How to interview a patient with testicular pain
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Sudden testicular pain in a young male is testicular torsion until proven otherwise. Time matters: the testicle can be lost within hours.
Step by step
Sudden pain means urgent
Sudden severe pain, nausea and vomiting: call for urgent surgical help while you continue. [1]
Introduce yourself and offer privacy
Offer a chaperone. [2]
Onset and course
Sudden or gradual, how many hours ago, during sleep or activity. [3]
Swelling and lumps
Swelling, a painless lump (cancer must be considered), redness. [1]
Urinary and sexual history
Burning, discharge, new partners suggest infection. [1]
Trauma and fever
Injury, fever, mumps symptoms. [1]
Summarize and act
Explain the exam and urgent ultrasound or surgery. [2]
Common errors
- Waiting for tests in sudden pain.
- Missing a painless lump.
- Not asking about discharge.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
- AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
- NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations
Facts and steps follow NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations; NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.