Groin Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on June 06, 2024
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributor
7 min read

Groin pain is discomfort that happens in your groin, which is where the inside of your upper thigh and your abdomen come together. It's not the same as pain in your testicles, though that can sometimes cause pain that spreads to your groin.

You can feel groin pain in different ways depending on what's causing it. You could have:

  • Tenderness
  • A dull ache
  • A pulling or tearing sensation
  • Sharp, shooting, or stabbing pain
  • Burning
  • A popping feeling

The pain may get worse when you make certain movements, such as walking or rotating your hip, or when you cough or sneeze. It could also be more noticeable when you're in a particular position, such as sitting. In some cases, light exercise might improve your pain.

You could notice the discomfort more in the morning or at night.
 

Conditions that can cause groin pain include:

Groin strain. Most often, groin pain is the result of a muscle, ligament, or tendon strain. This is more common in those who play sports. The pain may happen right away, or it could build over time. Continuing the sport or activity may make the injury worse. Along with pain, groin strain symptoms may include:

  • Weak muscles or muscle spasms
  • Bruises
  • Swelling
  • Trouble moving your hip or leg

Inguinal hernia. This happens when fat or a loop of your intestine pushes through a weak spot in the muscles of your lower abdomen (belly). You may see a bulge in your groin or scrotum. A quarter of all men will develop this problem sometime during their lifetime. If the intestine or fat gets stuck in the abdominal muscle wall, its blood supply may get cut off. That’s called a strangulated hernia.

Symptoms can include:

  • Redness or sudden pain near the bulge
  • You can’t poop or pass gas
  • Nausea, vomiting, and fever

Get urgent care if you have any of these symptoms. A strangulated hernia is a life-threatening emergency.

Surgery can fix a hernia.

Prostatitis.This is swelling or infection in your prostate gland. In addition to pain, you may have a hard time peeing.

See your doctor. Prostatitis can sometimes go away on its own. But if an infection causes it, you may need to take antibiotics.

Epididymitis. This is swelling in the tube where sperm is stored -- the epididymis. Most often, an infection causes it. Signs and symptoms can include:

  • Pain on one side of the scrotum that comes on slowly
  • Pain while peeing
  • Fever
  • Milky discharge from your penis

Orchitis.This is swelling in one or both testicles that can cause fertility problems. The same infection that’s behind epididymitis may cause orchitis. The two conditions can happen at the same time. Sometimes, the mumps virus triggers orchitis.

If bacteria is the cause of either condition, an antibiotic can clear it up.

Testicular torsion.This happens when a testicle gets twisted inside your scrotum. It may feel like you got kicked in the crotch. It’s a medical emergency. The twisting (torsion) cuts off the blood supply to your testicle. If it’s not surgically untwisted within a few hours, your testicle can die. It happens most often in teen boys.

Testicular cancer.Most of the time, this cancer causes a painless lump in or on your testicle. But sometimes, it’s painful. It’s not a common cancer. If found early, it’s almost always treated and cured.

Hip problems. Sometimes, hip pain from arthritis or another problem can radiate to your groin. It usually builds slowly and may feel worse when you’re driving or sitting in a low chair. Usually, a doctor will try physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications first to treat the problem. You may need an operation if these don’t work.

Kidney stones.These are small crystals that form in your kidney and can get stuck in tubes leading to your bladder. The pain can be intense. It’s usually in your back or belly, but it can be in your scrotum or at the tip of your penis, too. If the stone is really big, you may need surgery.

Kidney infection.This usually happens when an infection travels from your bladder and enters one or both of your kidneys. Symptoms may include groin pain, frequent peeing, and blood or pus in your pee. The bacteria called E. coli is often to blame. Kidney infections are treated with antibiotics.

When to call 911 about groin pain

Get emergency medical help if you have:

  • Testicle pain that's sudden or intense
  • Pain that spreads to your back, abdomen, or chest
  • Discomfort along with fever, chills, and nausea

When to make a doctor’s appointment for groin pain

See your doctor if:

  • The groin pain is very bad or doesn’t get better in a few days.
  • There’s swelling or a lump around or in your testicle.
  • Pain in your side moves into your groin and testicle.
  • You have blood in your pee.

