How Is Testicular Torsion Diagnosed?
When you arrive at the hospital or doctor's office and describe your condition,
the staff and doctors will assume you have a testicular torsion, even if the pain
turns out to be something different.
A doctor will examine your scrotum, testicles, abdomen, and groin and might test
your reflexes by rubbing or pinching the inside of your thigh. This normally causes
the testicle to contract, which probably won't happen if you have a testicular torsion.
The doctor also might do tests to see if the spermatic cord is twisted, including:
- Ultrasound. High-frequency (Doppler) waves are used to make an
image of the testicle and check the blood flow.
- Urine tests or blood tests. These can find if the pain and symptoms
are being caused by an infection instead of a torsion.
Sometimes, doctors will need to do surgery to be sure a problem is testicular torsion.
A doctor may also perform immediate surgery without any other testing in order to
save the testicle. This is more likely if the torsion has been going on for a while
or if the doctor suspects a guy has a torsion after examining him.
How Is Testicular Torsion Treated?
Testicular torsion almost always requires surgery to correct. In rare cases, the
doctor might be able to untwist the spermatic cord by pushing on the scrotum, but
most guys will still need surgery to attach both testicles to the scrotum to prevent
torsion from happening in the future.
Usually, surgery for a testicular torsion doesn't require a stay in the
hospital. If you have a torsion, you'll be taken into an operating room at
the hospital or doctor's office. You'll most likely be given a painkiller and general
anesthesia, meaning you'll be unconscious for the surgery.
A surgeon or urologist will make a small cut in the scrotum, untwist the spermatic
cord, and stitch the testicles to the inside of the scrotum to prevent future torsions.
When that's finished, the doctor will stitch up the scrotum, and the patient will
be taken to a room to recover for an hour or two.
The surgery to attach the testicles to the scrotum takes about 45 minutes. There
may be some pain, but it shouldn't be too bad. It's much better than the
torsion.
Sometimes, if the torsion goes on too long, doctors won't be able to save the affected
testicle. Doctors will need to remove it through a type of surgery called an
orchiectomy.
What Happens After Surgery?
Guys need to skip strenuous activities (like sports) and sex or sexual stimulation
(like masturbation) for a few weeks after testicular torsion surgery. Talk to your
doctor about when it will be safe to go back to your normal activities.
Guys who have a testicle removed might be able to get a prosthetic, or artificial,
testicle a few months after the surgery. Most guys will still be able to father children
later in life with one working testicle, but it can help some guys to feel more confident
about their appearance if they have a prosthetic testicle.
If you've had a testicle removed, don't despair. It's not the end of the world.
Chances are you'll still be able to father children and lead a perfectly normal life.
In fact, if you do lose a testicle, nobody but you, your family, and the doctor ever
need to know about it.
Date reviewed: April 2017