What do testicular cysts feel like

A lump or swelling can be one of the first symptoms of testicular cancer. Most tumors do not cause any pain. The lump will usually form on the front or side of a testicle.

It will often feel hard, and the entire testicle may feel firmer than usual. A lump can develop inside the testicle, or just under the skin. One testicle may become larger or swollen. According to the American Cancer Society, testicular cancer is not common.

Only around 1 in men will get testicular cancer during their lifetime, and the risk of dying from it is about 1 in 5, Understanding the body and being aware of any changes can be an essential part of managing health. Checking the testicles for any lumps or swelling and seeking medical advice if needed can make sure any issues are treated as quickly as possible.

It is best to do a self-exam when the body is warm, and a person is relaxed. This can make it easier to feel anything unusual. Examining the testicles monthly from puberty can help to find any medical problems early. Anyone who finds a lump in their testicles should see a doctor as soon as possible.

It is difficult for a person to tell whether a lump is cancerous or harmless without being examined by a doctor. It can help if a person can think of any other symptoms they may have had. They may have had an infection, such as chlamydia, or an injury to the testicle. Sharing this information with a doctor can help them to make a diagnosis. They may also need to do tests to find the cause of the lump. The doctor will look at and feel the testicles.

They may also shine a light through the skin to check for any possible fluid buildup. A doctor may request an imaging scan, such as an ultrasound , to check the lump. An ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of the inside of the body.

If a person is not feeling any pain or discomfort, they may not require treatment. Anyone with a testicle lump should regularly check it at home to make sure that it does not get any bigger or change shape. Cysts will usually go away on their own. If the cyst is painful, applying a warm washcloth can help reduce swelling.

If a cyst becomes infected, a person may need medication to treat the infection. Doctors can remove a cyst under local anesthetic. However, doctors do not usually recommend this as cysts are unlikely to cause health problems. It's important to see your GP if you notice a lump or swelling in one of your testicles so they can try to identify the cause and arrange any further tests if necessary.

Most of these conditions are largely harmless and may not require treatment, although you should seek immediate medical advice if you suspect you have testicular torsion see below because it needs to be treated quickly.

Varicoceles are soft lumps that usually develop gradually above the testicle and mostly on the left side of the scrotum the loose sac of skin that contains the testicles. They are sometimes described as feeling like a "bag of worms". The exact cause of varicoceles is not clear, but it is widely thought that they occur as the result of abnormalities in the veins in the testicles leading to a build-up of excess blood in the veins, which makes them swell.

The size of varicoceles can vary. Some may only be noticeable when you touch them. Others can be larger and seen easily. The side of the scrotum that contains the varicoceles may hang slightly lower than the other side. Besides a lump, varicoceles do not usually cause any other symptoms, although some men who have them experience a heavy feeling or aching pain in their scrotum or groin.

In a few cases, varicoceles have been linked to infertility in men. However, there is no evidence that surgically removing them improves your chances of being able to father a baby. They often affect newborn babies, usually only causing a painless swelling of one or both testicles, although they can sometimes affect older boys or men, who may feel some discomfort in the scrotum.

During pregnancy, a male baby's testicles develop inside his abdomen tummy and they pass down into the scrotum through a passage once they are formed. This passage usually closes before birth, but in some cases it stays open. If the passage remains open, fluid can pass from the abdomen into the scrotum, causing the swelling associated with a hydrocele. In most cases affecting babies, the fluid is absorbed into the surrounding tissue during the child's first year or two of life, and the hydrocele disappears.

Hydroceles that develop in men or older boys may be caused by inflammation swelling of the scrotum resulting from problems such as an injury or infection. An epididymal cyst is a small, smooth fluid-filled swelling that slowly develops in the epididymis a coil-like structure behind the testicles that helps to store and transport sperm.

They are often painless, but the affected testicle may sometimes ache or feel heavy. You may also experience some pain and discomfort if the cyst puts pressure on other structures in or around your testicle.

Epididymo-orchitis is the inflammation of the epididymis as well as the testicle, causing the affected testicle to become swollen, painful and tender over a matter of hours or days. It's not always clear what causes epididymo-orchitis, but the condition is often linked to an infection, including:.

