Patient's question:
The other day, when I went to bed, I felt a pain in my groin area. Later, the pain spread to my epididymis as well. I noticed that my right side was red and swollen, and the sizes of both sides were different. I went to the hospital for a thorough examination, and the doctor diagnosed it as epididymitis, emphasizing the need for timely treatment.Doctor's answer:
Epididymitis has three common causes:① Secondary to prostatitis or urinary tract infection.
② Prostatectomy, especially transurethral surgery, as postoperative urine may carry bacteria for 8–12 weeks. During urination, urine refluxes into the vas deferens, leading to retrograde infection and causing epididymitis. Infection can also spread through surrounding lymphatic vessels into the epididymis.
③ Non-bacterial urine reflux into the vas deferens may cause chemical epididymitis. Recent studies have found that urine can reflux into the seminal vesicles.
Additionally, during the acute phase, sexual impulses and heavy physical exercise should be avoided to prevent worsening of the infection and symptoms. For a very small number of stubborn patients with poor condition control, epididymectomy, even including orchiectomy, may be performed.