Testicle pain has a lot of possible causes. Some can wait for a regular appointment. One cannot. Here's how to tell the difference, and where to go next.
Sudden, severe testicle pain needs immediate medical care. Don't wait it out. Go to an emergency room.
Testicular torsion is when the testicle twists and cuts off its own blood supply. It's a medical emergency. It's most common between ages 10 and 20, and when surgery happens within 4 hours, most testicles can be saved.
Go to an emergency room or call your doctor right away if:
Call your doctor right away, too, if you feel a lump, have a fever, or your scrotum is red, warm, or tender to the touch.
Testicles are sensitive, so even a minor injury can hurt. Beyond injury and torsion, the usual suspects are:
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Testicular cancer is almost always painless. That's exactly why a lump shouldn't wait just because it doesn't hurt: any lump should be checked by a doctor, with or without pain. A dull ache in the lower belly or groin, a change in how a testicle feels, or a sudden build-up of fluid in the scrotum are also worth getting looked at.
To find out what's going on, a doctor may do a physical exam, an ultrasound, and blood tests for tumor markers.
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Sources: MedlinePlus (NIH), Testicle pain; National Cancer Institute, Testicular Cancer Symptoms and Diagnosis. This page is for education, not a diagnosis.
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