Chronic scrotal pain (CSP) is a common and debilitating condition, but the underlying characteristics and etiology of CSP are poorly understood. The objective of this study is to identify the characteristic and etiologies of CSP. Men presenting for management of CSP completed a standardized questionnaire and underwent a complete physical examination. From Feb 2014 to Sep 2015, a total of 131 men (mean age 43) with CSP were studied. The CSP was of long duration (mean of 4.7 ± 5.95 years) and dramatically affected men's lives, with adverse effects on normal activities (71.%), ability to work (51.90%), and sexual functioning (61.8%). 50.4% felt depressed on most days, and 67.17% felt either unhappy or terrible with their present condition. Physical examination revealed that the epididymis was the most common tender area found in 70/131 men (53.43%), though a musculoskeletal source for the pain was found in 9.9%. Neuropathic changes were found in 30%. For close to half of the men (43.5%) we were unable to identify any potential cause for the CSP. This study characterizes the dramatic impact that CSP has on the lives of men, while providing an understanding of the common etiologies.
Background: Chronic scrotal pain (CSP) is a common and often debilitating condition found in up to 4.75% of men. There is little written on the impact of CSP on men's lives. Aim: The aim of this study was to understand the impact of CSP on men's lives. Methods: Patients with CSP were prospectively asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire, including questions on quality of life (QoL), activities, and mood. Results: The mean age of the 131 patients was 43 years. Pain was intermittent, with severe pain episodes (mean pain scores 7.2 ± 2 out of 10) affecting men on average 40% ± 30% of the time. Overall, 88/131 (67.17%) of patients responded that they felt "unhappy" or "terrible" with their present situation. More than 40% of patients complained of depressive symptoms more than half the days of the month. Normal activities were adversely affected, with 68/131 (51.90%) reporting limited ability to work, 93/131 (70.99%) patients reporting decreased physical activity, and 81/131 (61.83%) reporting decreased sexual activity. Comparing men with pain levels ≥ 7/10 vs. those with pain levels < 7/10, 47% (41/88) vs. 8.1% (3/37) reported that they felt "terrible," 40% (35/88) vs. 13% (5/38) had depressive feelings more than half the time, and 35% (28/80) vs. 16% (6/38) felt little pleasure doing things (P < 0.01 for all). Conclusion: Our study suggests that QoL, mood, and the ability to perform normal activities are profoundly disturbed in CSP patients and that the pain severity is directly related to QoL. RÉSUMÉContexte: La douleur scrotale chronique est une affection commune et souvent débilitante dont souffrent près de 4,75 % des hommes. Il y a peu d'écrits sur l'impact de la douleur scrotale chronique sur la vie des hommes. But: Comprendre l'impact de la douleur scrotale chronique sur la vie des hommes. Méthodes: On a demandé de manière prospective à des patients souffrant de douleur scrotale chronique de remplir un questionnaire détaillé comprenant des questions sur leur qualité de vie, leurs activités et leur humeur. Résultats: L'âge moyen des 131 patients était de 43 ans. La douleur était intermittente, comportait des épisodes de douleur intense (scores de la douleur moyens 7,2 +/-2 sur 10) et affectait les hommes 40 % +/-30 % du temps. Globalement, 88/131 (67,17 %) des patients ont répondu qu'ils se sentaient malheureux ou « horriblement mal » en raison de leur situation actuelle. Plus de 40 % des patients se sont plaints de symptômes de dépression plus de la moitié des jours du mois. Leurs activités habituelles étaient affectées négativement, alors que 68/131 (51,90 %) disaient avoir une capacité de travail limitée, que 93/131 (70,99 %) des patients signalaient une diminution de leur activité physique et que 81/131 (61,83 %) d'entre eux faisaient état d'une diminution de leur activité sexuelle. La comparaison des hommes qui avaient un niveau de douleur ≥ 7/10 à ceux qui avaient un niveau de douleur < 7/10 a révélé que 47 % d'entre eux (41/88) se sentaient « horriblement pas bien » contre 8,1 % (3/37), que 40 %...
BackgroundWhile it is recognized that chronic pain may adversely impact sexual function and activity in men and we also recognize that sexual activity may worsen the pain for men with chronic scrotal pain (CSP), the effect on sexual functioning and conversely the impact of sex on CSP has not previously been documented.MethodsRetrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database.ResultsFrom Feb 2014 to Sep 2015, a total of 128 men presenting for assessment of CSP completed all or parts of a standardized questionnaire. Overall 60% (69/116) of the men felt that the CSP had kept them either a “lot” or “some” of the time from sexual activity and 64% (27/43) had evidence of decreased erectile performance. Those with more severe pain (analog pain scores 7–10/10) had more significant sexual dysfunction than those with less severe pain, with 54% (45/83) vs. 0% (0/33, P<0.01: Fisher’s exact test) noting that the pain kept them from sexual activity “a lot” and 70% (23/33) vs. 40% (4/10, P<0.01) noting sexual dysfunction. Diminished libido was also common in the men [43% (55/128)] as were the symptoms of testosterone deficiency [76% (97/128)]. Conversely, sexual activity often exacerbated the pain, with 37% (47/128) finding that ejaculation aggravated their pain and another 38% (48/128) patients found sexual activity aggravated their pain.ConclusionsMen with severe CSP have significantly reduced sexual function and interest compared to men with moderate or minor levels of pain. The majority of men with CSP who were sexually active were faced with worsening pain with sex and ejaculation. Clinicians should be aware of the twin risks of sexual dysfunction occurring in men with CSP and sexual activity worsening the severity of the CSP.
BackgroundChronic scrotal pain (CSP) may be debilitating in men presenting for treatment for CSP, but we have little information on the frequency and severity of CSP in the men who do not seek care for the CSP. Our objective was to identify the frequency and characteristics of CSP in a population of men presenting for reasons other than CSP to a urology clinic.MethodsMen presenting to a urology clinic for investigation of male infertility (INF) completed a standardized CSP questionnaires if they self-reported having CSP. This prospectively collected database was then retrospectively analyzed.ResultsForty-five of 1,203 (3.7%) of INF patients (mean age 35: range, 24–59), reported having CSP (INF/CSP). Our comparison group was 131 men presenting for investigation of CSP [mean age 43¡À12 (SD) years with a mean duration of CSP of 4.7¡À5.95 years]. On average, men with INF/CSP had less severe and frequent pain than those with CSP, with significantly less pain during “bad” pain episodes (5.2¡À2.2 vs. 7.4¡À2.1, VAS score 0–10, P<0.0001 Student’s t-test), less frequent “bad” pain episodes (23%¡À21% vs. 42%¡À30% of the time, P<0.0001 Student’s t-test) and lower proportion of men who reported having severe pain (VAS score 7–10/10) (4/45 vs. 46/131, P<0.001, chi-squared test). Both groups reported a negative impact of the pain on quality of life (QOL), with 60% and 86% of men with INF/CSP and CSP alone reporting that they would feel ‘mostly dissatisfied’, ‘unhappy’, or ‘terrible’ if they had to continue life with their present scrotal pain symptoms.ConclusionsClinicians should be aware that CSP is common among men presenting for conditions other than CSP and that even if the pain levels are not “severe”, the chronic pain often has a significant negative impact on QOL.
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