Recurrent testicle pain?

Question

My boyfriend gets pain in his testicles about once a month, and says he doesn't want to go to the doctor because it's probably normal, like monthly ovarian pain is for women. I worry because he suffered some injury to that area as a boy.

Can someone tell me how normal it is? Should I stop worrying, or worry even more?

(He's almost 23, and in reasonable health apart from allergies).

Answer 1

Tell him to go to the doctor, it can't hurt to go to find out!

Pain in the scrotum or testicles can be due to a problem in the testicle, in the structures surrounding the testicle or even in another part of the body.
Common causes of testicle pain include:

Injury
Infection or inflammation
Testicular torsion -- most common in young men between 10 and 20 years old
Possible infections include:

Epididymitis -- inflammation of the ducts through which sperm leaves the testicle. This is often caused by bacteria like chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease.
Orchitis -- inflammation of one or both testicles, which may be caused by bacteria or a virus like mumps. Orchitis can occur at the same time as epididymitis or prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland).
Fluid in the testicles often causes painless swelling, but may cause mild discomfort. There are several main types of fluid collection:

Varicocele -- enlarged veins in the scrotum that carry blood away from the testicles.
Spermatocele -- fluid in the epididymis that forms a cyst and often contains dead sperm cells.
Hydrocele -- fluid in the area inside the scrotum, surrounding the testicle; common in newborns.

Answer 2

Trust me, it is not normal to have a re-occurring pain in that area. He should definitely have that checked out.