 

If you think you may have groin pain, your doctor will ask:

  • When the pain started
  • What activities you do regularly
  • If anything makes your pain better or worse

Your doctor will also want to give you a physical exam to rule out other conditions. They'll also test things such as your range of motion and your strength.

You might also have:

  • I maging tests , such as X-ray, CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound to see if you have an injury or a hernia
  • Blood tests, such as a blood differential or complete blood count (CBC) to check for infection
  • A urinalysis to look for urinary infections or other conditions

If another medical condition causes your groin pain, your doctor will treat that first with medicines, surgery, or both.

Stretches

If your groin pain is due to a strain, your doctor can recommend a physical therapist. They can help you do a mix of stretching and strengthening exercises.

They can also wrap your groin area with compression clothing or athletic tape to help ease swelling. In some cases, they can also teach you how to wrap your groin area yourself.

Medication

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help you feel better, too. If your injury is more serious, your doctor can prescribe stronger pain relievers. In some cases, your doctor might recommend steroid injections.

Other home remedies

If you have groin pain because of a strain, there are things you can do at home to feel more comfortable:

  • Pause any athletic activities that you normally do to give your groin a chance to heal. For many, rest is the most important thing you can do to help your pain go away.
  • Put ice where you feel pain using either an ice pack wrapped in a cloth or a bag of frozen peas. Do this for 20-30 minutes a few times a day for a few days, or until swelling goes down.
  • Put a wrap or compression bandage around your thigh, or wear compression shorts.
  • Use pillows or cushions to raise your lower body higher than your heart when you're resting.

Surgery for groin pain

You could need surgery for certain conditions that cause groin pain. If you have a very serious strain, you might need an operation to repair your torn muscle, or to reattach tendons or ligaments.

Other conditions that may require surgery include:

  • Hernias
  • Testicular torsion
  • Large kidney stones
  • Some fractures
  • Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis

Groin pulls can be painful, and they can keep you away from activities you love. To help prevent groin pulls that result from strains:

  • Warm up your legs and groin muscles before any physical activity. A light jog or other activities to get your body temperature up can lower your chances of muscle strain.
  • Wear shoes that are comfortable with good support.
  • Increase the intensity of your training slowly.
  • Stop exercising if you feel pain or tightness in your groin or the inside of your thigh.
  • Do regular strengthening exercises for your thigh muscles, especially if you've had a groin pull before.

Ask your doctor about other things you can do to make groin pulls less likely.

Many things can cause pain in your groin area, but one of the most common causes is muscle strain. It's usually not serious. But seek medical care if you have serious, long-lasting, or spreading pain. Get emergency medical care for sudden, intense pain, or if you have fever, chills, and nausea along with pain.

Why does my groin hurt so much?

There can be many reasons for groin pain. But it's most often caused by straininga muscle, ligament, or tendon, especially if you're active in sports.

What is a red flag for groin pain?

Get medical help right away if:

  • You also have fever, chills, and nausea.
  • You have sudden, intense pain in your testicles.
  • The pain spreads to your chest, back, or belly.

Why does the groin hurt to touch in a female?

An injury or strain is the most common cause of groin pain in people of every gender. Some conditions that cause groin pain and specifically affect those with female anatomy include:

  • Ovarian cysts
  • Pelvic venous insufficiency (weakness or damage in veins in the pelvis)
  • Pregnancy
  • Endometriosis, when uterine tissue grows outside the uterus walls

How do you fix groin pain?

Depending on what's causing your pain, it may be treated with rest, home care, over-the-counter or prescription medications, or even surgery.

What causes a lump in the groin and pain?

A hernia can cause groin pain along with a bulge in the area. Strains and infections can also cause swelling. See your doctor if you notice swelling or a lump in your testicle.