Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

AIBU to ask about male puberty?

19 replies

Anothersplendidday · 07/01/2013 00:51

My Ds is 13 and has been having a dull ache in his testicals for the last few days. He has only told me this evening (we are close but who wants to talk to their mother about their balls) and I have given him some painkillers and said we will visit male doctor tomorrow if they are still hurting. Have had a look on-line and some sites suggest that it could be hormonal (build up of sperm??) and just wondered if anyone knows if testicular pain during puberty is usual?

OP posts:

baw70 · 07/01/2013 01:07

Is it in both? I only ask, because my youngest had an ache and tenderness in one at the age of 13, so I phoned NHS Direct and was told to take him to hospital immediately in case it was a torsion. Hope I'm not scaremongering, but he ended up in the operating theatre as an emergency, only to find it was an infection after all, poor thing. If there's redness or swelling, but I think only in one, then best get it checked out. Having said that, I think it would be more than a dull ache and if he's had it a couple of days and it's not got any worse, then it doesn't sound like a torsion. Hope it's sorted soon.

5madthings · 07/01/2013 01:15

Sorry but have you had a look atvthem?

Only my ds1 had the same snd tgen one swellef up hugely, wr took him to a&e and he nerded an emergency op. They thought it was a strangulated testicle. It turned out to be something else (basucally a little growth ftom when he was an embryo! That had got a bit tangled and become gangrenous. It has a funny name i cant remember but is apparently quite common. Anyway they remobed tge growth and thsnkfully left both testickes intact (there was a risk they would have to remove one).

Amyway testicle pain is something that needs ti be checked out. It could well be puberty related but do see the dr first yhing or go to a&e if iy gets worse.

5madthings · 07/01/2013 01:17

God sorry for typos and hope you can read that!

hopefully it is the build up as you found when googling, but do get it checked out.

AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 01:39

testicle pain should be taken seriously. I would get him checked out

flow4 · 07/01/2013 01:40

Might be worth posting this in Teenagers or Health... You're NBU! :)

My DS(17) spoke to me about ball pain a few weeks ago. He has had two friends who have had to have testicles removed, so he's understandably aware and concerned... He went to the clinic, and his physical exam and test results were all fine... The doctor told him that boys get more ball pain 'these days' because they wear baggy boxers that don't give any support, and he advised my DS to wear tight underpants for a while!

Original poster

Anothersplendidday · 07/01/2013 01:44

Thanks for your replies. The ache is in both testicals. I haven't looked at them as he wouldn't be comfortable with that, it's a while since I have seen him in the nod. I have asked if they are swollen, red, ect and he says they look normal and don't hurt if he touches them. He says they don't feel any different apart from the dull ache which has been on and off for the past few days and hasn't got worse. Seems like he has been putting up with it and hoping it would go away by itself. Pretty sure it isn't anything serious enough for a&e but will definately get it checked out by male GP first thing.

OP posts:

NetworkGuy · 07/01/2013 02:22

Good that you are close enough for him to discuss with you.

Have to admit I don't remember anything similar at that age.

I did have a significant pain earlier this year (had an appointment on the Thursday before Easter, now I remember).

Was in such pain I thought I'd had another hernia (as I had had one 25 years ago) and it felt like I had three testicles, but the doctor, on examining me, diagnosed an infection and prescribed some strong anti-biotics.

My left testicle felt around 3 times larger than normal and walking for the next week was painful (and slow).

Hope it is all sorted soon for the lad.

Original poster

Anothersplendidday · 07/01/2013 14:17

Thankyou all for your replies. Just to update... went to GP this morning and even though doc thought everything seemed ok and they were not as painful as last night , he refered us to hospital for second opinion as he thought it could be an early torsion.

Hospital discounted it being anything serious needing surgery or an infection. They did say it could have been cyst which has ruptured but can't be sure so have sent him home and said to return immediatley if there is any sharp pain. He was v. embarrassed and fearful at the thought of surgery as, I didn't know this until today, one of his friends has had to have a testical removed and he thought the same would happen to him.

I asked hospital doctor about testical pain in puberty and he said it is not normal but also not uncommon. He also said any pain in the testicals needs to been seen to asap and not to think we are wasting their time if it reoccurs.

So pleased he has now got a smile back on his face - thanks everyone.

OP posts:

baw70 · 07/01/2013 16:04

Surgery doesn't necessarily mean removal of a testicle, they can untwist it. My son had his stapled so that it couldn't twist in the future, even though it hadn't twisted in the first place. Because you know about it early, if it does get worse you can take him in straight away and the chances of removal are small. It's only after a certain amount of time (measured in hours not days BTW) that removal might be necessary. Just be sure to tell him that he needs to let you know immediately if there's any change.

anewyear · 07/01/2013 16:15

Thanx for highlighting this, Ive just had a 'chat' with my 14yr old just in case
will have a chat with the 11yr old tonight

flow4 · 07/01/2013 16:25

@baw - STAPLED?!?!
Oh good grief I'm glad I haven't got testicles! Don't think I'll be mentioning that in my chats with DSes!

Original poster

Anothersplendidday · 07/01/2013 16:26

Thanks baw70 , the gp was worried that the testicle (thanks for the spell check network guy ) could be starting to twist as the pain was off and on. They said if it is twisted it could mean surgery and he immediatley thought that meant removal. It was explained that they can be untwisted and stapled if caught in time. Will be keeping a close watch on him. Now the doctor has had a word with him and explained time is important and could make a diffence to the outcome he said he would let me know straight away if they should start hurting again.

OP posts:

NetworkGuy · 07/01/2013 16:42

Fortunately, have never had any stapling done, that sounds right nasty!

(Did have a prostate operation, but that shouldn't be a worry until DS is over 60... oh yes, and with an epidural, so was watching the theatre staff all through...)

5madthings · 07/01/2013 16:46

Yes they don't always remove, we were warned with ds1 that they thought they would have to remove his as it was massively swollen etc but actually they saved the testicle.

It was something called a hiatus morgagni?(so) or something like that. He is fine now and I have to say that all the drs and nurses were very kind and considerate with him as an early teen and understood he was a bit embarrassed etc.

Glad you got it checked out and I do think this is something parernts need to know and boys need to know, and how to check their testicles etc, its important.

baw70 · 07/01/2013 17:30

Yes, STAPLED!! He's 16 now and can apparently still feel it if he has a rummage. TMI for me, but he's very relaxed an open about these things. Who'd have thought a bit of knacker pain would need and urgent operation? Timely reminder for anyone with boys though.

NetworkGuy · 07/01/2013 17:52

"a bit of knacker pain" aka "ball ache" (much less to type!)

AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 18:16

baw70, you should change your name to bawbag

< juvenile >

baw70 · 07/01/2013 23:44

Quite right NetworkGuy, will take heed for the future. You've got me thinking AnyFucker, I may well do that, it's a little more distinctive than my present name and I do know a lot about balls (don't ask!).

AnyFucker · 07/01/2013 23:49

say no more < nudge, nudge >

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread