Groin pain and swelling could be red flags for males and potentially indicate many different conditions such as swollen lymph nodes in the male groin area or a hernia. It is important to know what these conditions are since they can range from kidney stones to cancers, and to be able to identify when something is wrong. Not only can this be worrisome to any man experiencing abnormal swelling or pain, but depending on the extent of the pain and symptoms, it could be a good enough reason to see your doctor.
Groin area – Where is it located?
The groin area in men represents the area between the upper thighs and the lowest point of the abdomen. You can visualize it better if you think of the area where your legs start and the abdomen ends. The groin area is part of the hip and encompasses five muscles in charge of making the leg move.
What causes groin pain?
Groin pain is a condition characterized by a sensation of discomfort, heaviness, or pressure in the groin region. The causes for groin pain can range from tendon strain to cancers to to hernias.
Many people experience mild groin pain occasionally as a result of active lifestyles or other factors. Groin pain usually produces symptoms such as:
- Aching at the front and/or side of the pelvis and/or testicles or scrotum;
- Stiffness;
- Sensation that there is something in the testicles;
- Painful when touching.
Groin pain is different from testicular pain. However, the discomfort you feel in your testicles can often produce echos in your groin area as well.
While most sessions of groin pain happen due to sports or muscle pulls, this might also be a symptom for certain conditions. This is why it is important to mention groin pain to your doctor at your next appointment. Here are other health conditions that develop groin pain as a symptom.
1. Hernias
The area between the abdomen and thigh is a hernia. This type of hernia is more specifically called an inguinal hernia and it occurs when part of the small intestine bulges through a weak area in the lower abdominal muscles.
Inguinal hernias present as bulging in the groin, and can often be confused with swelling. Even a small hernia will cause intermittent groin pain, which is pain that comes and goes. However, more severe hernias can cause unbearable pain for sufferers to the point of incapacitation.
This symptom is not something to ignore. Hernias left untreated may become strangulated when blood flow to the intestine is cut off, leading to death of the bowel tissue. Such a complication is life-threatening and requires emergency surgery.
2. Swollen lymph nodes
Most often we do not notice these glands, but when they are swollen, or enlarged, they become visible to us. Lymph nodes are important part of the immune system and are located regionally throughout the body.
The groin has a uniquely high concentration of lymph nodes and, as part of the immune system, lymph nodes reflect abnormalities in that area. Therefore, you could be experiencing swelling of nodes from a urinary tract infection, or some other type of infection your body is fighting off.
In general, infections are the most common causes of lymph node enlargement. As mentioned, this could be from an infection in the urinary tract, but could also be something a bit more serious such as infection from sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
Currently, there are over 300,000 cases of STD’s like gonorrhea in the US. If you have swollen lymph nodes and it is NOT a hernia, then another possibility would be the above-mentioned.
3. Inflammation and cancers
Cancers such as testicular or penile cancer can lead to swollen lymph nodes in the groin, similar to infections. In addition to swollen groin nodes, a dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin is also a symptom for testicular cancer.
Not all swollen lymph nodes are abnormal, so don’t forget to consult with your doctor. Paying attention to your symptoms and the progression of the swelling could be a great help for your doctor in determining the cause. Let your doctor know if the swelling has come on suddenly, or gradually, and if there is pain associated with it. These minor details could give a doctor valuable information about the diagnosis.
4. Kidney stones
Doctor Samadi says that another big reason for groin pain is kidney stones. Which a lot of the times will start from the kidney but radiate through the growing area, so that can be the part of the diagnosis.
5. Hip osteoarthritis
Hip osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the hip joint. It is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes the cartilage to degrade, since bone is rubbing against bone.
A person with hip osteoarthritis may experience pain in the groin or buttock. The pain intensifies after being engaged in a light activity such as walking or after resting for a long period of time and then standing up suddenly.
6. Hip fracture
A hip can be fractured over time or as a result of an accident that implies falling or hurting oneself in the hip area. Unlike hip osteoarthritis, a hip fracture leads to extreme pain in the groin area.
If left untreated for an extended period of time, hip fracture can cause further complications. Blood clots, bedsores, loss of muscle mass, further falls and other accidents can be some of the repercursions when men ignore symptoms like groin pain.
Less common causes of groin pain
If none of the above fit the case, groin pain can in rare cases signal unusual health conditions. Follow below unusual causes of groin pain.
Testicular problems
Often times, testicular problems manifest first through abdominal or groin pain before they develop pain in the scrotum. In the absence of any recent trauma or injury in the testicles, there are likely other medical issues that groin pain is pointing to. Some of these can be:
- Kidney stones;
- Fluid in the testicle;
- Varicocele;
- Diabetic neuropathy;
- Gangrene.
Pelvic problems
Not only women, but also men can develop pelvic problems. The following conditions may occur in rare cases in a body that suffers from groin pain:
- Erectile dysfunction;
- Urinary incontinence;
- Prostate cancer;
- Prostatitis;
- Chronic pelvic pain syndrome;
- Hard Flaccid syndrome.
