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Overview
Feels like a bag of worms.
Can affect fertility.
When to get medical care
Call 911Not an emergency.
Get care todaySudden swelling.
See a doctor soonPain or fertility concerns.
Causes
Caused by enlarged veins.
OwieClear has pages on 1 condition that can cause twisted veins or dull ache above a testicle. Each shows how soon to get care.
Common causes
- VaricoceleSee a doctor if it doesn't get better
Enlarged veins in the scrotum, often on the left side, that can feel like a bag of worms.
What you can do at home
- Supportive underwear.
Medicines
Surgery if needed.
At the doctor
Diagnosed by exam.
Questions you may be asked
- Pain
The exam
A scrotal exam.
Tests
- Ultrasound
Prevention
Get checked.
- Self-checks
Check your symptoms
Most symptoms have more than one possible cause. The symptom checker looks at all of your symptoms together, plus your age, and shows how soon to get care.
Sources
Last updated 2026-11-13.