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Testicular infection or torsion

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Symptoms:

• Sudden onset of testicle pain (in one or both testicles) with or without a previous event
• Scrotal swelling
• Extreme tenderness to pressure on the testis

Specific to orchitis and epididymitis :

• Fever
• Chills or chilling sensation
• Discharge (fluid) from penis

Additional symptoms that may occur:

• Testicle lump
• Blood in the semen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Light-headedness or fainting
• Blood in the semen
• Pain with urination
• Pain with intercourse or painful ejaculation
• Groin pain

Signs and tests:

Physical examination is often enough to diagnose testicular torsion, orchitis, and epididymitis. Radiographic tests may be required to tell the difference between testicular torsion and infectious causes of testicular pain. Often, tests will be needed to determine the cause of infection.

• Review Date: 10/20/2005
• Reviewed By: David R. Knowles, M.D., Advanced Urologic Surgeons, Mt. Vernon, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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