Are you having stinging pain in your testicles and inner thigh for a while? You must have been a little edgy since you experienced pain around your private parts, hence you are looking for relevant write-ups on the Internet. Then relax because this article contains almost everything you need to know!
So, why do you think you might be having pain in your right testicle and inner thigh?
It may be the consequence of various diseases like infection, STIs, kidney problems, tumors, testicular torsion, etc. Whenever you experience pain in the scrotal region, you may find yourself in distress and unable to resume the usual pursuits of life. So, visiting a doctor and taking proper treatment is a necessity.
Pain in the testicles and surrounding regions like the inner thigh can be very distressing. Not only this terrible pain causes physical agony but also provides hindrance in social, professional, and personal lives making them feel uncomfortable.
This article will reflect the reasons why you have pain in your testicles and inner thigh and some of the suggestive treatment plans. So let’s begin!
Table of Content
The Possible Reasons for Pain in Right Testicle and Inner Thigh
Out of all the gonads and accessory organs in a male body, testicles are the principal reproductive organ. Two oval-shaped testes/testicles are located on each side of a pouch of skin and fat layers called the scrotum and it produces sperm.
The scrotum hangs outside of the body, giving attachment to the testicles with an environment 4-5 degrees cooler than the body. Since the testicles are densely packed with numerous nerve endings in a small region, even the slightest impact can cause incredible pain on the body.
Additionally, testicles are the source of the male hormone called testosterone which develops sexual characteristics like body-facial hair, deep voice, sex drive, etc.
Pain in the testicles and surrounding regions like the inner thigh can be very distressing. Not only this terrible pain causes physical agony but also provides hindrance in social, professional, and personal lives making them feel uncomfortable.
All you need to do is have accurate knowledge of your health status and create awareness for sexual health for others as well.
You are most likely to have pain during sexual activities, after ejaculation, while peeing, and after exercise. Feeling discomfort while sleeping or laying down is not uncommon.
Here are some of the most possible reasons that might cause pain in the right testicle and inner thigh.
Epididymitis
The male reproductive part where the sperm is stored is called the epididymis. When there is an infection of the epididymis, it is called epididymitis. Bacterias that cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and pathogens leading to urinary tract infection are primarily responsible for epididymitis to develop.
Some of the symptoms include,
- Increasing pain in the groin
- Swelling in testicles
- Warm temperature when the scrotum is touched
- Whitish discharge from penis etc.
This disease is treated mainly with medications and scrotal support, but severe cases may require hospitalization for abscess drainage or surgical removal of the epididymis, which is extremely rare.
Orchitis
The swelling of testicles, in one or both, is called orchitis. It occurs due to any inflammation and bacterial or viral infection in the testicles.
Symptoms include
- Fever, vomiting
- Tenderness in scrotum
- Testicular pain and swelling
- Unusual discharge from penis etc.
Most men recover without having any impact on their reproductive health. Orchitis is fully treatable and rarely causes infertility. Although there are a few rare complications that may occur if this condition is left untreated and if the abscess remains undrained.
Hernia
There are various types of hernias out of which inguinal hernia is linked to our topic of concern. Inguinal hernias are the type of hernia where the intestinal contents protrude through the lower abdominal wall into the groin and cause swelling, pain in the groin, lower belly, and inner thigh.
Accumulation of minerals or crystals in the kidney causes stones to form and get stuck in the passage of the bladder. The pain can be mild or sometimes excruciatingly severe extending from upper abdomen to groin!
It commonly affects older men since their abdominal muscles get weaker with age.
Some of the common symptoms of inguinal hernia are
- Enlarged scrotum
- Dull pain in the groin while lifting, coughing or while doing workouts
- Bulging of fat or muscle
- Tenderness etc.
Hernia is not fatal and needs surgery for removal, however, it may reappear even after surgical interventions.
Testicular Torsion
Were you familiar with the fact that testicles can actually twist or rotate? The word torsion means twisting on a plane. Within the sac of the scrotum, the testicles are secured by what we call is the spermatic cord. This cord has all the blood vessels that provide blood flow to the testicles.
Testicular torsion is actually considered a medical emergency because when the testes twist themselves around the cords, it blocks the blood supply to the testicles. With less or no blood the testicles can become dysfunctional, making the scrotum enlarged, red, and tender.
