Is there any relation between kidney stone and testicle pain?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Kidney stones can cause pain that radiates to the testicle because the kidneys, ureters, and testicles share overlapping nerve pathways in the lower abdomen and groin. This referred pain is common when a stone moves through the ureter, but kidney stones do not typically cause direct damage or structural problems in the testicle itself. If you're feeling testicular pain, the source may actually be a kidney stone, or it could point to another condition entirely, such as epididymitis, a hernia, or testicular torsion, which requires urgent care.

Because pinpointing the cause on your own is difficult and some conditions are time-sensitive, taking a free, instant, online symptom check is a smart next step. It can help you understand what's likely going on, whether you need to see a doctor soon, and how to describe your symptoms clearly at your visit—saving you time, worry, and guesswork.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Kidney stones often cause sharp pain, known as renal colic, when a stone moves through the urinary tract. This pain typically starts in the flank or back and can radiate to the groin area. Because the nerves in the lower urinary tract and those that serve the testicles share similar pathways, the discomfort from a kidney stone can sometimes be felt in the testicle. This is called referred pain. Testicular pain can have many other causes and should be evaluated by a healthcare provider to determine the exact cause. If you're experiencing testicular pain and want to better understand what might be causing it, try Ubie's free AI symptom checker to get personalized insights in just a few minutes.

(References)

Polackwich AS, Arora HC, Li J, Levine L, Tojuola B, Parekattil S, Shoskes DA. Development of a clinically relevant symptom index to assess patients with chronic orchialgia/chronic scrotal content pain. Transl Androl Urol. 2018 May;7(Suppl 2):S163-S168. doi: 10.21037/tau.2018.04.10. PMID: 29928613; PMCID: PMC5989111.
Patti L, Leslie SW. Acute Renal Colic. [Updated 2024 Dec 23]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
Huang CY, Chen CC, Lee YK, Chong CF, Wang TL, Maddison R, Gaylard L, Su YC. Ovarian torsion caused by teratoma masquerading as renal colic. Emerg Med J. 2008 Mar;25(3):182. doi: 10.1136/emj.2007.053249. PMID: 18299381.

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