Patient's question:
I am a 42-year-old man and don't know why I suddenly got sick. I also feel uncomfortable. Please ask: What causes epididymitis?Doctor's answer:
Epididymitis is often caused by a secondary inflammation of the epididymis due to retrograde transmission from prostatitis or seminal vesiculitis along the vas deferens, with hematogenous infection being rare. It is divided into acute epididymitis and chronic epididymitis. The scrotum often experiences pain, swelling, and a sensation of heaviness, with the pain potentially radiating to the lower abdomen and the same-side inner thigh. The affected epididymis becomes enlarged with mild tenderness, clearly demarcated from the testis, and the scrotal skin shows edema and redness. As the spermatic cord and vas deferens thicken, the prostate becomes hardened with fibrous nodules and other chronic prostatitis manifestations. Bilateral chronic epididymitis can lead to infertility.