The symptoms of testicular torsion include
- Sudden severe pain in the scrotum and inner thigh
- Dizziness
- Diffuse swelling
- Change in color and size of the scrotum
- Vomiting
- Elevated testicles etc.
This pain almost feels like getting kicked in the crotch! Testicular torsion generally occurs to men in their mid-20s because of how the testicles rest on the sac itself (how it has been since birth) not mostly because of physical activities or sudden injury.
Testicular Cancer
Despite having a lower rate of incidence, testicular cancer may also cause pain in the testicles and inner thigh. It may occur for tumors or mass formation in the testicles. Men with undescended testicles (cryptorchidism) and having a family history of testicular cancer are at a major risk.
One misconception that needs to be cleared is that most testicular tumors are benign, not cancerous.
The typical manifestations associated with testicular cancer:
- Painless or painful lumps
- Heaviness of the scrotum
- Dull ache in the groin
- Sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Clot formation in major blood vessels is dangerous and can cause aching pain in your inner thighs. The symptoms of DVT are:
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Discoloration in the legs
- Pitting edema (abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body tissues) etc.
This may lead to a life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism where the clot detaches and travels from your leg up to the lungs. So, you need to be aware of the manifestations because a lot of people may misinterpret DVT as a mere pain, not a medical emergency.
Kidney Stone
Accumulation of minerals or crystals in the kidney causes stones to form and get stuck in the passage of the bladder. The pain can be mild or sometimes excruciatingly severe extending from upper abdomen to groin! In addition to pain in the groin, the associated symptoms of kidney stones are:
- Hematuria (blood in urine)
- Pain while urinating
- Vomiting etc.
Muscle Strain
This can happen at any site of the body. Generally, muscle tears or strains are the consequences of overuse of muscle and lack of sufficient warm-up and stretching before engaging in any heavy work that demands exclusive vigor and energy.
The symptoms of a muscle strain are:
- Muscle spasm
- Stiffness
- Limitation in movement of lower limbs
- Soreness
- Bruising etc.
Varicoceles
The abnormal enlargement of veins inside the scrotal sac is called varicoceles. This occurs in the vein, collectively called pampiniform plexus, that drains blood from the testicles. This condition is similar to that of varicose veins in your legs.
Although this condition comes with almost no visible symptoms, there are a few significant concerns that might tag along. Studies say that 15 out of 100 men can have a varicocele out of which the majority of them experience infertility and reduced sperm activity later. This is not entirely evident but the chances are average.
Likewise, varicocele is often discovered while investigating the causes of male fertility.
Trauma
When the testicles are injured by external penetrating force (gunshot, stab wound, or cut wound) or blunt force (punch, kick, or being hit by a baseball) you can actually call that a “testicular trauma”. These damages may somewhat be restored depending on depth and severity by proper medication and care, but they might as well become irreversible, causing absolute loss of the whole testicle.
The findings or symptoms after testicular trauma are
- Nausea
- Bruising to the scrotum
- Trouble while urinating
- Blood in urine
- Fever after getting hurt etc.
Try to do a self-examination (known as TSE) at home to detect any prominent changes in your testicles. A lump or mass and a change in the size of the testicles may indicate a testicular tumor.
When to Visit a Doctor
Go to the hospital in case you have any of the following signs or symptoms
- If you have a fever.
- If your testicles are red in color, warm and tender.
- If you have a lump or mass on your scrotum.
- If you start vomiting or feel nauseous.
- If you develop sudden severe pain in the scrotum.
Diagnosis
Felt terrified when you read the causes of pain? Don’t be. Because most of these are steadily and entirely curable, just a few of them have irreversible damage. You need to seek medical care and have diagnostic tests run over along with a complete physical examination of your body.
In physical examination your doctor will check your private parts and go for advanced tests, if required, to rule out the problem. To determine precise health conditions, you need to have a urinalysis, urine culture, imaging tests like ultrasonograms, etc. You may also need to give a sample of ejaculatory secretions for better analysis of semen and overall sperm movement.
Testicular Pain Treatment
Whatever the diagnosis comes out, it must be remembered that they are highly recoverable although few of them may cause permanent damage and induce infertility.
