9 testicular diseases - names, descriptions, symptoms and treatment, photos

Testicles are the most important paired organ for men, responsible for the production of sex hormones and sperm (necessary for conception). Diseases of the testicles cause not only unpleasant and painful sensations, but also problems with potency, infertility. In order not to start the pathology and prevent irreversible consequences, you need to know what symptoms in children and adults are the reason for an immediate visit to the doctor.

Pathology of the testicles (scrotum) in men and boys. Top 9

Ailments affecting the testicles are usually caused by infection, trauma or hormonal imbalance, poor lifestyle choices. Some of the diseases related to congenital are more often diagnosed in children, but if they are weak, they "hide" for a long time. The prognosis is most favorable with timely detection of symptoms and immediate initiation of therapy.

Orchitis

Acute or chronic inflammation of the male testicle, more often just one. Orchitis usually becomes not an independent pathology, but a complication of systemic or sexually transmitted diseases, prostatitis, trauma with infection.

Occurs at any age. The acute form is characterized by severe pain in the affected testicle, an increase in its size, redness of the scrotum, fever, nausea, fever. Pain sensations tend to migrate to the groin, lower back and abdomen. Chronic orchitis has fewer symptoms.

Treatment consists in suppressing the causative agent of the infection, for which broad-spectrum antibiotics are often prescribed. Shown are anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, drugs to improve blood circulation. In an acute condition, the patient is advised to stay in bed, in severe cases, hospitalization, surgical intervention is required.

Lack of adequate therapy often leads to suppuration, drying out of the testicle, the transition of inflammation to the second, disruption of reproductive function.

Varicocele

Varicose dilatation of the vessels that encircle the spermatic cord can develop in adolescents during puberty and in men of mature age. Due to the nature of the human anatomy, it mainly affects the left testicle.

Main reasons:

• problem veins;
• high blood pressure in the pelvis;
• chronic constipation or diarrhea;
• overvoltage.

At risk are men who lead a sedentary lifestyle and do not have regular sexual contacts.

The first degree of varicocele is asymptomatic, the second is manifested by pain, burning, enlargement of the scrotum. At the last stage, the veins protrude so noticeably that they are visible even in the photo, the discomfort becomes permanent.

Surgical treatment, after the operation, complexes of nutrients are prescribed, drugs that restore spermatogenesis. If a first-degree pathology is detected, supportive therapy is prescribed.

Ignoring the disease leads to erectile dysfunction, infertility.

Epididymitis

Inflammation of the epididymis is a complication of chronic and acute diseases of the genitourinary system, as well as systemic infections. May be a consequence of chemotherapy, groin surgery, drug use, congenital structural features of the penis.

Main features:

• pain in the groin, lower abdomen;
• fever, especially in children;
• swelling and redness of the scrotum, groin;
• blood in semen;
• discomfort when urinating, defecating, orgasm.

It is treated with antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, physiotherapy accelerate the process. In parallel, the therapy of the underlying disease is carried out.

There are such complications of epididymitis as infertility, abscess formation, fistula, gangrene development.

Hydrocele

The accumulation of fluid between the membranes of the testicles, another name is dropsy of the testicle. The congenital form manifests itself in boys up to a year, adult men can get sick due to trauma, inflammation, neoplasms, infection, liver disease, and lymph circulation disorders.

Suspicion of a hydrocele arises when, against the background of the absence of soreness of the testicles, one has increased and is not palpable, palpation does not cause discomfort. When combined with inflammation, acute pain is possible. The accumulation of fluid can be both sharp and smooth, the skin does not swell. To exclude similar ailments, it is necessary to scan the scrotum, ultrasound.

In children, pathology usually resolves on its own, but surgery may be required. In adults, if the root cause is inflammation of the testicles, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy is performed, the fluid is removed using a puncture. In other cases, surgical intervention is indicated.

Neglected dropsy leads to a very strong testicular enlargement, impaired reproductive function, impotence, difficulty urinating.

Cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism is the absence in the scrotum or undescendedness of one, less often both testicles. Congenital testicular pathology occurs in four forms:

• false - the testicle descends into the scrotum, but due to the tone of the levator muscle it returns to the inguinal canal;
• true cryptorchidism - the testicle is located in the abdominal cavity or inguinal canal, does not move into the scrotum even by palpation;
• a defect, when initially the testicles are normal, but after one rises due to the peculiarities of the development of the spermatic cord;
• ectopia is a rather rare situation when the testicle does not descend as expected, as it is located at the base of the penis, in the groin, perineum or under the skin of the thigh.

