection of the scrotum. At this point, they will ask when you noticed the swelling and what activities you were doing before the swelling.
If necessary, the doctor may perform a scrotal ultrasound to view the inside of the scrotum. This imaging test will let them see if there are any abnormalities within the scrotal sac.
Treatment options for scrotal swelling depend on the cause. If an infection caused the swelling, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. If oral antibiotics don’t work, you may have to receive intramuscular antibiotics or be hospitalized for IV antibiotics.
Treatment of an underlying medical condition that is linked to your symptoms is important in your recovery. Your doctor can prescribe medications to help you manage your pain and may recommend a supportive garment to ease pain and swelling. Surgery may be necessary to correct the condition if the underlying cause is varicocele, hernia, or hydrocele.
Testicular cancer has several treatment options, which will depend on the severity of the cancer. Whether the cancer has spread and how long it went undetected will determine your treatment, which normally consists of the following:
In addition to receiving care from your doctor, they may suggest at-home treatment options, including:
The outlook for scrotal swelling varies depending on the severity of the swelling and the cause. Swelling due to injury will generally pass with time, while other causes require extensive treatment. With early diagnosis and proper treatment, the outlook is generally good.
Testicular cancer is when cancerous cells develop in the testicles. According to the American Cancer Society, it’s a relatively uncommon cancer. Only about 1 in 250 men (0.4 percent) will develop it at some point during their life.
You may have seen social media posts about using a home pregnancy test to detect testicular cancer. While this is technically possible, it’s not a medically sound way to test for cancer — and there are even some ways it can cause harm.
Keep reading to learn more about why people are using pregnancy tests for testicular cancer if there’s any truth to this method, and what to do if you suspect you may have testicular cancer.
The use of a home pregnancy test to detect testicular cancer goes back to a social media post from several years ago. In it, the poster described his male friend’s positive pregnancy test.
Various comments urged the poster to tell his friend to see a doctor, as a positive pregnancy test in a male could be a sign of testicular cancer. After visiting a doctor, it did turn out that the test-taker had a small testicular tumor.
The rationale behind this is that testicular tumors can lead to an increase in a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). This is the same hormone that’s detected by home pregnancy tests.
Therefore, if a male uses a home pregnancy test and receives a positive result, it means extra hCG has been detected in the urine.
However, this is in no way a diagnosis. It should prompt a doctor’s visit for further testing.
Testicular cancer is associated with elevated levels of certain markers, including hCG. The common diagnostic tests for testicular cancer work to detect these markers in a person’s blood.
Cancer markers can also be present in urine. Because of this, it’s technically possible for a home pregnancy test to detect testicular cancer.
The idea of using a home pregnancy test to detect testicular cancer isn’t new. In fact, the use of a urine pregnancy test for testicular cancer screening has been reported as early as the mid-1980s.
Since then, various publications have mentioned using urine pregnancy tests as a screening method. This is particularly true when the materials and equipment aren’t on hand to do blood tests for hCG and other testicular cancer markers.
But it never became a widespread practice and for good reason (more on that below).
While it’s possible for a home pregnancy test to detect hCG levels related to testicular cancer, there are some very important drawbacks to know about using this testing method.
Let’s explore these in the context of both a negative and a positive test result.
A negative result on a home pregnancy test doesn’t mean you don’t have testicular cancer. This is because not all testicular cancers will produce elevated levels of hCG or other cancer markers.
It’s possible to have a testicular tumor and receive a negative result on a home pregnancy test. A negative home pregnancy test can provide a false sense of security, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
If you’re concerned about testicular cancer, it’s very important to see a doctor for screening, and not rely on the results of a home pregnancy test.
There are several things that can interfere with home pregnancy tests and lead to a false-positive result. Some examples include:
Getting a positive result on a home pregnancy test may cause unnecessary levels of stress, as well as unnecessary visits to your doctor.
It’s also important to point out that other types of cancer, such as those of the stomach and lung, have been documented to produce hCG. In this rare scenario, a positive result could indicate a type of cancer other than testicular cancer.
The outlook for testicular cancer improves with early diagnosis and treatment. Because of this, it’s very important to seek medical evaluation if you have any signs or symptoms of testicular cancer.
