Many things can cause testicle pain. The testicles are very sensitive. Even a minor injury can cause them to hurt. Pain might come from within the testicle itself. Or it might arise from the coiled tube and supporting tissue behind the testicle, called the epididymis.

Sometimes, what seems to be testicle pain is caused by a problem that starts in the groin, stomach area or somewhere else. For example, kidney stones and some hernias can cause testicle pain. Other times, the cause of testicle pain can't be found. You might hear this called idiopathic testicular pain.

Some causes of testicle pain start within the pouch of skin that holds the testicles, called the scrotum. These causes include:

  1. Epididymitis (When the coiled tube at the back of the testicle becomes inflamed.)
  2. Hydrocele (Fluid buildup that causes swelling of the skin pouch that holds the testicles, called the scrotum.)
  3. Orchitis (A condition in which one or both testicles become inflamed.)
  4. Scrotal masses (Lumps in the scrotum that can be due to cancer or other conditions that are not cancer.)
  5. Spermatocele (A fluid-filled sac that can form near the top of a testicle.)
  6. Testicle injury or hard hit to the testicles.
  7. Testicular torsion (A twisted testicle that loses its blood supply.)
  8. Varicocele (Enlarged veins in the scrotum.)

Causes of testicle pain or pain in the testicle area that start outside of the scrotum include:

  1. Diabetic neuropathy (Nerve damage caused by diabetes.)
  2. Henoch-Schonlein purpura (A condition that causes certain small blood vessels to become inflamed and bleed.)
  3. Inguinal hernia (A condition in which tissue bulges through a weak spot in the muscles of the abdomen and can descend into the scrotum.)
  4. Kidney stones (Hard objects that form inside the kidneys and are made of chemicals in urine.)
  5. Mumps (An illness caused by a virus.)
  6. Prostatitis (Infection or inflammation of the prostate.)
  7. Urinary tract infection (UTI) (An infection in any part of the urinary system.)

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Dec. 07, 2023