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:
- adductor brevis
- adductor longus
- adductor magnus
- gracilis
- pectineus
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.
What’s causing my groin pain?
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.
Most common causes
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.
Less common causes
The less common disorders and conditions that could cause pain or discomfort in the groin are:
- intestinal inflammation
- testicular inflammation
- enlarged lymph nodes
- ovarian cysts
- pinched nerves
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- osteoarthritis of the hip
Diagnosing groin pain
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.
Hernia test
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-ray and ultrasound
X-rays and ultrasounds can help your healthcare provider see if a bone fracture, testicular mass, or ovarian cyst is causing the groin pain.
Complete blood count (CBC)
This type of blood test can help determine if an infection is present.
Treatment for groin pain
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.
Home Care
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.
Medical Treatment
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.
Knowing when to contact your doctor
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:
- notice physical changes in the testicles, such as lumps or swelling
- notice blood in your urine
- experience pain that spreads to your lower back, chest, or abdomen
- develop a fever or feel nauseous
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.
Preventing groin pain
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.
- Esteve E, et al. (2015). Prevention of groin injuries in sports: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. DOI:
10.1136/bjsports-2014-094162 - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Groin pain (male).
mayoclinic.org/symptoms/groin-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050652 - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Inguinal hernia.
mayoclinic.com/health/inguinal-hernia/DS00364 - Paajanen H, et al. (2019). Long-standing groin pain in contact sports: A prospective case — control and MRI study. DOI:
10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000507 - Shah SA. (2014). Groin strain.
kidshealth.org/en/teens/groin-strain.html
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