Lump on testicle: what does it mean?

If you’re reading this, you may have found a lump on your testicle. Understandably, you may be feeling a bit anxious. Take a deep breath. Testicular or scrotal lumps are much more common than a lot of men realize. 

While they can be a sign of testicular cancer, in most cases, they’re not. Whether the lump is painful or painless, large or small, hard or soft, on the bottom of the testicle or somewhere else, it’s probably not cancer.

In fact, a large assortment of medical conditions could explain that worrying lump. Here’s a rundown of the types of lumps you may discover. Keep in mind that even if a lump feels like it’s on your testicle, it may actually be located on a different structure inside your scrotum, not on the testicle itself (Valentino, 2011).

Here are a few possible causes for that lump on your testicle—starting with some of the most likely. 

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The epididymis is a coiled tube located above and behind each of your testicles that stores and transports sperm. It’s prone to cysts, which are pockets of fluid, dead cells, or other material.  

Researchers have found that anywhere between 20% to 75% of men have one or more epididymal cysts. Often, they never even notice these abnormalities (Valentino, 2011). But these cysts can become quite large—so large that men often describe them to doctors as like “a third testicle.” They can also become infected and painful (Arora, 2019).

If an epididymal cyst is small or painless—which is typical—it doesn’t require any treatment. But if an epididymal cyst is large and/or painful, or if there’s enlargement or inflammation of the epididymis, your healthcare provider (typically a urologist) may choose to drain the cyst or remove it entirely (Arora, 2019). 

Medical providers sometimes break down epididymal cysts into several different categories (Valentino, 2011). For example, spermatoceles are large epididymal cysts that push out into the space inside your scrotum and around your testicles (Valentino, 2011). These cysts are benign and often painless. But in some cases, they can cause pain, a dull ache, or discomfort (Lundström, 2019).

A hydrocele is a collection of fluid that forms in your sac and around your testicle (Huzaifa, 2021). A hydrocele, though usually painless, can feel like a swollen or enlarged testicle. It can also cause a feeling of one-sided weight or bulk. It tends to get more swollen throughout the day (Lundström, 2019). Treatment may involve removal or drainage (Huzaifa, 2021). 

The contents of your abdomen can push through the abdominal lower wall and into two canals that run alongside your groin. This is called an inguinal hernia, and it’s common. Roughly one in four men will develop an inguinal hernia at some point in their lifetimes (NIDDK, 2019).

In some cases, this inguinal hernia can cause a mass to form in your scrotum. Other symptoms include pain, heaviness, or burning in or around your groin (NIDDK, 2019). Surgery is often the recommended treatment (Köckerling, 2018).

Your testicles, if healthy, should be smooth, soft, and moveable. Hard or firm areas, or differences in texture between one testicle and the other, are not typical. These abnormalities may be signs of testicular cancer. Lumps can also be symptoms of testicular cancer (Baird, 2019).

While rates of testicular cancer have gone up in recent decades, it’s still a rare and very treatable disease. Only about 9,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, and almost all men who undergo treatment for testicular cancer survive. If it turns out that you do have testicular cancer, the usual treatment is removal of the testicles. But only a doctor will be able to determine if that lump on your testicle is cancer or if it’s something else (Baird, 2019).

Believe it or not, there are still more medical issues that could cause a lump or mass to develop in your scrotum:

• Varicocele: Varicoceles are enlarged or inflamed veins inside the scrotal sac that healthcare providers describe as feeling like a “bag of worms” inside of the scrotum. Estimates show that about 15% of all men have varicoceles, although, for most (90% or more), they’re not painful (Gordhan, 2015; Paick, 2019). People with varicoceles often feel a “heaviness” in their sac that gets worse with exercise, physical activity, or after standing (Paick, 2019). 

• Spermatic cord cysts: The spermatic cord—a structure that runs from the groin into the back of the testes—can also develop cysts that could feel to you like a testicular lump (Valentino, 2011).

• Scrotal injury: An injury to your genitals could also cause swelling that could seem lump-like (Gordhan, 2015). 

Right now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the American Academy of Family Physicians, and other groups do not recommend self-exams to check for lumps or testicular cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends men with certain risk factors (previous testicular cancer or family history of testicular cancer) consider monthly self-examination (ACS, 2018). 

To perform this kind of self-examination, you should (ACS, 2018):

• Do so in a hot shower, which will relax your scrotum and make the exam easier

• Hold your penis out of the way 

• Soap your hands and testicles

• Roll each testicle around in your fingers, feeling for any lumps, bumps, or painful areas

• Take note of any changes in size, shape, or feel.

That said, if you notice a painful lump on your testicle or around your testicles, you should see a medical professional who can provide you with sound medical advice based on your symptoms (Stonier, 2017).  

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Current version

September 30, 2021

Written by

Health Guide Team

Fact checked by

Felix Gussone, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Felix Gussone, MD, Ro

Felix Gussone is a physician, health journalist and a Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.