Groin pain refers to discomfort in the area where the abdomen ends and the legs begin. This article focuses on groin pain in men.
In males, the terms "groin" and "testicle" are sometimes used interchangeably. But what causes pain in one won't necessarily cause pain in the other.
Common causes of groin pain in men include:
Home care depends on the cause. Follow your health care provider's recommendations.
Call your health care provider if:
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:
The physical examination will include examination of the groin area. A hidden hernia can be found by inserting one finger into the upper part of the scrotum while you cough. Coughing raises the pressure in the abdomen and pushes your intestine into any hernia opening.
Tests that may be performed include:
Pain - groin; Lower abdominal pain; Genital pain; Perineal pain
Gerber GS, Brendler CB. Evaluation of the urologic patient: History, physical examination, and the urinalysis. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 3.
Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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