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This Week - E : Epididymitis

Symptoms of epididymitis

Symptoms of epididymitis may include:

• sudden or gradual pain in 1 or both of your testicles (balls)
• the bag of skin containing your testicles (scrotum) feeling tender, warm and swollen
• a build-up of fluid around your testicle (a hydrocele) that feels like a lump or swelling

Depending on the cause, you may have other symptoms, such as difficulty peeing, or a white, yellow or green discharge from the tip of the penis.

Causes of epididymitis

Epididymitis is usually caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea. This is more likely in younger men under 35 years old. In men over 35, the main cause is usually a urine infection.

If testing shows that your epididymitis is caused by a STI, it may be recommended that your current or recent sexual partners (over the past 6 months) are also tested for STIs.

It can also be caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI), but UTIs are less common in men.

A UTI is more likely if you have:

• an enlarged prostate gland
• a urinary catheter
• recently had surgery to the groin, prostate gland or bladder

Less common causes of epididymitis include:

• mumps
• tuberculosis
• taking amiodarone, a medicine used to treat heart rhythm disorder
• a groin injury
• Behcet's disease

See a GP if:

Sexual health clinics can help with epididymitis

You can also get treatment for epididymitis at a sexual health clinic. They can provide the same antibiotics you'd get at your GP surgery.

Many sexual health clinics also offer a walk-in service, where you do not need an appointment.

Find a sexual health clinic

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

What happens at your appointment

If you go to a GP or sexual health clinic with symptoms of epididymitis, you'll usually need some tests first to find out the cause.

These may include:

• a groin examination
• a swab of the tube that carries pee out of the body (urethra) - to test for infection
• urine and blood tests
• a rectal examination - to check for problems with your prostate

Treatments for epididymitis

The treatment for epididymitis is usually antibiotics. They're given as injections or taken as tablets, or a combination of both.

It's important to finish the whole course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better.

You should start to feel better within a few days, but it may take up to 3 months to fully recover. If you still have symptoms after this, you might be referred for further tests.

Things you can do to help with epididymitis

If you're recovering from epididymitis, there are things you can do to help ease pain and swelling and prevent any further problems.

If you want to find out more about this week's subject you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.