Testicle Pain - Spermatic Cord coiling

[ginger_matt51]

For 2-3 years i've suffered from sporadic (once every 6 months or so) pain in my right testicle and apparent 'coiling' up of my spermatic cord. The usually relaxed and elongated spermatic cord becomes coiled into a painful lump. This situation usually sorts itself out and after a few hours the spermatic cord returns to normal and the pain subsides.

I spoke to my doctor about this a year ago, and was sent for an ultrasound. No problems were found by the ultrasound.

However it happened last week and lasted for much longer than usually (approx. 14 hours) before sorting itself out. The spermatic cord eventually de-coiled and returned to normal. I can however still feel a slight dull pain in my testicles occasionally.

Is this situation something to be worried about? What is this coiling of the spermatic cord?

[Dr_Veena]

Hi,
     Thanks for writing in. Spermatic cord is a cordlike structure, consisting of the vas deferens and its accompanying arteries, veins, nerves, and lymphatic vessels, that passes from the abdominal cavity through the inguinal canal down into the scrotum to the back of the testicle.

Coiling of spermatic cord leads to retraction of testicles which can occur due to testicular torsion or inguinal hernia. So, it is important to find out the cause for spermatic cord coiling and appropriate treatment for the same. Because recurrent coiling can disrupt the blood supply to the testicle and lead to atrophy of the testicle.
Consult a urologist and discuss the above mentioned possibilities.
Best.