Patient's question:
I am a soldier. When I was discharged from the military, I carefully checked and found that I had varicocele. They said I had to have surgery before I could be discharged. At that time, I had the varicocele surgery. Back then, those two areas felt a bit painful and slightly warm. Now, I am experiencing the same sensation again. My friend said this is epididymitis. I would like to consult on how to distinguish between epididymitis and varicocele.Doctor's answer:
Epididymitis and varicocele are both urinary and reproductive system diseases. Epididymitis is caused by acute infections, leading to recurrent acute inflammation of the epididymis. Varicocele, on the other hand, is caused by prolonged sitting or cycling, which leads to the tortuous expansion of the spermatic veins, resulting in impaired blood flow function. The clinical diagnosis and treatment methods for these two diseases are different. Epididymitis-induced cases can be treated with antibiotics to implement anti-infection therapy, while severe varicoceles can be surgically treated.