Epididymo-orchitis can sometimes lead to a reduced sperm count in affected men, although this is rarely significant enough to cause infertility. An inguinal hernia occurs when fatty tissue or a part of your bowel, such as the intestine, pokes through into your groin at the top of your inner thigh. The hernia can appear as a swelling or lump in your groin, or as an enlarged scrotum.

The lump is often painless, but it can become suddenly and severely painful if the blood supply to the section of organ or tissue trapped in the hernia has become cut off strangulation. Inguinal hernias occur when the tissue or bowel pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle wall the abdominal wall into the inguinal canal.

The inguinal canal is a channel through which blood vessels to the testicles pass in men and through which the round ligament the ligament surrounding the womb passes in women. Inguinal hernias occur mainly in men.

Most are thought to be due to ageing. This is because as you get older, the muscles surrounding your abdomen can become weaker. They can also sometimes appear suddenly due to strain on the abdomen, such as straining on the toilet if you have constipation or carrying and pushing heavy loads. Testicular torsion is a benign but serious condition caused by the spermatic cord the cord that supplies the testicles with blood becoming severely twisted.

Unlike the other types of benign testicular lumps and swellings, testicular torsion is a medical emergency. If the spermatic cord becomes severely twisted, the blood supply for the affected testicle can be interrupted. If this is not treated quickly with surgery, there is a risk of losing the affected testicle. Testicular torsion can occur at any age, but is most common in boys aged and is rare in men over It can also affect newborn babies and even unborn babies in the womb.

Most cases happen for no apparent reason, although the problem can occur in boys who are born with an unusually loose spermatic cord and it can develop after an injury to the testicles. You may also be at a higher risk of developing testicular torsion if you have a history of undescended testicles where a boy is born without both testicles in their scrotum.

Although the vast majority of testicular lumps and swellings are benign, a lump in one of the testicles can sometimes be a sign of testicular cancer. Cancer Research UK estimates that fewer than four in every testicular lumps are caused by cancer. Lumps associated with testicular cancer tend to develop slowly on the testicle itself as opposed to the scrotum are usually:.

Unlike many other types of cancer, the risk of testicular cancer does not keep increasing as you get older. The condition is most often diagnosed in boys and men between the ages of 15 and 49 and is uncommon in men older than this. Read more about the symptoms of testicular cancer. Most testicular lumps are not caused by testicular cancer and many do not necessarily need any treatment, but it's best to get them checked out.

Your GP may hold a small light or torch against the lump in your testicle to see whether light passes through it. This can help differentiate between solid lumps and lumps caused by a build-up of fluid such as hydroceles. Depending on what your GP thinks may be the cause of your symptoms, you may be referred to a specialist — such as a urologist a doctor specialising in conditions affecting the urinary system — for further assessment or your GP may arrange more tests.

If testicular torsion is suspected, you will usually be referred to hospital for an urgent assessment to see whether an immediate operation is necessary. Your GP may take a urine sample if they suspect your lump or swelling may be caused by an infection. They may also use a swab small cotton bud to collect a sample of cells and fluid from your urethra the tube that carries urine out of the body. This sample can also be tested to see if you have an infection.

You may be referred to a genitourinary medicine GUM clinic if it is thought you may have a sexually transmitted infection STI. An ultrasound scan is used if there is any uncertainty about the cause of your lump or swelling. This is a painless scan that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the inside of your scrotum. An ultrasound scan can help give a clearer indication of whether the lump is solid or filled with fluid and can help determine the likelihood of the lump being cancerous.

Treatment for your testicular lump or swelling will depend on the underlying cause. Some lumps may not need to be treated at all if they are not causing any problems. In most cases, varicoceles do not require treatment.

They usually don't cause other symptoms or long-term problems. Back to Men's health. Most men's testicles are about the same size, but it's common for one to be slightly bigger than the other.

It's also common for one testicle to hang lower than the other. The testicles should feel smooth, without any lumps or bumps, and firm but not hard. You may feel a soft tube at the back of each testicle, which is called the epididymis. If you notice any changes or anything unusual about your testicles, you should see a GP.