Some things to look out for include:
Performing a testicular self-exam once a month can help you know what’s normal for your testicles. As such, it can help you identify any noticeable changes that may be associated with testicular cancer.
Home pregnancy tests are not a reliable way to detect testicular cancer. The idea came about because hCG — the hormone that’s detected on a pregnancy test — can be at elevated levels in testicular cancer.
However, not all testicular cancers produce increased levels of hCG, making a negative result misleading. On the other hand, the presence of blood or protein in the urine as well as the use of certain medications can lead to a false-positive result.
Overall, a home pregnancy test may not be useful for detecting testicular cancer. If you have symptoms of testicular cancer, it’s important to see a doctor for further testing rather than relying on a home pregnancy test.
The testicles produce the primary male sex hormone testosterone, as well as sperm. The average size of a man testicle is about 4 x 3 x 2 centimeters (cm) in size and is oval-shaped. Most men have two testicles, also known as testes. It’s common for one of a man’s testicles to be a different size than the other testicle. Testicles reside in the scrotum, attached at each end to the spermatic cord.
Healthy production of testosterone and sperm can occur within a wide range of testicular volume. Some studies have suggested that larger testicles among some mammals are associated with higher testosterone levels, while smaller testicular volume is associated with decreased sperm production.
Testosterone levels can become a concern if you have a condition such as Klinefelter syndrome, which results from having an extra X chromosome. Symptoms of this condition include smaller testes or undescended testes, and some female characteristics, such as less body and facial hair, and breast tissue growth. Having Klinefelter syndrome usually means having lower testosterone levels and reduced sperm activity. Infertility can result.
The clinical term for abnormally low testosterone is hypogonadism. Symptoms may include:
Hypogonadism is often treated with testosterone replacement therapy, and it can sometimes begin during puberty.
A 2013 study found that slightly smaller testicles were associated with a more nurturing quality among fathers. Reduced testosterone levels and testes volume were associated with higher levels of paternal caregiving.
If you notice swelling of your testicles, tell your doctor. Growing larger testes in adulthood can signal testicular cancer or another health problem, rather than be a sign of increasing virility.
A male’s testicle is about 1 cubic centimeter at birth and stays around that size until the testicles start growing about age 8. Then they grow steadily, reaching their adult size sometime during puberty. It’s also during puberty that hair starts to grow on the scrotum and around the genitals.
Testicles tend to grow at the same rate, though one may grow slightly larger and for a little longer than the other. It’s also common for one testicle to hang a little lower than the other.
As you age, testosterone production tends to drop as your testicles start to get smaller. This is known as testicular atrophy. The change is often gradual and may not be especially noticeable. When it occurs naturally, there is no health threat. Lower testosterone levels can lead to a reduced libido and less muscle mass, but these tend to be natural parts of aging.
Certain health problems can also cause testicular atrophy, including:
Other, harmless factors can also cause temporary changes in the scrotum and testicles. Cold temperatures, in particular, can cause “shrinkage,” though this has no impact on the size of the testicles themselves.
When exposed to cold water or temperatures, the testicles may temporarily retract closer to the body through a mechanism called cremasteric retraction. This occurs because the testicles try to maintain a certain temperature that is ideal for sperm production. That temperature is slightly cooler than average body temperature, which is why the testicles tend to hang down away from the body. But when exposed to cold water or cold temperatures, the cremaster muscle kicks in, pulling the testicles up into the body for warmth.
It’s very common for one testicle to be slightly larger than the other. There is usually no medical or health explanation for a size difference.
However, if you notice a change in the size or shape of one or both testicles, you should tell your doctor. If one testicle starts to feel heavier or you feel a lump or a change of shape, it could be a tumor and possibly the first sign of testicular cancer. This form of cancer is often treated successfully, but an early diagnosis is critical. Testicular cancer or testicular torsion, which is a twisting of the spermatic cord that causes pain and swelling, should be evaluated and treated by a doctor soon after symptoms develop.
Regardless of the size of your testicles, you should perform monthly testicular self-examinations to check for lumps or other changes that might indicate disease. A self-exam can be done after a shower or before you get dressed in the morning.
