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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffThe most common cause of groin pain is muscle, tendon or ligament strain, particularly in athletes who play sports such as hockey, soccer and football. Groin pain may occur immediately after an injury, or pain may come on gradually over a period of weeks or even months. Groin pain may be worsened by continued use of the injured area.
Less commonly, a bone injury or fracture, a hernia or even kidney stones may cause groin pain. Although testicle pain and groin pain are different, a testicle condition can sometimes cause pain that spreads to the groin area.
Direct and indirect causes of groin pain can include:
- Avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to limited blood flow)
- Avulsion fracture: How is it treated? (ligament or tendon pulled from the bone)
- Bursitis (joint inflammation)
- Epididymitis (testicle inflammation)
- Hydrocele (swelling of the scrotum)
- Inguinal hernia
- Kidney stones
- Muscle strain
- Mumps
- Orchitis (inflamed testicle)
- Retractile testicle (testicle that moves between the scrotum and abdomen)
- Osteoarthritis
- Pinched nerve
- Piriformis syndrome
- Sciatica
- Sprains and strains
- Scrotal masses
- Spermatocele (fluid buildup in the testicle)
- Stress fractures
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Tendinitis
- Testicular cancer
- Testicular torsion (twisted testicle)
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum)
Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.
- Sherman V, et al. Sports hernia. In: Brunicardi FC, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5031383. Accessed Dec. 21, 2010.
- Ferrri FF. Groin pain, active patient. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011. Philadelphia, Pa. Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00042-1--s0225&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&sid=1098001856&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00042-1--s0225&uniqId=230457697-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00042-1--s0225. Accessed Dec. 22, 2010.
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