Men with 'egg pain' should see a doctor immediately, not ask AI, warns urologist

Urologists are increasingly encountering patients who turn to artificial intelligence for diagnoses of testicular pain, a trend that concerns medical professionals who emphasize the critical need for prompt human medical evaluation.

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Doctor, my testicles have been hurting since yesterday, I asked AI first. AI told me it could be testicular torsion, testicular cancer, or epididymitis; which one is it now?

Dr. Chiu Chun-Kai, a urologist, noted in his Facebook post that patients often present with queries like, "Doctor, my testicles have been hurting since yesterday, I asked AI first." He explained that while AI can quickly compile information and list possibilities, it cannot assess crucial factors like blood flow to the testicle, which is often decisive in saving the organ.

The primary concern for doctors is testicular torsion, a condition where the spermatic cord twists, cutting off blood supply to the testicle. This is a time-sensitive emergency. Unlike testicular cancer, which patients often fear, most acute testicular pain is not cancerous. However, delaying treatment for torsion significantly increases the risk of the testicle becoming necrotic.

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The real problem is, it doesn't know if your testicle currently has blood flow. And this matter, sometimes it determines whether a testicle can be saved.

Typical symptoms of torsion include sudden, severe unilateral testicular pain, which may be accompanied by cold sweats, nausea, or vomiting. The testicle might also appear to be in a higher position than usual. In contrast, epididymitis or orchitis (inflammation of the epididymis or testicle) often presents with gradually worsening pain, redness, swelling, heat in the scrotum, and potentially fever, painful urination, or discharge.

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The first thing to do when experiencing scrotal pain is not to find the cause, but to rule out 'testicular torsion.'

Dr. Chiu stressed that while these are typical presentations, symptoms can vary. An ultrasound with color Doppler can help assess blood flow and inflammation, but it's not foolproof. If a patient's history and physical examination strongly suggest torsion, even without clear ultrasound findings, emergency intervention may be necessary. Prompt medical attention, ideally within 4 to 6 hours of symptom onset, offers the highest chance of preserving the testicle.

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Once testicular torsion occurs, the spermatic cord obstructs blood flow to the testicle. It is generally believed that relieving the torsion within 4 to 6 hours of symptom onset offers the highest chance of preserving the testicle; thereafter, the risk of ischemic necrosis increases with every delay.