To do a self-exam, take a minute to gently roll your testicles between your thumb and fingers to feel for any changes in their size, shape, or hardness. Doing this in front of a mirror may help you see what you’re doing. If you experience any pain during a gentle exam or you notice a suspicious lump, swelling, or other change, see your doctor soon. Such changes could suggest testicular cancer or an infection.
You may discuss changes to your testicles with your primary care physician or you can make an appointment to see a urologist. A urologist is a doctor who specializes in the health of the male reproductive system and the urinary tract. Don’t wait to see your doctor. Testicular cancer is usually treated by surgically removing the cancerous testicle, but when caught early, the other testicle is usually spared.
The health and function of your genitalia is more important than size. If you feel that your testicles are too small or you have other symptoms that concern you, like low libido, excessive breast tissue, or infertility, talk with your doctor. Testosterone therapy can often help. If sperm production is affected, there are fertility specialists who may be able to help you and your partner conceive a child.
What is a testicular ultrasound?
A testicular ultrasound is a diagnostic test that obtains images of the testicles and the surrounding tissues in your scrotum. Ultrasound is also called sonography or ultrasound scanning. Your doctor may refer to a testicular ultrasound as a testicular sonogram or scrotal ultrasound.
The two testicles are the primary male reproductive organs. They produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone. Your testicles are in your scrotum, which is the fleshy pouch of tissue that hangs under your penis.
An ultrasound is a safe, painless, and noninvasive procedure. The procedure uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of organs inside your body.
An ultrasound uses a probe or transducer. This handheld device converts energy from one form to another. It’s moved against the targeted part of your body in sweeping motions. The transducer emits sound waves as it moves across your body. The transducer then receives the sound waves as they bounce off your organs in a series of echoes. A computer processes the echoes into images on a video monitor. Normal and abnormal tissue transmit different types of echoes. A radiologist can interpret the echoes to distinguish between benign condition like a collection of fluid around your testicle and a solid mass that could be a malignant tumor.
A testicular ultrasound is the primary imaging method used to observe and diagnose abnormalities in the testicles. Your doctor may recommend a testicular ultrasound to:
Ultrasound echoes can provide real-time still or moving images. Data from moving images is useful in examining blood flow to and from your testicles.
Each testicle connects to the rest of your body by a spermatic cord. This tube contains an artery and a vein. The tube also includes the vas deferens, which carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra. Your doctor can study blood flow in your testicles to find narrowing or blockages interfering with the flow of semen and hindering fertility.
A testicular ultrasound won’t put you at risk for any health problems. There’s no radiation exposure during the procedure. However, you may have increased pain or discomfort during the procedure if you have certain testicular issues, such as testicular torsion or an infection.
Typically, there’s no special preparation necessary for a testicular ultrasound. There’s no need for dietary restrictions, fasting, or a full bladder before the exam.
Speak with your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you take. There rarely is a need to interrupt or discontinue medication before a testicular ultrasound.
A testicular ultrasound is usually an outpatient procedure performed in the radiology department of a hospital or at your doctor’s office.
Typically, a testicular ultrasound takes about 20 to 30 minutes. It involves the following steps.
You may need to change into a hospital gown. You won’t typically receive sedatives, anesthesia, or topical numbing agents.
You’ll lie on your back with your legs spread. The ultrasound technician may place a towel underneath your scrotum to keep it elevated. They may place wide strips of tape across your thighs and under your scrotum to elevate your scrotum.
You’ll need to lie completely still during the procedure.
The technician will apply a warm, water-based gel to your testicles. This gel will allow the transducer to glide over your body. It also facilitates the conduction of the sound waves.
The technician will glide the transducer around your scrotum, moving back and forth. You may feel pressure as the technician pushes it firmly against your body. You may feel discomfort if there’s pressure on an area where you have tenderness due to an abnormality.
The technician will position the transducer against your body from different angles.
The technician will wipe the gel off your body after the procedure.
After your testicular ultrasound, you can resume your normal activities and diet. No recovery time is necessary.
