How is a testicular ultrasound performed? Are you hurt?

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Van Huong - Department of Diagnostic Imaging - Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang. The doctor has many years of experience in the field of diagnostic imaging.

Testicular ultrasound is an imaging method indicated for men with health problems such as: Testicular torsion, testicular cancer, orchitis, epididymitis,... So the process How does testicular ultrasound work, is testicular ultrasound painful?

The testicles are an important part of the male reproductive system. Each person has two testicles, covered by the scrotum, each about 4-5 cm long and weighing about 8-12 grams. The very important job of the testicles is to produce sperm and the male sex hormone testosterone. Therefore, testicles play an important role in spermatogenesis and in male reproductive function.
Testicular ultrasound is an imaging tool that uses ultrasound waves to reconstruct images of the internal structures of the testicles in men. Thereby, the doctor will observe the recorded images to detect abnormalities, thereby helping to diagnose the disease.
Besides, testicular ultrasound is often combined with semen analysis results to identify and diagnose abnormalities of the genital organs, as well as male reproductive function.
Currently, ultrasound technology is increasingly developed with methods such as color ultrasound, 3D/4D ultrasound,... bringing more accurate results in detecting pathologies in the testes. .

Testicular ultrasound is indicated in the following cases:
● History of severe trauma to the genitals or testicles: Testicular ultrasound is needed to check.
● Detect abnormal pain or swelling in testicles
● Want to check testicle condition: Pre-marital check.
● Assess and check for testicular abnormalities such as testicular torsion, infection, testicular biopsy.
Screening for testicular cancer, evaluating male infertility.

Testicular ultrasound is a simple, non-invasive, easy to perform subclinical examination with few side effects, but requires a seasoned sonographer who understands the testicular ultrasound procedure. Testicular ultrasound helps diagnose some of the following pathologies:
3.1. Varicocele When the veins above the testicles become abnormally dilated or twisted, reducing motility and sperm production and causing secondary infertility, this is characteristic of varicocele. .
Through the testicular ultrasound process, it will detect abnormal images such as the spermatic cord plexus twisted into tufts due to blockage causing blood to stasis, not circulating, and at the same time evaluate the flow of blood inside. varicose veins of the testicles.
3.2. Testicular torsion Testicular torsion is a dangerous acute disease that, if not detected in time, can cause testicular necrosis. The disease is common in men between the ages of 10 and 25. Doppler testicular ultrasound has the ability to detect testicular torsion as well as assess the degree of torsion for timely treatment and avoid complications.
3.3. Epididymitis Epididymitis is often a secondary disease when bacteria migrate upstream from the bladder and prostate to the testes and cause inflammation in the epididymis. The disease is common in men after puberty. The ultrasonographic image of the testis obtained in this pathology is that the coiled tubes posterior to the testicle are infected.
3.4. Orchitis orchitis can be primary when bacteria attack the testicle directly or it can be secondary to epididymitis. When the patient has symptoms such as: Scrotal swelling, pain, pain when urinating, during sex or blood/pus in the urine, they should see a doctor for an ultrasound of the testicles. The ultrasound image of the testicle will show the foci of inflammation, swelling, ... as well as evaluate the degree of testicular inflammation.

3.5. Testicular trauma Men can suffer testicular trauma when a sudden and strong force is applied to the genitals during movement, daily activities,... Then, testicular ultrasound helps detect and determine the extent of trauma to the testicles.

Is testicular ultrasound painless is the question of most male patients when indicated to perform this technique. In fact, testicular ultrasound is a non-invasive method, during ultrasound does not cause any discomfort to the patient. When doing a testicular ultrasound, the patient does not need to do any special preparation before the procedure.

Testicular ultrasound procedure includes:
● Before the ultrasound, the patient needs to change his pants and expose from the waist down. The patient lies on his back, using a folded towel to cover the penis. The part of the testicle will be raised to make it easier to conduct an ultrasound.
● After that, the patient is applied a layer of ultrasound gel on the testicles.
● Testicular ultrasound probe is used, pressing and moving continuously on the skin at the testicle.
● Images of the inside of the testicles are shown on a computer screen.
● The ultrasound takes about 5 - 15 minutes.
● After the ultrasound is over, wipe off the gel and put on your clothes again.

If a man has abnormalities in the genital system as well as signs of testicular cancer, it is necessary to examine and ultrasound the testicles to detect tumors. From there, doctors will diagnose the location, size, condition (fluid or not), the degree of cancer, ... as well as determine the most effective treatment plan for the patient without affect future fertility. Currently, there are many medical facilities and hospitals that offer testicular ultrasound services, but patients need to wisely choose reputable medical facilities and centers with highly qualified specialists to accurate diagnosis and give the best advice.