Testicular torsion: as painful as it is dangerous

Although testicles are outside the body of man, the truth is that they are a tremendously sensitive and delicate part. So much so that a simple blow or rubbing too hard can become very painful. And why do male gonads find them outside the body? Very simple: so that they are at a temperature lower than the average of the organism. In this way the production of the sperm is not affected by the heat of the rest of the body.

But, did you know that blows in the testicles can they really be very dangerous? Fundamentally because the testicular blows can produce a problem certainly serious if not treated or corrected in time: the dreaded testicular torsion.

What is testicular torsion?

With the name of testicular torsion it is defined directly to what is medically known as torsion of the spermatic cord. But before defining what the testicle torsion consists of, we must take into account what the spermatic cord is.

Basically it is the structure, shaped like a cord, that passes from the abdomen to each of the testicles, and connects the testicle to the rest of the genital tract. It contains blood vessels and nerves that feed the testicle, in addition to the vas deferens.

Thus, When a testicular torsion occurs, a lack of oxygenation is caused For the different testicular cells, it is therefore of vital importance that the torsion be corrected as quickly as possible, since otherwise it could cause a series of serious and dangerous complications, as we will know in a future section.

Why is it produced? The causes of testicular torsion

As indicated from Medlineplus, there are some men who tend to be more prone to suffer from this condition, mainly because they suffer from various defects in the connective tissue that is found inside the scrotum.

However, although there are other causes whose cases do not seem to be entirely clear, it is true that another of the most common causes is a Testicular injury in the scrotum, especially by a strong blow, which causes swelling. In turn, it is known that heavy exercise can influence.

What are your symptoms?

The symptoms of testicular torsion are very evident, especially because it is a problem that is very painful in itself.

Therefore, it is common for the symptoms that we indicate below to arise:

Very intense and sudden pain which is located in one of the two testicles.
Scrotal swelling That is, swelling and inflammation on one side of the scrotum, so that a significant increase in testicular volume is observed.
Dizziness, accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
Sometimes inability to walk normally can arise.

In addition, it is also common to notice a testicle in a higher or higher than normal position, as well as the appearance of blood in the semen.

What to do and how is it treated?

In case of suffering any severe pain in the testicle is very important to go quickly to the emergency room, especially if you have received a blow to the testicles. The reason is that the diagnosis of testicular torsion must be made very quickly, especially through a Doppler ultrasound that can help check blood flow.

In any case, In most cases it is necessary to perform emergency surgery, so that if it is practiced and treated within the first 6 hours after the torsion occurs, most of the testicles can be saved.

Why is it so dangerous?

Testicular torsion is very dangerous because if not treated quickly it can seriously damage the testicle. And as they indicate from Kidshealth, when a testicle is damaged it must be removed.

In the particular case of testicular torsion, when there is a lack of oxygenation in the cells of the testicle, an oxygen deficit can be triggered that ends in necrosis, eventually leading to a total loss of testicular functions.

Therefore, if the testicular torsion is not treated quickly, even when the torsion is corrected, the prolonged interruption of the blood supply can cause the testicle to shrink, requiring surgical removal. Something that can happen days or months after having corrected it. This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor.