Testicular torsion occurs when the testicle twists in such a way that it causes the spermatic cord to become entangled and cut off the blood supply to the scrotum, the pouch of skin in which the testicles are located. Reduced blood supply causes sharp, severe pain and swelling, requiring immediate medical attention. If one is obtained within 6 hours of the onset of symptoms, reproductive functions may be saved, but any delay beyond 6 hours may result in tissue necrosis. This usually requires an orchiectomy – the surgical removal of the affected testicle. A large proportion of men who develop the condition have a genetic predisposition that allows the testicle to rotate freely in the scrotum. There isn’t just one specific cause of torsion – symptoms usually develop after trauma to the groin or abdomen, injury to the scrotum, exposure to cold temperatures, or rapid growth of the testicles during puberty. The most common cause of testicular torsion is tight, baggy jeans that press the scrotum too tightly against the body and impede the freedom of movement of the testicles. Succumbing to fashion trends, in Europe alone, hundreds of men seek medical attention for the condition each year, citing the too-tight jeans they wear as the cause. About 1/6 of the patients require life-saving operations, which however include orchiectomy. Another dangerous condition caused by wearing pants that are too tight is oligospermia. Oligospermia is a medical term used to refer to the very low amount of sperm in the seminal fluid and is among the most common causes of male infertility. Pressing the scrotum too tightly to the body causes mechanical tension of the tissues and an increase in the temperature of the testicles, which harms spermatogenesis – the production of male sex cells. NEWS_MORE_BOX In the presence of severe pain in the groin, it is necessary to seek medical help, and if the symptoms coincide with those of torsion – emergency medical help or that of a specialist-urologist can save the victim’s fertility. After an ultrasound check and confirmation of the diagnosis, an urgent but quick and uncomplicated operation is performed, which places the affected testicle in the correct position and prevents subsequent rotation. If the operation is performed within 6 hours of the onset of symptoms, the chances of success are over 95%, but if there is a delay of more than 18 hours, the chances of successfully saving the organ fall below 20%.