Should You Worry About Swollen Testicles? – University of Utah Health Care

Nov 21, 2019 9:00 AM

The testicles are a very sensitive part of the body, and discovering that one or both testicles are swollen can be a cause for alarm. Luckily, understanding what a swollen testicle means and how to treat it can go a long way to easing the mind and fixing the problem.

There are several reasons why a testicle would be swollen:

When it comes to testicular swelling, the first rule of thumb is that you should see a doctor when you notice the swelling and it concerns you, or if it the swelling or pain become uncomfortable. You should also see a doctor if:

If your swollen testicles are the result of injury, fluid buildup or varicocele, then lying down and elevating the scrotum, perhaps by putting a folded towel underneath it to lift it, will allow fluid and/or blood to flow out and will often make you feel better.

Swollen testicles can potentially impact fertility or the ability of the testicle to make testosterone, particularly if the reason is cancer, severe trauma, infection, or varicocele. In some cases, this is just temporary, such as in the case of an easily treated infection, but in some cases where there is permanent damage to the testicular tissue, it may be more difficult to have children or for the testicle to make normal levels of testosterone. In cases where there is cancer, the testicle is removed completely, which can also impact fertility and testosterone balance.

A simple, quick way to keep your testicles healthy is to perform a testicular self-exam every month or so. By doing this, you become familiar with your testicles and can identify changes that might be signs of cancer or infection. If you find something early, you can seek medical help before it becomes a bigger problem.

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Should You Worry About Swollen Testicles? - University of Utah Health Care