What is orchitis and epididymitis?
Epididymitis is swelling or pain in the back of the testicle in the coiled tube (epididymis) that stores and carries sperm. Orchitis is swelling or pain in one or both testicles, usually from an infection or virus.
What are the possible causes of epididymitis or orchitis?
Epididymitis is most often caused by a bacterial infection, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. Sometimes, a testicle also becomes inflamed — a condition called epididymo-orchitis.
What is epididymo-orchitis and what are its risks?
Epididymo-orchitis is an inflammation of the epididymis and/or testicle (testis). In adults, epididymo-orchitis is usually due to infection, most commonly from a urine infection or a sexually transmitted infection. A course of antibiotic medicine will usually clear the infection. Full recovery is usual.
How serious is orchitis?
Most men suffering from orchitis recover completely with no lasting effects. Orchitis rarely causes infertility. Other complications are also rare but can include: chronic inflammation of the epididymis.
What virus has been associated with orchitis?
The mumps virus usually causes viral orchitis. Nearly one-third of males who contract the mumps after puberty develop orchitis, usually four to seven days after onset of the mumps.
Can a woman catch epididymitis?
Epididymitis is not considered a sexually transmitted disease; however, it can often be caused by sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. These bacteria are contagious and can be transmitted from an infected individual to their sex partner through sexual activity or the exchange of body fluids.
Is orchitis a STD?
Orchitis (or-KIE-tis) is an inflammation of one or both testicles. Bacterial or viral infections can cause orchitis, or the cause can be unknown. Orchitis is most often the result of a bacterial infection, such as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). In some cases, the mumps virus can cause orchitis.
Is epididymitis serious?
If left untreated, epididymitis may cause an abscess, also known as a puss pocket, on the scrotum or even destroy the epididymis, which can lead to infertility. As with any infection left untreated, epididymitis may spread into another body system and, in rare cases, even cause death.