Epididymitis
Overview
Epididymitis is where a tube (the epididymis) behind the testicles becomes swollen and painful. It's often caused by an infection and is usually treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms
Symptoms of epididymitis may include: sudden or gradual pain in 1 or both of your testicles (balls)the bag of skin containing your testicles (scrotum) feeling tender, warm and swollena build-up of fluid around your testicle (a hydrocele) that feels like alump or swelling Depending on the cause, you may have other symptoms, such as difficulty peeing, or a white, yellow or green discharge from the tip of the penis.
Causes
Epididymitis is usually caused by asexually transmitted infection (STI), such aschlamydiaorgonorrhoea. This is more likely in younger men under 35 years old. In men over 35, the main cause is usually a urine infection. If testing shows that your epididymitis is caused by a STI, it may be recommended that your current or recent sexual partners (over the past 6 months) are also tested for STIs. It can also be caused by aurinary tract infection (UTI), but UTIs are less common in men. A UTI is more likely if you have: anenlarged prostate glandaurinary catheterrecently had surgery to the groin, prostate gland or bladder Less common causes of epididymitis include: mumpstuberculosistaking amiodarone, a medicine used to treat heart rhythm disordera groin injuryBehçet's disease
Treatment
The treatment for epididymitis is usually antibiotics. They're given as injections or taken as tablets, or a combination of both. It's important to finish the whole course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better. You should start to feel better within a few days, but it may take up to 3 months to fully recover. If you still have symptoms after this, you might be referred for further tests.