Following are the possible treatments you may require if you have pain in the testicles and inner thigh.
- If you have been diagnosed with infectious diseases like epididymitis, orchitis etc by bacteria or virus you will be recommended to have antibiotics.
- If you have been diagnosed with testicular torsion, you will be needing surgical interventions to restore the normal blood flow to your testicles. It’s necessary to remember that the operation must be conducted within 6-7 hours of the torsion if you want the testicles to become fully functional. If delayed, there is a high risk of losing the affected testicle permanently.
- If you have conditions like hernia, you might require surgical procedures for recovery. Some of the complications that can happen as a result are strangulation and obstruction. Surgery will prevent the bulge from sticking out, however there is always a chance that it can return after operation.
- For kidney stones you might need to get a surgery to have these stones removed. However, medications may dissolve these stones if they are tiny in size.
- If you have an injury or impact on the area that led to pain in testicles and inner thigh, you will be asked to go for pain relievers and physical therapy. Stretching with athletic bands or clothing will help to some extent. Remember that these therapy needs to be aided and monitored by experts, otherwise there is a chance of a worsened swelling.
- If you are asked to have surgery for varicocele, you will be given the approaches like laparoscopic process and microscopic varicocelectomy.
- OTC drugs that relieve pain (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) can help you feel better and recover fast
- Cold compresses work like magic if you have testicular swelling. Use an ice pack or a bag of frozen food and apply it for 10-15 minutes everyday until the pain subsides.
- Refrain yourself from sports and games that add pressure to your groin and delays the recovery process.
How Do You Prevent the Causes of Testicular Pain?
You can follow the following instructions if you want to prevent pain in the testis and inner thing:
- Wear protective gears while playing sports like cricket, baseball etc. Remember it takes only seconds to get injured and days or even months to recover.
- Take shower regularly with warm water. Bathing with warm water is beneficial. Hygiene is not only important for your body, but also your sexual health. You need to keep your genital regions clean so that there is no risk of developing infection.
- Make sure your partner is free from sexual diseases.
- Practice safe sex by using condoms in order to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. If you find yourself tested positive for any sort of STIs, get your partner tested immediately and refrain from sexual activities for the time being.
- When you urinate, empty your bladder completely and keep the area clean and dry in order to prevent urinary tract infections.
- Immunise your kids at a young age in order to avoid the risk of developing any disease.
- Wear comfortable shoes before running or doing strenuous activities.
Bonus: Home Precautions to Prevent Pain in Testicles and Inner Thigh
You can always examine yourself before going for medical help. The most convenient thing is that it is super easy and takes less than a minute! You need to be familiar with the characteristic shape, consistency, and size of the testicles.
Try to do a self-examination (known as TSE) at home to detect any prominent changes in your testicles. A lump or mass and a change in the size of the testicles may indicate a testicular tumor. You must examine your testicles at least once a month if you are an adult more than 30 years.
This way, you must look for any abnormal findings. And if you see visible changes don’t delay. Visit the hospital immediately for detection of any underlying disease.
FAQs
Why do my inner thigh and balls hurt?
It could occur for multiple causes like testicular torsion, epididymitis, physical injury, orchitis, kidney infection, etc. If you have a muscle strain, you may also feel pain in your inner thigh and balls.
Can inner thigh pain be a blood clot?
Yes, you may have pain if you have a clot in your inner thigh.
What does a blood clot feel like in your inner thigh?
A clot in the inner thigh or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may feel like a cramp of a pulled muscle (Charley horse). We will see reddish or bluish discoloration, localized swelling in the affected leg, tenderness, etc in a DVT.
How will fertility be affected after having a testicle removed?
Your body will be fertile with only one functional testicle. However, the motility of sperm and movement may reduce a little bit, but having the testicles removed will not make anybody infertile completely.
Final Words
Healthy life comes a long way if you have an active and balanced life. If you are having pain in your right testicles and inner thigh, try to look out for other signs, and most importantly don’t feel hesitant to talk about it.
Examine your private parts by yourself. Learn about the abnormal findings. Remember that anybody can have these problems, be it a school-going teenager or an elderly man.
Eat healthily, live happily, and stay positive!
