[Question #11841] Testicular ache

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12 months ago
Hi Drs,
I have recently had a few incidents of oral sex (receiving) from high-end female escorts (i am male). I didn’t test after these incidents as my understanding is that in the risk of obvious symptoms they are low risk.

However, for a few weeks i have had aching in my testicles. I visited my GP who referred me for Ultrasound which picked up Varicocoles which ‘could’ be the cause. I have since been referred to a Urologist. 

I have read online that Ghonoreah could could also cause testicular pain and asked my Urologist if there was any sign of Epididymitis and he confirmed the ultrasound had not shown that. 

Should i still be tested for Ghonnoreah or is the pain likely to be caused by something else - ie. the Varicocoles. It’s unclear online if testicular pain can be caused by ghonnoreah and not lead to epididymitis or if epididymitis IS the pain caused by ghonnoreah. 
Thank you
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
12 months ago
Welcome back to the forum. Thanks for your continued confidence in our services.

No STI, including gonorrhea, causes testicular aching as the only symptom. Epididymitis caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia almost always involves one testicle only, quite severe, and that testicle is obviously enlarged and very tender; and usually is preceded by typical urethritis symptoms -- penile discharge of pus or mucus plus painful urination. 

I'm not sure varicoceles can cause pain -- that's a urology issue, and your urologist undoubtedly knows more about this than I do. Aching or vague pain in both testicles often is due to prostate problems (something your urologist also knows more about) or genitally focused anxiety -- which might occur after sexual exposures that have worried you. You really needn't worry about any STI as the cause. Keep working with your urologist if the discomfort continues. You might consider printing out this thread as a framework for discussion with him.

I hope this information is helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear. 

HHH, MD
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