What are the symptoms of testicles?

Orchitis is a common problem that threatens men's health. Orchitis is divided into acute non-specific orchitis and chronic non-specific orchitis, which can cause testicular pain, scrotal redness, and chronic testicular enlargement.

1. Acute nonspecific orchitis

Causes: Patients with urethritis, cystitis, prostatitis, prostatectomy and long-term indwelling catheters. The infection spreads to the epididymis through the lymph or vas deferens, causing epididymo-orchitis. Common pathogens are E. coli, Proteus, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the testicles have rich blood supply and are more resistant to infection, so this situation is relatively rare.

Pathology: The main symptoms are testicular enlargement, congestion, and tension. When the testicle is cut open, a small abscess is found. Histology shows focal necrosis, connective tissue edema and lobed granulocyte infiltration, inflammation, hemorrhage, and necrosis of the seminiferous tubules. In severe cases, testicular abscess and testicular infarction may occur.

Diagnostic basis: Clinically, the diagnosis is confirmed by symptoms such as high fever, chills, testicular pain, scrotal redness, and edema.

Note: Differentiate from acute epididymitis, mumps orchitis, spermatic cord torsion, and incarcerated hernia. Early and clear diagnosis, timely antibiotics, and removal of the cause are important means to protect good function in the future. In a small number of cases of orchitis, after being cured, due to fibrosis and damage to the seminiferous tubules, testicular atrophy may occur, affecting fertility.

2. Chronic nonspecific orchitis

Causes: Chronic orchitis is mostly caused by incomplete treatment of non-specific acute orchitis, or by fungal, spirochetal, or parasitic infections, such as testicular syphilis. Granulomatous orchitis may occur in patients with previous testicular trauma. Local or whole-body radioactive isotope phosphorus irradiation of the testicles may also cause orchitis, destroying the testicular tissue;

Pathology: Testicular enlargement or sclerosis and atrophy, hyalinization and degeneration of the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules, disappearance of the spermatogenic epithelial cells, sclerosis around the seminiferous tubules, and the formation of small hyperplastic foci.

Diagnostic basis: The testicles are chronically enlarged, hard and smooth, with slight tenderness and loss of normal sensitivity. Some testicles gradually atrophy, and in severe cases, the testicles are almost invisible, showing a relative enlargement of the epididymis;

Note: In most cases, the inflammation spreads from the epididymis to the testicles, and the boundary between the two is unclear. Bilateral chronic orchitis can often cause infertility. The treatment is mainly aimed at the cause of chronic orchitis.

3. Acute mumps orchitis

Cause: Mumps. About 20% of mumps patients have concurrent orchitis, which is more common in late adolescence.

Pathology: The testicles are highly enlarged and purple-blue in color. When the testicles are cut open, the testicular tubules cannot be squeezed out due to the reaction and edema of the interstitial tissue. Histological observations show edema and vascular dilation, a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrate, and varying degrees of degeneration of the seminiferous tubules. When orchitis heals, the testicles become smaller and soft. The seminiferous tubules are severely atrophied, but the testicular interstitial cells are preserved, so the secretion of testosterone is not affected.

Finally, if you experience the above symptoms of orchitis, do not believe in folk remedies, and go to a regular hospital to avoid misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. In daily life, male friends should pay attention to personal hygiene and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.