When blood flow is cut off, the pain from torsion is severe. The testice becomes swollen, and
it can die if not treated
. Quick treatment can save your testicle from permanent damage.
What happens if a dead testicle is not removed?
Testicular torsion
causes sudden pain and swelling in the scrotum or lower abdomen. This is an emergency situation — if left untreated, the condition can lead to a permanently damaged or dead testicle which must then be removed. Testicular torsion is most common in teenage and newborn boys but can occur at any age.
Can you die from testicular torsion?
Testicular torsion can cause the following complications:
Damage to or death of the testicle
. When testicular torsion is not treated for several hours, blocked blood flow can cause permanent damage to the testicle.
Can you live with a twisted testicle?
When a testicle rotates on this cord, it is referred to as testicular torsion; it causes the flow of blood to stop, causing sudden, often severe pain, and swelling. Prolonged testicular torsion and loss of blood flow can lead to the
death
of the testicle and surrounding tissues.
How long can you go with testicular torsion?
Lasting damage starts after
6 hours
of torsion. One study found that nearly 3 in 4 patients need the testicle removed (“orchidectomy”) if surgery is delayed past 12 hours.
How do I check myself for testicular torsion?
With your free hand,
glide your thumb and fingers along both sides of the testicle
, from top to bottom. Feel for any lumps or bumps. Then, glide your fingers over the front and back of the testicle. On the back at the top, you should feel the epididymis, a tube that carries sperm.
How do you tell if your balls are twisted?
- Sudden, severe pain in the scrotum — the loose bag of skin under your penis that contains the testicles.
- Swelling of the scrotum.
- Abdominal pain.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- A testicle that’s positioned higher than normal or at an unusual angle.
- Frequent urination.
- Fever.
What does a dead testicle feel like?
When the testes die, the scrotum will be
very tender, red, and swollen
. Often the patient won’t be able to get comfortable. Any pain or discomfort in the testes is a sign to get medical help right away. Call your doctor even with no swelling or change in skin color.
Does testicular torsion hurt immediately?
What Are the Symptoms? If your son has testicular torsion, he’ll feel
a sudden
, possibly severe pain in his scrotum and one of his testicles. The pain can get worse or ease a bit, but probably won’t go away completely. If your son has sudden groin pain, get him to a hospital emergency room as soon as you can.
Which testicle is more important?
The
left testicle
is bigger than the right one; therefore, the left vein is longer than the right. Because the left vein is longer, it is subject to more difficulties when draining. Poor drainage can lead to pathological conditions such as testicular swelling and pain.
How do you fix testicular torsion?
Surgery
is required to correct testicular torsion. In some instances, the doctor might be able to untwist the testicle by pushing on the scrotum (manual detorsion). But you’ll still need surgery to prevent torsion from occurring again. Surgery for testicular torsion is usually done under general anesthesia.
Can you have a baby after testicular torsion?
Unfortunately, testicular torsion, most often than not, can lead to
reduced fertility or infertility
too. In close to 1/3 of cases, there is a reduction in sperm count below normal after suffering torsion, disabling a man to father a child.
Can testicular torsion be treated without surgery?
If this tissue twists, it can cause symptoms similar to testicular torsion, such as pain, redness, and swelling.
This condition doesn’t require surgery
. Instead, a doctor will observe your condition. They’ll also recommend rest and pain medication.
Do doctors always check your balls?
Your doctor
should examine your testicles at least once a year
. He or she will grasp one testicle at a time, rolling it gently between the thumb and first finger to feel for lumps. The doctor will also feel if the testicle is hardened or enlarged. The doctor will teach you how to do testicular self-exams.
How do you check if your balls are healthy?
- Hold one testicle between the thumbs and fingers of both hands and roll it gently between your fingers.
- Look and feel for any hard lumps, or smooth, rounded bumps, or any change in the size, shape, or consistency of the testicles.
- Repeat with your other testicle.
How long does it take for balls to be full?
Your testicles are constantly producing new sperm in spermatogenesis. The full process takes
about 64 days
. During spermatogenesis, your testicles make several million sperm per day — about 1,500 per second.
