Having Pain in Left Testical

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hello Doctor, I am 41 years of age married male. I have recently been experiencing some pains in my left testical. The pain sensation is not continuous it come and goes. Would this have anything to do with wearing loose undergarments? When i begin to feel this sensitive pain sensation and i touch my left testical it kind of hurts.(feeling similar to when one gets hurt knocked kicked down there)if you know what i mean.Then after couple of hours it goes away. Does this come with age? Should i not have sex for now. Please advise. Thanking you . Ivan Mascarenhas

Dear Ivan: Testicular pain could be caused by i) trauma or injury ii) epididymitis (infection of the epidydymus - a tube-like structure behind the testicle) iii) tortion ( twisting of the testicular appendages) iv) orchitis (this inflammatory condition of the testicle generally occurs because of an infectious process, mainly due to viral mumps) v) kidney stones and vi) In rare cases testicular tumor.

Wearing loose undergarments is not the cause of your testicular pain. If having sex causes pain, refrain from it until a diagnosis has been made. If the pain is bothersome, taking an anti-inflammatory like tylenol may help. But if the pain continues or becomes more severe, you develop a fever or have burning sensation while passing urine, you need to do further tests eg. a urinalysis and testicular ultrasound to diagnose the problem.