When Life Gives Men Lemons: The Unbearable Agony of Testicular Pain

Throughout evolution, the distribution of nerves in our bodies has continually changed, yet the reproductive system, particularly the testicles, has always maintained a high density of nerve endings. This may be because the testicles are responsible for extremely delicate and crucial work, requiring exceptional sensitivity. This sensitivity extends not only to temperature, humidity, and movement but also to blood pressure and mechanical forces.



**The Testicles: A Precise Factory**



A casual observation reveals that the hair around the testicles is curly, aiding in sweat evaporation and cooling. Correspondingly, the scrotum has wrinkles that slowly stretch or contract with the movement of the testicles. The primary function of this localized skin movement is heat dissipation. When producing sperm, the testicles consume significant energy per unit of space. Despite the body's high efficiency, some energy inevitably converts to heat.



This heat can be detrimental to sperm production, as newly formed sperm are highly temperature-sensitive. To ensure "product quality," the two spherical "production workshops" must reside outside the body to enhance heat dissipation. Additionally, the scrotum's large surface area provides sufficient heat exchange capacity, ensuring that your "million-strong army" remains vigorous before the "crossing-the-river battle."



In summer, you may notice your scrotum hangs lower and stays moist. In colder winter temperatures, the scrotum's wrinkles contract tightly for insulation, and its surface becomes very dry. This is because the scrotal skin, in addition to its powerful expansion and contraction abilities, has strong sweat gland function. The skin's stretch-and-cool system and sweat-cooling system work together to support robust sperm production.



**Precision Comes with Fragility**



Everything has its trade-offs. While this system's quality in terms of production capacity and quality is superior, the price for such precise control is high—dense nerve distribution and extreme sensitivity make it highly vulnerable.



As is well-known, at the start of a football match, the referee flips a coin to decide which team kicks off. Taking the coin flip as an example, if the force of the flip were applied to most parts of your limbs or trunk, you probably wouldn't feel pain—just a slight touch. However, if the coin were replaced by your testicles, you'd be out of luck. According to those unfortunate enough to have experienced it, the pain, though short-lived, is intense and powerful, akin to an electric shock.



Fortunately, evolution has endowed our testicles with excellent elasticity and resilience. After a few dozen seconds, things usually return to normal. However, in some cases, the injury can spiral out of control. If not treated promptly, you might not only endure prolonged and deep-seated pain (similar to continuous electric shocks, making life miserable) but, in severe cases, even face the painful decision to have them surgically removed. Of course, if only one is removed and the other remains healthy, reproductive function generally remains unaffected.



Next, let's explore the common "unbearable" injuries. It's best if you never have to experience these pains.



Internal Bleeding



The most common testicular injury is internal bleeding within the scrotum. The scrotal lining is rich in blood vessels. Violent friction can rupture these vessels, typically caused by severe impacts or abrasions. Reports indicate that improper movements, such as climbing over walls, can lead to intense friction in the scrotum. If the outer skin remains intact, within hours your testicles could be surrounded by blood, causing the scrotum to swell to the size of a coconut. Pain is inevitable, though it's relatively mild compared to other types.



While the pain may not be severe in the first few hours, if left untreated until the next day, you might have to say goodbye to your testicles, as scrotal hematoma can sometimes signal testicular damage. Embarrassingly, with a scrotal hematoma, you might have to awkwardly support your pants (or use something to cover your lower body) while being rushed to the emergency room by ambulance. Therefore, those who frequently climb walls for work should wear thick, durable outer pants and tight inner pants.



Testicular Dislocation



This type of injury is relatively rare and typically results from motorcycle accidents or equestrian incidents. A moderate impact can displace your testicles. I must awkwardly point out that although this injury is the easiest to treat among common testicular injuries, it brings the most excruciating pain—it surpasses the agony of internal bleeding and ruptured vessels, potentially causing you to faint from the intensity. This is the most nerve-wracking situation.



The reason for this is straightforward: as a type of internal organ, the pain response from testicular displacement is far greater than that from rupture. Sometimes, this displacement isn't worth surgical intervention through scrotal opening. The process of restoring it through massage-like manipulation is unimaginably painful.