Cryptorchidism occurs due to chromosomal and genetic problems, hereditary predisposition. And also due to the intake of certain medications by a pregnant mother, diseases and hormonal disruptions during gestation.

The main symptom is the absence of a testicle in the scrotum, while it can be palpated in the inguinal canal, abdomen, or elsewhere. It is detected in childhood, as a rule, the child's condition is monitored for up to a year, if prolapse does not occur, surgery is indicated.

Since the correct functioning of the male gonads is possible only at a certain temperature, their location inside the body leads to overheating, morphological changes, a decrease in spermatogenesis and hormone secretion. Lack of timely treatment causes endocrine problems, impotence, infertility, primarily low testosterone.

Hernia

An unpleasant testicular disease consists in lowering the abdominal organs (a section of the intestine or omentum) into the scrotum. Sometimes congenital, it develops in adulthood for a number of reasons:

• overvoltage;
• chronic constipation;
• trauma;
• overweight;
• varicocele;
• hydrocele.

It is manifested by an increase in the asymmetry of the scrotum, especially after physical exertion. At the beginning of development, the bulging can be adjusted on its own, over time there is discomfort, which increases with tension of the abdominal wall.

These symptoms are accompanied by swelling of the testes, constipation, and enlarged veins in the perineum. A possible complication is infringement of a hernia, manifested by sharp pain, blood in the stool or its obstruction, signs of intoxication:

• temperature;
• vomiting;
• fever.

Operational correction, in mild cases it is possible to wear a bandage. After recovery, serious loads are excluded. Lack of therapy threatens infertility, with infringement - sepsis.

Testicular torsion

Twisting of the spermatic cord is more common in adolescents, less often in infants and adults, almost never happens in old age. The predisposition is due to anatomical features:

• testicular ligament weakness;
• cryptorchidism;
• elongated spermatic cord.

More often trauma provokes torsion, less often - strong tension, tight underwear, sexual intercourse.

It is characterized by sharp pain in the perineum and abdomen, redness of the scrotum, nausea, and later - edema. The testes enlarge and rise above their usual location. Urgent treatment is needed, two options are possible:

• reversal of the testicle through the skin of the scrotum followed by surgery to fix the gonad;
• surgical straightening.

With intrauterine development, as well as in adults in advanced cases, a testicle removal may be required. Necrosis develops rapidly, the prognosis is poor within a day after torsion.

Spermatocele

The cyst of the epididymis, in which sperm accumulates, in congenital form is a clear liquid. Acquired pathology occurs against the background of inflammation, trauma. A small neoplasm, as a rule, does not manifest itself. A large one can be felt, cause mild pain in the abdomen and groin, a feeling of pressure in the affected testicle.

Treatment is required only when discomfort occurs, the spermatocele is removed promptly. Sometimes sclerotherapy is used: the withdrawal of fluid from the cyst using a hollow needle, followed by the introduction of a special drug that "glues" the walls of the cavity.

The prognosis is favorable, in severe cases, a violation of the patency of the spermatic cord may develop. An overgrown tumor, if not removed, becomes the cause of infertility. Bilateral education especially strongly affects the possibility of conception.

Cancer

Testicular oncology is included in the list of the most dangerous pathologies among men of reproductive age. It is rare, in the risk group suffering from cryptorchidism, as well as those whose relatives had a similar problem.

Testicular cancer initially manifests itself as a small palpable neoplasm, severe fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite are possible. Later, a violation of testosterone secretion (both upward and downward), pain in the lower abdomen, perineum may be added. Another common symptom is large (inflamed) lymph nodes, especially in the groin.

In the initial stages, it responds well to treatment, radiation and chemotherapy are indicated. Surgical intervention is possible: removal of the affected testicle, lymph nodes, adipose tissue. Since there is a risk of infertility, it is recommended to freeze the semen prior to starting therapy.

Launched oncology quickly metastasizes to other organs. If you do not consult a doctor at the very beginning of the disease, the prognosis is poor.

Prevention

Diseases of the testicles are always unpleasant, often dangerous for potency, in the last stages they threaten the life of a man. To minimize the risk of their development, it is recommended:

• lead a moderately active lifestyle;
• give up alcohol and cigarettes;
• wear comfortable clothes and underwear made from natural fabrics;
• avoid overheating, hypothermia, perineal trauma;
• regularly have sex with a regular partner or using a condom;
• treat infections in a timely manner;
• balance the diet in terms of the content of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, as well as vitamins, micro- and macroelements.

For the timely detection of the problem, it is advisable not only to regularly visit a urologist, but also to examine the genitals on their own, especially for men over 35 years old. It is recommended to pay attention to the presence of any formations in the scrotum or perineum, pain, asymmetry of the right and left testicles.