Running long distances requires a capable cardiovascular system and strong leg muscles, and getting these fit isn't easy -- uncomfortably heavy breathing and burning quads and calves are common sources of distress in joggers. However, running is truly a whole-body exercise that stresses not only the working muscles, but also other organ systems including the digestive and genitourinary systems. Scrotal pain in men associated with assorted underlying conditions is often exacerbated during running.
Varicocele
A varicocele results from distension of the veins supplying one of the testicles, and is pathologically similar in pathology to a varicose leg vein or hemorrhoids in the rectum. The cause is usually faulty valves in these veins, leading to the back flow of blood and pooling of blood in the scrotum owing to gravitational forces. Once a varicocele becomes sufficiently large, it can cause severe pain, especially when you are standing or physically active, as with running. Your doctor can tell you whether surgical repair is your best option or whether non-surgical treatment likely to suffice.
Testicular Torsion
Torsion of a testicle occurs when the testicle becomes twisted on its spermatic cord, not unlike an object hanging from the end of a rope and spinning around. The result is strangulation of the testicular blood supply within the scrotum. According to the PubMed Health website, strenuous exercise is a frequent contributor to the development of this very painful condition. If you experience testicular pain that comes on suddenly, seek medical attention immediately; torsion is a surgical emergency, and failure to act quickly can result in loss of the affected testicle.
Epididymitis
Epididymitis is a painful inflammation of the epididymis, a thin, coiled tube toward the back of the scrotum that attaches to the posterior aspect of the testicle and conveys sperm cells from the testicle to the spermatic cord. According to MayoClinic.com, the usual cause is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection and is most common in men between the ages of 20 and 39. If you have epididymitis, you may feel a small lump and your scrotum may be warm and red. Since the cause is usually a bacteria, treatment includes several days of oral antibiotics and not running.
Prostatitis
Prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate, the walnut-sized gland that secretes semen, has numerous causes and can present in a range of ways, from the sudden onset of severe pain to a gradually worsening ache. Prostatitis can result from a bacterial infection, but in most cases of prostatitis, the cause is never identified. Pain is usually centered between the scrotum and rectum -- and is usually worse with activity or urination. Sometimes, prostatitis resolves on its own, while other times, you need antibiotics.