A radiologist will analyze the images obtained during your testicular ultrasound. They’ll then send a report detailing the results of the test to your doctor.
If there are abnormal findings on your testicular ultrasound, they may indicate:
Your doctor will probably recommend further investigation if the testicular ultrasound identifies a tumor.
What is a Testicular Biopsy?
A testicular biopsy takes a tissue sample from your testicle for laboratory analysis.
The two testicles are the male reproductive organs. They produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone. Your testicles are located in your scrotum, which is the fleshy pouch of tissue that hangs under your penis.
A testicular biopsy can be used to:
There are two different procedures for a testicular biopsy.
With a percutaneous biopsy, a thin biopsy needle is inserted through the skin. The needle has a syringe on the end to collect the testicular tissue. This procedure does not require an incision or stitches. It also is called a fine needle biopsy.
A core needle biopsy is a variation on this technique. It uses a hollow, spring-loaded needle to extract a cylinder of cells. This is called a core sample. A core sample is a larger specimen than one from a fine needle biopsy.
An open biopsy is also called a surgical biopsy. Your doctor starts by making a cut in the skin. A cut also is made in the testicle. Then a small tissue sample is taken from the opening and stitches are used to close the cuts.
A testicular biopsy is an important tool in diagnosing male infertility. However, it is not the first step. For the initial phase in a fertility evaluation, your doctor will take a health history and order blood tests and a semen analysis.
Semen analysis looks at the quantity and quality of your sperm. The initial semen sample is usually obtained by masturbation.
Semen analysis can identify the following problems:
Blood and hormone tests often can identify the causes of low sperm levels. However, when these tests are not conclusive, you may need a testicular biopsy.
A testicular biopsy may be used to:
The preparations required for this test are minimal.
Tell your physician about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking. Discuss whether these medications should be used before and during the test.
Certain drugs may pose a special risk during the procedure. These include:
If you are receiving general anesthesia, you will need to fast from food and drink for at least eight hours before your test. If you are given a sedative to take at home before the biopsy, you will not be able to drive yourself to the procedure.
A testicular biopsy is usually an outpatient procedure. It may be performed at your doctor’s office or a hospital.
The biopsy typically takes about 15 to 20 minutes. It is performed by a doctor or another trained health professional.
You may be offered a sedative to help you relax for the test. Since you have to stay completely still, some doctors prefer to use general anesthesia instead. With either medication, the biopsy technique remains the same.
You will be asked to lie on your back and the scrotum will be cleaned to remove bacteria. An injection of local anesthesia will numb the skin of the scrotum. You may feel a slight sting.
If you are having an open biopsy, the following procedure is typical:
The procedure for a percutaneous biopsy will depend on the type of needle used — a core needle or a fine needle.
Testicular biopsy is rarely used to diagnose testicular cancer. Typically, it is performed when the diagnosis is uncertain. This is because a biopsy, unfortunately, increases the likelihood the cancer will spread.
Your physician is more likely to use ultrasound for cancer diagnosis. Your testicle can also be examined and removed through open surgery. This is called a radical inguinal orchiectomy.
A radical inguinal orchiectomy to diagnose cancer includes the following steps:
After your testicular biopsy, you will receive special instructions to help you heal and remain comfortable. Instructions will vary depending on the type of biopsy.
You may be advised to:
It is normal to have swelling, discoloration, and discomfort for a few days. A small amount of bleeding is also common. Your doctor may also warn you about other routine side effects that are procedure-dependent.
A testicular biopsy can help your doctor resolve your infertility problems. It does not carry a risk of erection or fertility problems after the procedure.
Prolonged bleeding and post-procedure infection are two potentially serious risks. However, they are rare. Contact your physician if you experience:
Another possible risk is internal damage to the testicles or nearby areas. This is rare.
Your tissue sample will be analyzed under a microscope. The pathologist will identify any defects in sperm production or development.
Your results may show normal sperm development. If you previously had a low or zero sperm count, an obstruction may be the cause of your infertility.
Blockages in the vas deferens have been shown to cause this type of infertility. The vas deferens is the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the urethra. Surgery may be able to correct the problem.
Additional causes of abnormal results include:
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