This small inflammation actually takes away men's fertility

In recent years, the incidence of epididymitis has increased year by year due to the high pressure of work, overwork, frequent nightlife, physical decline, or undisciplined sex among many young and middle-aged men, who are infected with sexually transmitted diseases, especially gonococcal epididymitis.

Retrograde infection of the spermatic tract (including the prostate, seminal vesicles, and vas deferens) is the main route of infection for epididymitis. Pathogenic bacteria retrogradely enter the epididymis through the vas deferens and cause infection, especially when prostatitis and seminal vesiculitis occur at the same time.

Depending on the severity of the disease, epididymitis is divided into acute epididymitis and chronic epididymitis. The former has a more acute onset. Patients have acute pain and swelling of the scrotum. The pain radiates along the vas deferens to the groin and waist. The epididymis swells rapidly and can double in size within 3 to 4 hours. The pain intensifies, and systemic symptoms such as high fever and chills often occur. The body temperature can reach 40 degrees Celsius, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Sometimes it is accompanied by urinary tract irritation symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and pain when urinating. A small number of patients have symptoms of pyuria and hematuria. The skin of the scrotum on the affected side is obviously red and swollen, and tender. There may also be tenderness in the ipsilateral groin and lower abdomen. The epididymis is enlarged and hard. If an abscess is formed locally, there will be a sense of fluctuation. After the epididymal abscess ruptures, a sinus tract will form on the surface of the scrotal skin. Laboratory examination showed elevated white blood cell count in blood routine examination and bacterial growth in urine culture or urethral secretion culture. If the patient has the above symptoms and signs, combined with laboratory test results, acute epididymitis can be diagnosed.

When acute epididymitis is not treated properly or recurs repeatedly, chronic epididymitis will develop. Chronic epididymitis is usually asymptomatic, with varying clinical manifestations, including local discomfort, heaviness, and scrotal pain, and sometimes acute symptoms. Examination of the affected side may reveal a hard and swollen epididymis, or only a harder nodule on the epididymis with no or mild tenderness, a clear boundary with the testicle, thickening of the vas deferens and spermatic cord, and an increase in white blood cells in semen and prostatic fluid.

Lifting the scrotum may relieve pain

If you have epididymitis, you should rest in bed, raise your scrotum, apply cold compresses with ice packs or ice cubes, drink plenty of water, eat less spicy food, and do not hold your urine. The purpose of lifting the scrotum is to raise the position of the epididymis and testicles in the scrotum, relax the spermatic cord, reduce the referred pain caused by swelling of the testicles and epididymis, improve local blood and lymphatic circulation, reduce local edema, and relieve symptoms. The method of supporting the scrotum is to lie flat on your back, place a square pillow under the scrotum, and place the scrotum at the level of the pubic symphysis or higher; stand up, place a cotton pad under the scrotum and use a pair of elastic underwear to pull it upward, but avoid squeezing the scrotum.