Osteitis pubis
Osteitis pubis usually appears after a sports injury, especially when the muscles at the level of the legs and hips are being overworked. It is a condition more commonly associated with sports like hockey or soccer.
Osteitis pubis is an inflammation of the bone and soft tissues in the pelvic region. Symptoms other than groin pain consist of constant pain when standing by which only agravets when moving.
What is groin strain/ groin pull?
A groin strain or a groin pull occurs when when a groin muscle is being overstretched or torn apart. This phenomenon can happen during activities such as jogging, skating, playing soccer or basketball or any other occupation that involves sudden jumps and changes of direction. It is an injury most common among professional hockey players.
A groin strain is assessed according to its severity:
- 1st degree: the pain is soft;
- 2nd degree: the pain is moderate, and there are signs of tissue damage;
- 3rd degree: the pain is excruciating, and the patient cannot move due to tissue damage.
In cases of 3d degeee groin pulls, doctors may resort to X-rays and MRIs in order to diagnose the right extent of the injury.
When should you worry about groin pain?
Many adults consider pain as part of their daily lives. However, in more cases than one might think, pain becomes the language the body uses in order to say that something is wrong.
Therefore, a dull groin pain by itself might make it as a topic of discussion at your next doctor’s visit. Nonetheless, when this symptom is accompanied by other signs, it is your responsability to inform your doctor right away. Make the call if you have:
- Persistent groin pain, even after self-medication;
- Acute groin pain;
- Lumps in the testicular region;
- Blood in the urine;
- Pain radiating along the groin and testicular areas;
- Persistent testicle pain.
How is groin pain diagnosed?
Once you’ve informed your doctor of your groin issue, the next step is to make an appointment. Afterward, doctors are going to rely on X-rays and ultrasound investigations in order to determine the source of groin pain and what causes it.
In other cases, patients go through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) so that doctors are able to discover any soft tissue injuries or stress fractures. If suspicions fall on inflammations or other secondary infections, blood tests are in order. All these investigations are enough to diagnose the health conditions signaled by groin pain and other symptoms if any.
Groin pain treatment
Self-treatment is applicable if the groin pain is manageable and you know for certain that it was caused by muscle strain:
- An over-the-counter pain killer like ibuprofen or acetaminophen;
- An ice pack was wrapped in a towel and applied to the sore area for 30 minutes three times a day;
- A break from physical activities;
- Plenty of rest.
In case of severe groin pain along with other symptoms, the treatment plan should be devised by doctors, once they come up with a diagnosis.
Swollen lymph nodes in the male groin – What to do?
Each groin area harbors 10 lymph nodes which protect the body against diseases. The moment lymph nodes start swelling, it means that the body lost the fight with a disease and it has an infection.
Part of the immune system, lymph nodes are round glands whose job is to filter lymph fluid. This substance contains white blood cells that are in charge of fighting infections.
Lymph nodes become visible in the form of protuberant lumps only they start swelling. The skin around them gets sensitive to the touch when this happens.
Causes that lead to swollen lymph nodes in the male groin might include:
- An insect bite;
- A dog bite;
- Fungal infection;
- Skin infection;
- Sexually transmitted infections;
- Tinea cruris or jock itch.
The treatment for swollen lymph nodes in the groin depends on the diagnosis. This is why it is imperative to visit the doctor’s office for a consultation at the first sight of protruding lumps in the groin area.
How to prevent groin pain?
Groin pain is a common problem and it can happen to anyone. Even sitting for long periods of time causes pressure on the groin, which causes pain in the groin. Groin pain can also be experienced after intense physical activities such as cycling or running.
To make sure groin pain doesn’t come back you can:
- Adopt regular physical activity and stretching;
- Gradually increase the intensity of your workouts in order to strengthen your muscles;
- Never skip your moments of rest.
Most patients ask: I have a swelling and pain in my groin area, that won’t go away. Should I worry?
Dr. Samadi‘s Answer: A lot of patients come to the practice and complain about groin pain so a lot of the times the first thing that comes to mind is hernia. Now, hernia, if we are talking about a small one, is not much to worry about and as it causes mild and intermediary pain, but the real danger of a hernia if you don’t fix it is that a part of the bowel can get throw that herniation and you will have an emergency on your hand. So if you don’t want to end up in an emergency surgery, make sure you see a doctor and get a hernia examination.
Does it really hurt? The hernia pain comes and goes, and if it gets any severe it will simply bring you down to the floor, it can be that bad!
We also need to understand that we have a lot of lymph nodes in that area, so if you have swollen lymph nodes, you are going to attract infections. Another reason might be cancer like penile cancer, or even testicular cancer can trigger the swelling of the lymph nodes.
These are only some of the possible causes of pain and swelling in the groin
Consulting with your doctor is your best defense against figuring out the cause of your symptoms, and treating an infection, hernia, or cancer early. When consulting with your doctor, remember to be detailed. The more information you can give, the better able your physician will be to help you.