I have groin pain. Is it an STI?

Yes, but it isn’t common. Most groin pain comes from a strained muscle, a hernia or another problem, such as a kidney stone.

When an STI does cause groin pain, it’s usually for one of three reasons:

• The glands in your groin swell as your body fights the infection. This can happen with Herpes, Syphilis and LGV.
• The infection spreads to the tube at the back of the testicle, causing epididymitis. This is usually caused by Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea in men under 35.
• The infection spreads to the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause pain in the pelvis or lower tummy.

If you have groin pain along with sores, blisters, unusual discharge, pain when you pee or a swollen testicle, an STI is more likely, and it’s worth getting tested.

You have lymph glands (lymph nodes) in your groin, as well as in your neck and armpits. Swollen glands are usually a sign that your body is fighting an infection, and they usually get better by themselves within 1 to 2 weeks.

STIs that can make the glands in your groin swell include:

• Herpes: a first outbreak of genital Herpes can cause tender, swollen glands in the groin, usually on both sides. It also causes small blisters that burst to leave painful sores, and it can cause pain when you pee and flu-like symptoms. Later outbreaks are usually milder.
• Syphilis: the first sign is usually a small sore that doesn’t hurt, and the glands near it may swell. Later symptoms can include swollen glands, a rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, and flu-like symptoms.
• LGV (Lymphogranuloma venereum): a type of Chlamydia that can cause swollen glands in the groin on one or both sides, a sore on the genitals or around the anus, and pain or bleeding from the bottom. In the UK, it mainly affects gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

Early HIV can also cause swollen glands, as part of a short illness a bit like flu a few weeks after infection.

See a doctor if a swollen gland is getting bigger or hasn’t gone down within a week, if it feels hard or doesn’t move when you press it, or if you have night sweats or a very high temperature.

In men, groin pain can come from the testicles. Epididymitis is when the tube at the back of the testicle becomes swollen and painful. It’s usually caused by an STI, such as Chlamydia or Gonorrhoea, in men under 35. In men over 35, a urine infection is the more usual cause.

Epididymitis can cause:

• sudden or gradual pain in one or both testicles
• a scrotum that feels tender, warm and swollen

Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea often cause no other symptoms, so you may not have noticed anything else. Epididymitis is treated with antibiotics. If an STI is the cause, your partners from the past 6 months may need to be tested too. Read more in “What STIs cause epididymitis?”

In women, Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can spread from the cervix to the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries. This is called pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It can cause:

• pain in the area between your tummy and thighs (pelvic pain), or in your lower tummy
• pain deep inside when you have sex
• bleeding between periods or after sex

PID is treated with antibiotics. Treating it early lowers the risk of long-term problems, such as difficulty getting pregnant or an ectopic pregnancy. Read more in “What is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)?”

Most groin pain isn’t caused by an STI. Other common causes include:

• A strained muscle: groin pain from the muscles on the inside of the thigh is most common in young men who play sports that involve running, kicking and changing direction, such as football.
• An inguinal hernia: a bulge or lump in the groin that may get bigger when you cough or sneeze and smaller when you lie down. It can also cause a heavy, dragging feeling.
• Kidney stones: the pain usually starts in the side of your tummy or your lower back, and may spread to your groin, testicles or the area around the opening of the vagina. It can come and go.
• Other testicle problems: such as an injury, a cyst or swollen veins in the scrotum (a varicocele).

If the pain started after exercise or lifting something heavy and you have no other symptoms, a strain or a hernia is more likely than an STI.

Get urgent medical care straight away if you have:

• sudden, severe pain in a testicle
• testicle pain along with feeling sick, being sick or pain in your tummy
• testicle pain that has lasted more than an hour or carries on when you’re resting
• a hernia that becomes painful, or a hernia with a bloated tummy, sickness or constipation
• severe pain that could be a kidney stone, or pain with a high temperature or shivering
• severe pelvic pain, or a sharp, sudden pain in your lower tummy

Sudden testicle pain can be a sign of a twisted testicle (testicular torsion). This needs treating quickly, or the testicle can be lost.

If your groin pain comes with other symptoms, or you’ve had sex without a condom with a new partner, a test is the only way to know whether an STI is involved. The right test depends on your symptoms:

• Discharge, pain when you pee or a painful testicle: tests for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea use a urine sample or a swab, and can pick up an infection from about 2 weeks after sex.
• A sore or blisters: a swab from the sore is the best test for Herpes, and a sore can also be tested for Syphilis.
• Swollen glands: a blood test can check for Syphilis and HIV. A Syphilis test in the first 3 months after sex can miss the infection, so you may need a repeat test.

