Why do I feel a ball in my pubic area? Causes and when to see a doctor

September 22, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, most lumps under the skin are not cancerous. While this can offer some reassurance, it's essential to understand the potential reasons for the sensation and know when to seek medical advice for a ball in your pubic area.

Quick Summary

A lump or 'ball' in the pubic area can be caused by various conditions, including swollen lymph nodes, benign cysts, or hernias. The cause is often benign, but persistent, painful, or growing lumps warrant evaluation by a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis.

Key Points

Common causes: A lump can be caused by swollen lymph nodes (from infection), a hernia (tissue pushing through the abdominal wall), or benign cysts (fatty growths or fluid-filled sacs).
Red flag symptoms: Seek immediate medical care if the lump is new, growing, painful, hard, or accompanied by fever, severe abdominal pain, or changes in bowel movements.
Harmless vs. serious: Many pubic lumps, such as cysts, ingrown hairs, or benign tumors like lipomas, are harmless, while others like hernias or rare cancers require medical evaluation.
Diagnosis is key: A doctor can diagnose the cause of a lump through a physical exam and imaging tests like ultrasound, which is critical for determining the correct course of action.
Pay attention to signs: The lump's texture, location, and whether it's painful or pulsates can provide important clues to its underlying cause, but only a medical professional can confirm a diagnosis.

Understanding the anatomy of the pubic and groin area

Before exploring potential causes, it is helpful to understand the structures located in the pubic and groin region. This area contains a network of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. Key structures include the mons pubis (a fatty tissue pad over the pubic bone), inguinal canals, and lymph nodes. A lump can originate from any of these components, and its location, texture, and associated symptoms can provide clues to its cause.

Common causes for a lump or ball sensation

Swollen lymph nodes

Lymph nodes are an integral part of your body's immune system, and several are located in the groin. When your body fights an infection, these nodes can swell and become noticeable, sometimes feeling like a small ball.

Infections: A common reason for swelling is a local infection, such as a skin infection on the leg or foot, or a sexually transmitted infection (STI) like chlamydia or gonorrhea.
Viral illnesses: General body infections, like a cold or the flu, can cause lymph nodes to swell throughout the body, including the groin area.
Appearance: Swollen lymph nodes typically feel soft and tender to the touch, and they usually resolve as the underlying infection clears.

Hernias

An inguinal or femoral hernia occurs when tissue, such as part of the intestine or fatty tissue, pushes through a weakened spot in the abdominal wall.

Inguinal hernia: These are more common in men and often present as a soft bulge that may disappear when you lie down. The lump may become more prominent when you strain, cough, or lift heavy objects.
Femoral hernia: More frequent in women, this hernia occurs when tissue bulges near the inner thigh. It may also feel like a tender lump in the groin.

Benign cysts and growths

Several types of non-cancerous growths can develop under the skin in the pubic area.

Epidermoid cysts: These are movable, dome-shaped lumps that form just beneath the skin and contain a white, cheesy keratin substance.
Sebaceous cysts: These develop from clogged hair follicles or sweat glands and contain a yellowish, oily substance. They feel like a small pebble under the skin and are typically harmless.
Lipomas: A soft, fatty growth that develops slowly just under the skin. Lipomas are usually painless and feel rubbery to the touch.

Skin infections and ingrown hairs

Inflammation and infection of the skin around hair follicles are common in the pubic area, especially for those who shave or wax.

Folliculitis: An inflamed hair follicle can appear as a small, red, and sometimes painful bump, potentially filled with pus.
Boils or abscesses: These are painful, pus-filled lumps that can form deeper under the skin due to bacteria. They are often red, warm, and tender.
Ingrown hairs: After shaving or waxing, a hair can curl back into the skin, causing a small, tender, solid, or pus-filled bump.

