Testicular mass, also known as testicular mass, is a relatively common symptom that can occur in men of all ages, from children to the elderly. However, lumps are rarely a sign of a serious problem such as cancer, whether or not they are accompanied by pain or other symptoms such as swelling or feeling pressured.
However, in all cases, it is always important that the mass is evaluated by a urologist, as this is the only way to confirm whether or not it is a serious problem. And even if it doesn’t matter, the lump is caused by a change that may or may not require treatment.
- A hydrocele is a small bag of fluid that builds up near the testicle and can cause a lump.
- This problem is more common in infants.
- But it can also occur in adult men.
- Especially after age 40.
- Although not a serious problem.
- Its size can vary greatly.
- Larger ones can even lead to pain.
- And unrest.
How to treat: Hydrocele usually does not require treatment, but if it causes a lot of discomfort or does not return naturally, the urologist may recommend that you undergo small surgery with local anesthesia to make a small incision in your scrotum and remove the hydrocele. Learn more about hydrocele and when surgery is needed.
This is the main cause of the protrusions in the testicles and occurs when the veins, which carry blood from the testicles, expand and become larger than normal, accumulating blood and generating the sensation of a mass. In these cases, it is also common to experience pain and feeling heaviness.
How to treat: Most of the time, varicocele is controlled with pain relievers, such as dipirone or acetaminophen, but if there is a risk of infertility, your doctor may recommend surgery to close the dilated vein and pass blood only through those that are still healthy, improving the functioning of the testicle.
Epididite occurs when the epididymis, which is the structure that connects the testicle to the deferential channel, becomes inflamed, which usually occurs due to a bacterial infection, especially in the case of unprotected sex. In addition to the sensation of a lump in the testicle, other symptoms may also develop such as pain, swelling of the testicles, fever and chills.
How to treat: To treat epididimite, it is necessary to take antibiotics to fight the infection, usually with 1 injection of ceftriaxone and 10 days of use of doxycycline tablets or as recommended by the urologist.
Testicular torsion is usually one of the easiest problems to identify in the testicle, as it causes sudden and very severe pain, as well as swelling and lumps in the testicle. Torsion is most common in children and men under 25 years of age.
How to treat it: Testicular torsion is a medical emergency and therefore surgical treatment should be performed within the first 12 hours to prevent the death of testicular tissue. Therefore, in case of suspected twisting, it is very important to get to the emergency room quickly. Learn more about when testicular torsion can occur.
This type of cyst, also known as spermatocele, consists of a small pouch that forms in the epididymis, where the deferen canal attaches to the testicle. In most cases, the cyst does not cause pain, but if it continues to develop over time, in addition to a sticky lump in the testicle, pain or discomfort may also occur.
How to treat: Treatment is needed when symptoms appear, starting with the use of analgesics or anti-inflammatory, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. However, if there is no improvement after 2 weeks, surgery may be needed to remove the cyst. Learn more about how surgery is performed and what recovery looks like.
The onset of inguinal hernias occurs when part of the intestine can pass through the muscles of the abdomen and is therefore more common in cases of abdominal weakness, as in children, the elderly and undergoing surgery. This hernia can sometimes go out into the scrotum and create a lump in the testicle.
How to treat: Inguinal hernia should be treated by surgery to replace the part of the intestine within the abdominal area. Learn more about treating inguinal hernia.
Although this is one of the rarest situations, the development of testicular cancer can also cause the growth of a small lump in the testicle. Cancer usually develops without causing pain, so it’s very important for a urologist to evaluate each type of lump, even if it doesn’t cause pain. See what signs cancer may indicate.
How to treat: In almost all cases, the affected testicle needs to be removed to prevent certain cancer cells from surviving and infecting the other testicle or metastatic to the rest of the body.
Symptoms that indicate it’s important to get to the emergency room quickly include:
However, in all cases, it is always important to go to the urologist to assess the size, because even if symptoms do not appear, a problem that requires treatment or very serious, such as a cancer, may develop.