Chronic Scrotal Pain: Debilitating and Poorly Understood

In an article published in Research and Reports in Urology, researchers detail their findings from a literature review of chronic scrotal pain—whether intermittent or constant—and options for surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Causes of chronic scrotal pain include both scalpel and nonscalpel vasectomy and hernia repair or thoracolumbar junction syndrome. Nonsurgical treatment options mentioned in the article include physical therapy, and medications such as ibuprofen, tricyclic antidepressants, psychotherapy, muscle relaxants, spermatic cord block and botulinum toxin. Surgical options include microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord, peripheral nerve stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, hydrodissection, cryo-ablation, and orchiectomy.

The study concludes that “The constantly evolving literature of chronic scrotal pain has led to the increased knowledge of diagnosis and treatment, from oral medications to invasive treatments. With each study, we develop a more thorough, evidence-based algorithm to guide urologists in treatment of chronic scrotal pain. In general, chronic scrotal pain is a poorly understood problem with a variety of causes and considerations, which still requires more research in the future.”

 

Read the journal article.

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