Other, less common causes

While rare, other conditions can also cause a pubic area lump, including:

Enlarged veins: A saphena varix is a swelling at the top of a leg vein that can sometimes feel like a soft lump. A femoral aneurysm, a rare swelling of the femoral artery, may feel like a pulsating lump.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): Some STIs, like genital warts (HPV), can manifest as bumps or lumps.
Cancer: In very rare cases, a persistent or abnormal lump could be a sign of cancer, such as lymphoma. Cancerous lumps may be hard, fixed in place, and painless, but these characteristics are not definitive. Any suspicious lump should be medically evaluated.

Distinguishing between common causes: A comparison table


Feature	Swollen Lymph Node	Inguinal Hernia	Cyst/Lipoma	Boil/Abscess	Cancer
Texture	Soft, movable	Soft, reducible	Soft (lipoma) to firm (cyst)	Firm, hard, tender	Hard, solid, fixed
Pain	Often tender or painful	Can be painful with straining	Often painless	Painful, throbbing	Can be painless, but not always
Associated symptoms	Recent infection, fever	Bulge disappears when lying down, pain with activity	Usually none, sometimes itchiness	Redness, warmth, pus	Unexplained weight loss, fever, night sweats
Timeline	Appears quickly, resolves with infection	Appears gradually, size may fluctuate	Slow growing, often long-lasting	Appears quickly, fills with pus	Appears quickly or gradually, persists

When to see a doctor

It's crucial to seek medical advice for any unexplained lump or growth. While many causes are benign, a professional diagnosis is essential. Seek immediate medical care if you experience any of the following symptoms:

A new lump or growth.
The lump increases in size, becomes painful, or hardens.
Signs of infection, including fever, redness, warmth, or pus.
Changes in bowel or urinary habits.
Rapid heart rate or severe pain.
The lump is pulsating or accompanied by abdominal pain.

How a doctor will diagnose your condition

During an office visit, a doctor will perform a physical examination to feel the lump's size, consistency, and tenderness. They will also take a medical history and ask about symptoms, onset, and any recent activities. Depending on their findings, they may order further tests to determine the exact cause.

Ultrasound: Provides images to show if the lump is fluid-filled (like a cyst) or a solid mass.
Blood tests: Can help identify signs of infection or other systemic issues.
CT or MRI scans: More detailed imaging to examine internal structures, if necessary.
Biopsy: In rare cases where cancer is suspected, a tissue sample will be taken for lab analysis.

For more information on when to seek immediate medical attention, consult the guidance from Healthgrades.

Conclusion

Feeling a lump or "ball" in your pubic area can be concerning, but it's important to remember that most causes are not serious. Conditions like swollen lymph nodes, cysts, and hernias are common culprits. By paying attention to the characteristics of the lump and any accompanying symptoms, you can better understand your condition. Most importantly, consulting a healthcare professional is the only way to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, especially if you have a persistent, painful, or rapidly changing lump.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common causes are often benign, such as swollen lymph nodes due to an infection, or a cyst, which is a harmless fluid-filled sac. Ingrown hairs are also very common in this area.

While it's a rare cause, cancer (most often lymphoma) is a possibility, especially if the lump is hard, painless, and does not go away. It is not possible to diagnose cancer based on a physical exam alone, so medical evaluation is necessary.

A hernia in the groin, or inguinal hernia, typically feels like a soft bulge that may disappear when you lie down. It often becomes more prominent or painful when you cough, strain, or lift heavy objects.

You should seek immediate medical care if the lump is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, a fever over 101°F, rapid heart rate, or you are unable to have a bowel movement or pass gas. These could indicate a more serious condition, like an intestinal strangulation.

No, a painful lump is not always serious. Often, a painful lump is an inflamed lymph node, an abscess, or an ingrown hair, all of which are usually caused by an infection. However, any persistent or severe pain should be evaluated by a doctor.

Yes, shaving or waxing can lead to ingrown hairs or folliculitis, which are small, sometimes painful bumps that can feel like a small ball under the skin. It is a very common and usually minor cause of irritation.

A lipoma is a benign, fatty growth that can occur anywhere on the body, including the pubic area. It typically feels soft and rubbery and can be easily moved under the skin. Lipomas are usually painless and slow-growing.