Patient's question:
Do you know how many types of orchitis there are? I recently found out that I have orchitis, but I've always felt quite good physically. Please help the experts analyze it for me: What is the pathogenesis of orchitis? Why do people get this disease?Doctor's answer:
The pathogenesis of orchitis is as follows: Non-specific orchitis often occurs in patients with urethritis, cystitis, prostatitis, and long-term indwelling catheters. The infection spreads through the vas deferens or lymphatic system, causing congestion, edema, seminiferous tubule necrosis, and bleeding in the testes. In severe cases, it may lead to the formation of testicular abscesses or infarction. Additionally, acute mumps orchitis, caused by the mumps virus, is more common in boys during childhood or adolescence. The testes become swollen and blue, with interstitial edema, dilated blood vessels, and degeneration of the seminiferous tubules. It can also affect the epididymis. During the healing phase of inflammation, the seminiferous tubules may atrophy, leading to testicular shrinkage, softness, loss of testicular function, and infertility. Other causes include syphilis infection leading to orchitis, which primarily presents as a mass and can also be referred to as a syphilitic tumor.