It hurts just to think about it. A baseball takes an unexpected bounce when you're crouched and waiting to field a grounder, an opponent misses a kick on the soccer field and his foot has only one place to go, or you're speeding along on your bike and you hit a big bump. All result in one really painful thing — a shot to the *********, one of the most tender areas on a guy's body. Testicular injuries are relatively uncommon, but guys should be aware that they can happen. So how can you avoid injury?

How Testicular Injuries Happen and What to Do
If you're a guy who plays sports, likes to lift weights and exercise a lot, or leads an all-around active life, you've probably come to find out that the ********* are kind of vulnerable and can be injured in a variety of ways. Because they hang in a sac outside the body (the *******), the ********* are not protected by bones and muscles like other parts of your reproductive system and most of your other organs. Also, the location of the ********* makes them prime targets to be accidentally struck on the playing field or injured during strenuous exercise and activity.

The good news is that because the ********* are loosely attached to the body and are made of a spongy material, they're able to absorb most collisions without permanent damage. *********, although sensitive, can bounce back pretty quickly and minor injuries rarely have long-term effects. Also, sexual function or sperm production will most likely not be affected if you have a testicular injury.

You'll definitely feel pain if your ********* are struck or kicked, and you might also feel nauseous for a short time. If it's a minor testicular injury, the pain should gradually subside in less than an hour and any other symptoms should go away. In the meantime, you can do a few things to help yourself feel better such as take pain relievers, lie down, gently support the ********* with supportive underwear, and apply ice packs to the area. At any rate, it's a good idea to avoid strenuous activity for a while and take it easy for a few days.

However, if the pain doesn't subside or you experience extreme pain that lasts longer than an hour; if you have swelling or bruising of the ******* or a puncture of the ******* or ********; if you continue to have nausea and vomiting; or if you develop a fever, get to a doctor immediately. These are symptoms of a much more serious injury that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Serious Testicular Injuries
Examples of serious testicular injury are testicular torsion and testicular rupture. In the case of testicular torsion, the ******** twists around, cutting off its blood supply. This can happen due to a serious trauma to the *********, strenuous activity, or even for no apparent reason.

Testicular torsion isn't common, but when it does happen, it most often occurs in guys ages 12 to 18. If it occurs, it is crucial to see a doctor as soon as possible — within 6 hours of the time the pain starts. Unfortunately, after 6 hours, there is a much greater possibility that complications could result, including reduced sperm production or the loss of the ********. The problem may be fixed by a doctor manually untwisting the ********. If that doesn't work, surgery will be necessary.

Testicular rupture can also happen, but it is a rare type of testicular trauma. This can happen when the ******** receives a forceful direct blow or when the ******** is crushed against the pubic bone (the bone that forms the front of the pelvis), causing blood to leak into the *******. Testicular rupture, like testicular torsion and other serious injuries to the *********, causes extreme pain, swelling in the *******, nausea, and vomiting. To fix the problem, surgery is necessary to repair the ruptured ********.