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Diagnosing Scrotal and Testicular Conditions

Diagnosis of testicular and scrotal conditions usually begins with your doctor performing a physical examination and talking with you about your symptoms and health history. Because some symptoms, such as testicular pain and swelling, are common to a number of testicular and scrotal conditions, your doctor will likely order additional tests to help confirm a diagnosis so the correct treatment can be started. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to diagnose your condition.

Testing for testicular and scrotal conditions

If your symptoms don't point to a specific disorder, your doctor may perform the following tests:

  • Imaging tests , such as an ultrasound, CT scan and X-ray, that can help your doctor see whether you have abnormalities that could explain your symptoms
  • Blood tests that can detect infection that could be causing your symptoms
  • Urinalysis to look for chemicals and blood cells that can aid in diagnosis
  • A swab of your urethra to help diagnose sexually transmitted diseases that can cause conditions like epididymitis

If you have symptoms that suggest a serious condition, like testicular torsion, your doctor may recommend immediate surgical exploration to diagnose and, if possible, treat the condition.

If you ever experience sudden onset of severe testicular pain, you should seek immediate medical treatment. If testicular torsion isn't diagnosed and treated within six hours, it may require removal of the affected testicle.

Learn more about scrotal and testicular conditions