LGV shows up on a Chlamydia test of a sample from the affected area, such as a swab from the bottom, and a positive sample then needs extra lab tests to confirm LGV. If you have severe pain or any of the urgent signs above, get medical care first, as a doctor will need to examine you.

Better2Know offers:

• Platinum Screen: our most comprehensive STI screen. It tests for 12 infections, including Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Herpes 1, Herpes 2, HIV and Syphilis, from 28 days after sex, with results in 3 days. You can book it at one of our clinics or order a Platinum Screen home test.
• Early Platinum Screen: tests for the same 12 infections from 14 days after sex, with results in 3 days. Some infections, such as HIV and Syphilis, can be missed this early, so if your results are negative you’ll need follow-up tests.
• Blemish Screen: if you have a sore, blister or lump on or around your genitals, it tests a swab for Herpes 1, Herpes 2, HPV and Syphilis, with results in 5 days.

Not sure which test you need? Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Can Chlamydia cause groin pain?

Yes, sometimes. In men, Chlamydia can spread to the testicles and cause epididymitis. In women, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, with pain in the pelvis or lower tummy. LGV, a type of Chlamydia, can make the glands in the groin swell.

Can Herpes cause swollen glands in the groin?

Yes. A first outbreak of genital Herpes can cause tender, swollen glands in the groin, along with painful sores and flu-like symptoms. Read more in “How long does a Herpes outbreak last?”

Is a swollen gland in the groin a sign of an STI?

Not always. Swollen glands are usually a sign that your body is fighting an infection, which may or may not be an STI. If you also have sores, discharge or pain when you pee, or you’ve had sex without a condom with a new partner, get tested.

Should I get tested if I only have groin pain?

If the pain started after exercise or lifting and you have no other symptoms, an STI is unlikely. But if you’ve had sex without a condom with a new partner, it’s a good idea to get tested anyway, as many STIs cause no symptoms.

Groin pain is rarely caused by an STI. A strained muscle, a hernia or a kidney stone is more likely. But Herpes, Syphilis and LGV can make the glands in your groin swell, and Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can cause painful testicles or pelvic pain.

If you have groin pain with other symptoms, or you’ve had sex without a condom with a new partner, get tested. Book a Platinum Screen at a clinic near you or order a home test kit. Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Not in the UK? Choose your country from the selector at the top of the page for local tests and prices.

This article originally appeared on 24 May 2024 and was last updated on 30 September 2026.

Medical review. This article was medically reviewed by Dr Steve Chapman, Doctor with a wealth of clinical experience in the field of STIs, on 16 July 2025. It is general information and not a substitute for personal medical advice.

Sources

1. NHS, Swollen glands, reviewed 29 September 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/swollen-glands/
2. NHS, Genital herpes, reviewed 27 June 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/genital-herpes/
3. NHS inform, Genital herpes. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/sexual-and-reproductive/genital-herpes/
4. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, UK national guideline for the management of anogenital herpes, 2024. https://bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/pateletal2024britishassociationofsexualhealthandhivuknationalguidelineforthemanagementofanogenital.pdf
5. NHS, Syphilis, reviewed 17 March 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/syphilis/
6. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, UK guidelines for the management of syphilis, 2024. https://bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/syphilis_2024.pdf
7. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV): the basics, patient information leaflet. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/resources/lgv_pil_digital_2_2015.pdf
8. UK Health Security Agency, Trends of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in England: 2014 to 2024, 10 December 2025. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lgv-infections-in-the-uk-trends-and-epidemiology/trends-of-lymphogranuloma-venereum-lgv-in-england-2014-to-2024
9. NHS, HIV and AIDS, reviewed 9 July 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/
10. NHS, Epididymitis, reviewed 6 August 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epididymitis/
11. NHS, Chlamydia, reviewed 24 October 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chlamydia/
12. NHS, Gonorrhoea, reviewed 16 December 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gonorrhoea/
13. NHS, Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), reviewed 17 December 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid/
14. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Adductor related groin pain, June 2022. https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/media/ggzlylpj/73885padductor.pdf
15. NHS, Hernia, reviewed 19 May 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hernia/
16. NHS, Kidney stones, reviewed 17 September 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-stones/
17. NHS, Testicle pain, reviewed 26 June 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/testicle-pain/
18. Brook, STI testing: FAQs, updated 28 November 2024. https://www.brook.org.uk/your-life/getting-tested-for-stis/