Patient's question:
During sexual activity with your partner, you felt pain in your testicles and were sweating profusely. It was especially painful when you were close to ejaculation. Your wife said it could be epididymitis, possibly chronic.Doctor's answer:
Epididymitis is a non-specific infectious disease of the male reproductive system, commonly occurring in middle-aged and young adults. The pathogenic bacteria typically enter the epididymis through the reverse flow of the vas deferens, causing inflammation. Transmission via lymphatic and bloodstream is rare. Therefore, epididymitis is often a sequel to urethritis, prostatitis and seminal vesiculitis, post-urethral instrumentation, and prolonged indwelling catheterization. Additionally, urethral and intestinal obstructions, such as urethral stricture and benign prostatic hyperplasia, are also potential predisposing factors for epididymitis. The causative pathogens include Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, among others. It is classified as acute, chronic, or tubo-epididymitis. This condition typically manifests abruptly with symptoms such as general malaise, low-grade fever, and elevated white blood cell count, and it most commonly occurs unilaterally.