STD Resource Center

Testicle Swelling

Many men will assume that swollen testicles mean that they have some kind of STD symptom. There can be many causes of swelling. Not all of them are related to an STD. Men who play sports or are active in some way can experience testicular swelling because of something that happened during a physical activity.

You'll want to avoid irritating the swollen testicles any further through any kind of touching or probing at the problem, especially if you believe an injury led to the swelling. If you don't think this is the case, the swelling could be a sign of some muscle disturbance in the abdominal wall, or, unfortunately, an STD.

In Control Of Your Health

In the case of inflamed or swollen testicles, it is wise to go to the clinic or get an STD test if you can rule out some kind of muscular injury. You'll want to be able to get some peace of mind if your swelling has persisted for more than two days.

You should know that testicle swelling can be a sign of a serious STD. If left untreated, the swelling can lead to a fatal conclusion. This is not something that you want to mess around with at all.

Making an Educated Assessment

You'll want to educate yourself on the different conditions caused by various bacteria and viruses. One of these is orchitis, a condition that will inflame both testicles and possibly inflame the epididymis. Aside from that, the swelling could be indicative of chlamydia and/or gonorrhea.

If those diseases are ruled out, it could be the symptom of an inguinal hernia. Hernias require surgery and occur when a part of the intestines is pushing through a gap of weakened muscle and that is what separates the abdomen from and inguinal region. These hernias are cause for immediate medical attention. The lack of blood flow to the testicles can cause severe damage and quickly cease to send blood there, resulting in the testicles needing to be removed.

Breaking Down What The Symptom Are

Again, chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common STDs that are associated with testicle swelling. Chlamydia is the more common STD that is transmitted and often is co-infected with gonorrhea. These two infections, if caught, can be treated with antibiotics.

It is best to get yourself checked out, as some swelling symptoms can indicate a medical emergency.