How to Diagnose Testicular Torsion
Testicular torsion is an extremely painful condition caused when the spermatic cord twists, cutting off the blood supply to the testicles. Testicular torsion is a emergency situation requiring immediate correction. In some cases the physician is able to manually untwist the cord, but a person suffering from the condition generally needs surgery.
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Instructions
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Go immediately to the hospital if you suspect testicular torsion. Once the spermatic cord twists the testicle is only salvageable for a matter of hours. Waiting only increases the risk of irreparable damage.
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Examine the testicles for sudden swelling. Rapid swelling may occur in one or both testicles. The testicle(s) may be elevated and too painful to touch. Injury or exercise can cause testicular torsion, but sometimes there's no apparent reason.
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Report nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or fever to your physician so she can diagnose you properly. If you don't have these symptoms, it's still important to seek immediate medical attention. If more than 6 hours pass from the onset of pain, the risk of decreased sperm production or losing the testicle increases greatly.
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Diagnosing testicular torsion may involve imaging, a urine analysis and a blood count. Doctors usually perform these tests in the emergency room. Your physician will call in a urologist if manual correction is not possible and you need surgery.
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Tips & Warnings
Testicular torsion can happen at any age, even to newborns, although it's most common among teenagers.
Generally, the pain caused by genital injury begins to subside within an hour or so. The pain and swelling associated with testicular torsion doesn't subside.
