Twists, pains in the nerves … These little known diseases that affect the testicles



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Movember arrives after pink October. Contraction of “Mo”, mustache in Australian jargon, and November, this event aims to sensitize men to ailments unique to them, such as those of the testicles. On this occasion, François Desgrandchamps, head of the urology department at the Saint-Louis hospital in Paris, takes stock of various pathologies that may affect them over the microphone of Europe 1. And who would benefit from being better known for better care.

Twist

Twisting is characterized by unusual and very painful swelling. “This is an anomaly of the fixation of the testicle in the scrotum,” specifies François Desgrandchamps. Inside the bursae, the testicles may move a bit, but they shouldn’t turn around. “If it rotates, it will train the arteries that feed it. These will no longer be able to circulate blood and the man can therefore have a testicular heart attack.”

When this twist occurs, it needs to be straightened within 6 hours. This can be done manually (always in the same direction, unscrewing the right and screwing the left) or through surgery. After this time, the testicle will have been deprived of blood for too long and will need to be removed in order not to atrophy.

Hydrocele

Of all the diseases affecting the testicles, hydrocele is the least known to doctors. It is a spill of fluid into the “sac”, in other words the bursa, which surrounds the testicles. “It is normal to have a few drops of fluid, this allows the testicles to be mobile. But when the fluid becomes too much, the scrotum swells,” explains the urologist. The causes of this condition are still unexplained.

The only way to cure hydrocele is to operate. “Since we don’t know how to prevent fluid secretion, we have to remove the membrane that causes it.”

Neuralgia

Up to 10% of men complain of pelvic pain, glans or bursae, without their medical tests revealing any abnormalities. In this case the problem can come from the nerves, says François Desgrandchamps. “This is no different from sciatic nerve pain. When the testicular nerves are compressed, it can cause severe pain, several times a day, sometimes interfering with sitting work.” To overcome this, it is best to consult an osteopath. “They are doing a great job in this area,” greets the urologist.

The cancer

Testicular cancer affects around 2,000 French people a year. A disease that therefore remains “quite rare”, according to François Desgrandchamps, but whose number of cases has increased in recent years. “This is due to endocrine disruptors and cannabis use. Smoking one joint per week triples the risk of cancer,” he says. This condition usually begins between the ages of 18 and 20 or around the age of 60. It does not usually cause pain. The main warning sign is the presence of a small subcutaneous nucleus. Hence the need for regular palpations. “To do this, you must have one hand that holds the testicle in the pouch by popping it over two fingers, and the other that palpates.”

If in doubt, consult your doctor, who will perform an ultrasound to determine if it is a benign cyst or a tumor. “When it is detected in time, it is the cancer that heals very well, in 95% to 96% of cases.” Most often, treatment involves removing the diseased testicle and placing a silicone implant. In most cases, this does not affect the patient’s fertility in any way.

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