Groin pain refers to discomfort in the area where the abdomen ends and the legs begin. This article focuses on groin pain in men.

Pain - groin; Lower abdominal pain; Genital pain; Perineal pain

In males, the terms "groin" and "testicle" are sometimes used interchangeably. But what causes pain in one won't necessarily do so in the other.

Common causes of groin pain in men include:

• Enlarged lymph glands
• Epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis)
• Hernia
• Inflammation of the large or small intestine
• Kidney stone
• Leydig cell tumor (testicular tumor)
• Muscle strain
• Orchitis (inflammation of the testicle)
• Superficial skin infection
• Testicular torsion
• Urinary tract infection

Review Date: 09/30/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)