Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

The most common cause of groin pain is a muscle, tendon or ligament strain, particularly in athletes who play sports such as hockey, soccer and football. Groin pain might occur immediately after an injury, or pain might come on gradually over a period of weeks or even months. Groin pain might be worsened by continued use of the injured area.

Less commonly, a bone injury or fracture, a hernia, or even kidney stones might cause groin pain. Although testicle pain and groin pain are different, a testicle condition can sometimes cause pain that spreads to the groin area.

Direct and indirect causes of groin pain can include:

  1. Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis)
  2. Avulsion fracture (ligament or tendon pulled from the bone)
  3. Bursitis
  4. Epididymitis (testicle inflammation)
  5. Hydrocele (fluid buildup that causes swelling of the scrotum)
  6. Inguinal hernia
  7. Kidney stones (hard objects that form due to chemicals in urine)
  8. Mumps
  9. Muscle strains
  10. Orchitis (inflamed testicle)
  11. Osteoarthritis
  12. Pinched nerve
  13. Piriformis syndrome
  14. Retractile testicle (testicle that moves between the scrotum and abdomen)
  15. Sciatica
  16. Scrotal masses
  17. Spermatocele (fluid buildup in the testicle)
  18. Sprains
  19. Stress fractures
  20. Swollen lymph nodes
  21. Tendinitis
  22. Testicular cancer
  23. Testicular torsion (twisted testicle)
  24. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  25. Varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum)

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

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Jan. 27, 2023

See also

  1. Baby Hip Instability and Dysplasia
  2. Hip dysplasia
  3. Hip fracture
  4. Inguinal hernia
  5. Kidney infection
  6. Meralgia paresthetica
  7. Peyronie's disease
  8. Prostatitis
  9. Prostatitis and sex
  10. Recurrent prostate infection
  11. Sacroiliitis
  12. Scrotal masses
  13. Integrative approaches to treating pain
  14. Nutrition and pain
  15. Pain rehabilitation
  16. Self-care approaches to treating pain