- 1. Hydrocele
- 2. Varicocele
- 3. Epididymitis
- 4. Testicular torsion
- 5. Cyst in the epididymis
- 6. Inguinal hernia
- 7. Testicular cancer
- When to go to the doctor
Testicular lump, also known as testicular lump, is a relatively common symptom that can appear in men of any age, from children to the elderly. However, the lump is rarely a sign of a serious problem such as cancer, whether or not it is accompanied by pain or other symptoms such as swelling or a feeling of pressure.
However, in any case it is always important that the lump is evaluated by a urologist, as it is the only way to confirm whether or not it is a serious problem. And even if it is not serious, the lump is being caused by some change that may or may not need treatment.
1. Hydrocele
A hydrocele is a small bag of liquid that accumulates near the testicle and can lead to a lump. This problem is more common in babies, but it can also happen in adult men, especially after the age of 40. Although it is not a serious problem, its size can vary a lot, the bigger ones can even lead to the appearance of pain and discomfort.
How to treat: Usually the hydrocele does not need any treatment, but if it is causing a lot of discomfort or does not regress naturally, the urologist can advise you to have a small surgery with local anesthesia to make a small cut in the scrotum and remove the hydrocele. Find out more about the hydrocele and when surgery is needed.
2. Varicocele
This is the main cause of lumps in the testicles and happens when the veins, which carry blood from the testicles, dilate and become larger than normal, ending up accumulating blood and generating the sensation of a lump. In these cases, it is also common to feel pain and heaviness.
How to treat: Most of the time the varicocele is controlled with painkillers, such as Dipyrone or Paracetamol, but if there is a risk of infertility, the doctor may recommend having surgery to close the vein that is dilated and make the blood pass only through those that are still are healthy, improving testicle function.
3. Epididymitis
Epididymitis arises when the epididymis, which is the structure that connects the testis to the vas deferens, becomes inflamed, which usually happens due to a bacterial infection, especially in cases of unprotected sex. In addition to the feeling of lump in the testicle, other symptoms such as pain, swelling of the testicles, fever and chills may also develop.
How to treat: To treat epididymitis it is necessary to take antibiotics to fight the infection, usually with 1 injection of ceftriaxone and 10 days of using doxycycline tablets or according to the urologist's recommendation.
4. Testicular torsion
Testicular torsion is usually one of the easiest problems to identify in the testis, as it causes sudden and very intense pain, as well as swelling and lump in the testicle. Twisting is more common in boys and men under the age of 25.
How to treat it: Testicular torsion is a medical emergency and, therefore, treatment with surgery must be performed within the first 12 hours to prevent the death of testicular tissues. So, in case of suspected torsion, it is very important to go quickly to the emergency room. Understand more about when testicular torsion can happen.
5. Cyst in the epididymis
This type of cyst, also known as spermatocele, consists of a small pocket that forms in the epididymis, the place where the vas deferens attaches to the testis. In most cases, the cyst does not cause pain, but if it continues to grow over time, in addition to a lump sticking to the testicle, pain or discomfort may also appear.
How to treat: Treatment is necessary when symptoms appear, starting with the use of painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. However, if there is no improvement after 2 weeks, surgery may be necessary to remove the cyst. Find out more about how the surgery is done and what recovery is like.
6. Inguinal hernia
The appearance of inguinal hernias happens when a portion of the intestine is able to pass through the muscles of the abdomen and, therefore, it is more common in cases of abdominal weakness, as it happens in children, the elderly and people who have had some surgery. This hernia can sometimes come out into the scrotum, creating the sensation of a lump in the testicle.
How to treat: The inguinal hernia needs to be treated by surgery to replace the portion of the intestine inside the abdominal region. Learn more about how inguinal hernia is treated.
7. Testicular cancer
Although it is one of the rarest situations, the development of testicular cancer can also cause the growth of a small lump in the testicle. Usually, cancer develops without causing any type of pain, so it is very important that every type of lump is evaluated by a urologist, even if it does not cause pain. See which signs may indicate cancer.
How to treat: In almost all cases it is necessary to remove the affected testicle to prevent some cancer cells from surviving and infecting the other testicle or metastasizing to the rest of the body.
When to go to the doctor
Symptoms that indicate that it is important to go quickly to the emergency room include:
- Very intense and sudden pain; Excessive swelling in the place; Fever and chills; Nausea and vomiting.
However, in any case it is always important to go to the urologist to assess the lump, since, even if symptoms do not appear, a problem that needs treatment or that is very serious, such as cancer, may be developing.
