Groin pain is pain that occurs where the inner, upper thigh and lower stomach area meet.
Seek immediate medical attention if you have:
- Groin pain along with back, stomach or chest pain.
- Sudden, serious testicle pain.
- Testicle pain and swelling along with nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, unexplained weight loss, or blood in the urine.
Schedule a doctor's visit if you have:
- Serious groin pain.
- Groin pain that doesn't get better with home treatment within a few days.
- Mild testicle pain lasting longer than a few days.
- A lump or swelling in or around a testicle.
- Occasional pain along the lower side of the abdomen that may spread along the groin and into the testicle.
- Blood in urine.
Self-care
If a strain or sprain causes groin pain, these self-care measures might help:
- Take a store-bought pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others).
- Place an ice pack or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel on the sore area for 10 minutes 3 to 4 times a day.
- Take a break from any athletic activities that you do. Rest is key to heal any strains or sprains to your groin.
Show References
- Johnson R. Approach to hip and groin pain in the athlete and active adult. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 13, 2023.
- Giangarra CE, et al., eds. Groin pain. In: Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation: A Team Approach. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 14, 2023.
- Brooks DC. Sports-related groin pain or "sports hernia." https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 13, 2023.
- Shah AJ, et al. Scrotal pain. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary-disorders/symptoms-of-genitourinary-disorders/scrotal-pain. Accessed July 13, 2023.
- Ferri FF. G — Differential diagnosis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2024. Elsevier; 2024. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed July 13, 2023.
- Groin. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/groin. Accessed July 14, 2023.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/groin-pain/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050652