Even if you are lucky enough to never be hit between the legs, there are several ways to feel the pain of this extremely sensitive part of the body.

In fact, testicular pain is so common that it is likely that all men, at some point in their lives, have experienced this type of pain.

When you injure your testicles, you can instantly think of testicular cancer. But in fact, most cases of testicular cancer are painless and can be detected by feeling the lump.

If the second option that comes to mind is a sexually transmitted disease, know that most often in these cases you will feel pain when urinating, and not exactly in the testicles, although a connection is possible.

So, if it is not cancer or a sexually transmitted disease, why do the testicles hurt? Read here five possible hypotheses.

Testicular twisting

Testicular torsion occurs when the blood vessel that connects the testicle to the body twists and stops the flow of blood to the testis. Twisting can occur due to strenuous exercise, sex or even sleep. In addition to pain and swelling, you will notice that the testicle is in an unnatural position, and vomiting may also occur. In certain cases, doctors can unscrew the testicles, and sometimes an operative solution is needed.

Kidney stone, constipation, a hernia or stomach problems

Nerves that go to the lower part of the body (including the testicles) can come from the stomach, kidneys and digestive tract. If you have constipation, waste that is not eliminated can put pressure on those nerves.

It is the same if you have a kidney stone. If you have a hernia or have undergone surgery, the nerves can also swell and cause a new reaction in that area.

It is also called “directed pain”, the cause of which has nothing to do with the testicles, but it is felt in that part.

Testicular pain due to vasectomy

Pain that occurs after a vasectomy — a surgical procedure to control birth — is very rare, but it can occur. In fact, according to the Urology Association, chronic testicular pain occurs in only one or two per cent of men who undergo the procedure.

Experts are not convinced what the cause is, but it may possess something to do with damage to nerve structures.

Hydrocele

When you look at the anatomy of the testicles, what you see are basically balls hanging in pairs. The ropes they hang on have blood vessels, nerves and tissues.

There is also some free fluid around the testicles. When excess fluid appears in the testicle, a hydrocele may form. The hydrocele itself is usually not painful, but men may feel that their testicles are swollen. The hydrocele disappears on its own within six months, mostly. In some cases, surgery is needed. Check with your doctor.

Varicocele

Varicocele is a varicose vein in the testicle. Think of this problem as worms on the testicles. It probably won’t cause as much pain as it does discomfort. The symptoms depend on the stage of the problem. If it is in the third stage, the symptoms will be more visible, and the testicles will look thick and irregular. If it’s the first stage, you probably won’t even notice the symptoms. In more severe stages, surgery is required.

Are there taste buds on the testicles?

Because of this issue, men around the world are persistently dipping their testicles in soy sauce. Recently, the male world was infected with a new challenge, which quickly spread through the Internet community – here we are talking about testing the taste receptors that are supposedly found on the testicles. Men around the world have tested this hypothesis themselves, by dipping their testicles in soy sauce. This is extremely popular online for posting video content.

How did all this start?

An unofficial study published in 2013 indicated the possibility of the existence of lesser-known types of taste receptors. The testing was performed on laboratory mice and was revived recently when users of one social network decided to verify those claims.

Experts have discovered that at the cost of killing this type of entertainment, there are still no taste receptors on the testicles.

Several studies have indeed shown that some taste receptors are located in atypical places – including some parts of the tissue of the abdomen, internal organs and testicles. However, these results refer to rodents and there is no evidence or hypothesis that something like this exists in humans or any other living thing. Also, these are different receptors from those in the mouth, which serve us to taste food.

Despite the words of experts, some men, who have tried this test on themselves, claim to feel a salty taste. Are they lies or are they men with excess self-confidence? Experts explain this claim by the possibility that due to the very smell of the soy sauce, known to us, the memory of the taste causes a false sensation. Psychiatrists advise that if you have not yet undergone this test, do not do it, the only thing you will undoubtedly feel is itching and itching because you have placed a very salty sauce where it does not belong.