What is Epididymitis?

Epididymitis is a condition in which the coiled tube is inflamed. This is where the sperm is carried and stored and this is located at the back of the testicle. Men of any age can have this disease but 19 to 35 years old men are more prone to this disease. The symptoms can occur through swelling and pain in the epididymis.

When the epididymis, a single, narrow, tightly coiled tube that can be found just behind the testicles, and forms part of the male reproductive process which holds the male sperm becomes infected by either a bacteria or virus, the name given to the condition is epididymitis. The epididymis can grow to a length of some 7-meters, and consists of a head, body, and tail.

Epididymitis is a sexually transmitted disease. Young and active in sex usually can have this disease particularly Chlamydia and gonorrhea. Homosexual and adult men are also prone to this disease. It is usually caused by bacterial infection. This usually occurs on men who have infection in urinary tract and prostate gland. The bacteria that spread through the infected organ also cause this disease to worsen.

You may avoid epididymitis by seeking treatment for urethritis bladder or prostate infections. Seek treatment rapidly if you develop symptoms for example a burning sensation when you urinate and a yellow-green discharge. Herbal Treatment for Epididymitis may be a helpful adjunct treatment for this condition. Always discuss the health ramifications of herbs with your doctor.

Causes of Epididymitis

Epididymitis is generally caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI), for example chlamydia or gonorrhoea. This is more possible in younger men under 35 years old. It can also be caused by a urinary tract infection, but UTIs are less common in men.

Following are some of the root Causes of Epididymitis:

• Spread of bacterial infection from the urethra or the bladder

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis

• Ureaplasma

• Use of amiodarone, a medicine that stops abnormal heart rhythms

• Surgery of the urinary tract

• Urethral catheter’s regular use

• Sexual intercourse with various partners without using condoms

Sometimes it is caused by something else:

• Enlarged prostate blocking the bladder

• Infection of the prostate gland bacterial prostatitis

• Partly blocked urethra

• Recent catheter use

Epididymitis is sometimes caused by other things:

• The drug “Amidarone” can be a cause but this is unusual

• An infection from the bloodstream as with tuberculosis

• Chemical
  or inflammatory non-bacterial epididymitis may happen from urine
  flowing backwards to the epididymis. This is most normally from heavy
  lifting. The urine causes swelling but no infection

Other Causes of Epididymitis

There are also some more unusual Causes of Epididymitis:

• Mumps

• Tuberculosis

• Groin injury

• Behcet’s disease

• Structural difficulties in the urinary tract

• Congenital kidney and bladder problems

• High doses of a medication such as amiodarone, commonly taken for heart rhythm problems

Some cases of epididymitis are caused by the E. coli bacteria, or in sporadic cases, by the same bacteria that causes tuberculosis.

Symptoms of Epididymitis

When a bacterial infection strikes, the epididymis slowly becomes swollen and painful. This normally happens on one testicle, rather than both. It can last up to 6 weeks if untreated. Symptoms of Epididymitiswill usually depend on the cause of the epididymitis. For instance, discharge from the penis is possible to be due to an STI, although the urge to urinate probably results from a UTI.

You might have one or more of these further possible symptoms:

• Redness, swelling, or tenderness in the scrotum, the sac that contains the testes

• A more frequent or urgent necessity to pee

• A lump on your testicle

• Painful urination or ejaculation

• Fever

• Bloody urine

• Discomfort in your lower abdomen

• Enlarged lymph nodes in your groin

• A lump on your testicle

• See your doctor if you have some of these symptoms

Less common Symptoms of Epididymitis are:

• Pain during ejaculation

• Pain or burning during urination

• Painful scrotal swelling (epididymis is enlarged)

• Testicle pain that gets inferior during a bowel movement

• Tender, swollen, and sore groin area on affected side

Symptoms of Epididymitis may be alike to those of testicular torsion, which requires emergent treatment.In some cases, the main symptom you will notice is agony in the scrotum. The pain starts at the back of one teste. But it can soon extent to the entire teste, scrotum, and sometimes the groin. The skin might as well be swollen, red, firm,tender and warm.