Emergency Cases
Salamanca Guanajuato
464 116 2012
San Miguel de Allende
415 111 6819
Please contact in case of emergency or to request a consultation.
Epididymits
The epididymis is an elongated structure that is located at the back of the testicle and serves for maturation and storage of sperm.
Therefore, epididymitis is the inflammation of the epididymis.
This inflammation can be acute and its symptoms must last less than 6 weeks or chronic when last more than 6 weeks, the latter being less frequent and often due to tuberculosis of the male genital tract.
The most common cause of epididymitis could be a bacterial infection but even sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea or chlamydia could also cause epididymitis.
Sometimes a testicle can also become inflamed, causing a condition called orchiepididymytis.
Epididymitis is the most common cause of scrotal (testicle) pain in people over 18 years of age.
The main causes of causes of epididymitis could be the following:
Sexually transmitted infections:
Gonorrhea and chlamydia are the most common causes of epididymitis in sexually active young men.
Bacterias:
Bacterias from a prostate or urinary tract infection can spread from the infected area to the epididymis. Also viral infections sucha as the mumps virus can lead to epididymitis.
Injuries:
A groin injury can cause epididymits.
Tuberculosis:
Rarely, tuberculosis infection causes epididymitis.
Symptoms and diagnosis
The main symptom that could be an indication to go to the urologist is intense pain in the area of the testicle which on many occasions also becomes inflamed, giving rise to orchioepididymitis. It usually appears only on one side and the area is swollen and sometimes red. It can be associated with symptoms of urethritis sucha as pain and burning when urinating and discharge of pus from the urethra. But the following symptoms may also appear:
- Swollen, red or hot scrotum
- Testicle pain and tenderness usually on one side, usually appearing as gradual
- Painful urination or an urgent or frequent need to urinate
- Discharge from the penis
- Pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen or pelvic area
- Blood in semen
- Fever
