Can prolapsed testicles be treated on your own?

The testicle is an important organ for men and is also a part that is more prone to prolapse. Prolapse of the testicle is generally caused by epididymitis. Epididymitis is also a disease with a relatively high incidence rate in young men. It is mostly caused by bacterial or viral invasion and requires timely treatment. The following will introduce the causes and clinical manifestations of epididymitis.

1. Overview

Epididymitis is a common disease in young people. When the body's resistance is low, pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus will enter the vas deferens and retrogradely invade the epididymis, causing inflammation. Therefore, this disease often leads to posterior urethritis, prostatitis, and seminal vesiculitis. Generally, patients with epididymitis will have nodules, which mostly occur in the head or tail of the epididymis, and most of them occur in the tail.

2. Causes

Acute epididymitis is mostly caused by urinary tract infection spreading along the vas deferens to the epididymis. Transurethral instrumentation, frequent catheterization, and indwelling urinary catheter after prostatectomy are all factors that cause epididymitis. Acute epididymitis can turn into chronic epididymitis if it is not treated thoroughly. Common pathogens are Escherichia coli, followed by Proteus, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Chlamydia trachomatis can also cause acute epididymitis. Pathogenic bacteria often enter the epididymis retrogradely through the vas deferens. In addition, bacteria invading the epididymis can also cause epididymitis through lymphatic vessels or bloodstream infection, but this is rare.

3. Clinical manifestations

1. Acute epididymitis

Sudden high fever, increased white blood cell count, swelling and heaviness of the scrotum on the affected side, pulling pain in the lower abdomen and groin, which worsens when standing or walking. The epididymis on the affected side is enlarged and there is obvious tenderness. When the inflammation is large, both the epididymis and testicle are swollen, and the boundary between the two is unclear, which is called epididymal orchitis. The spermatic cord on the affected side is thickened and there is also tenderness. Generally, acute symptoms can gradually subside after one week.

2. Chronic epididymitis

Chronic epididymitis is more common. Some patients become chronic because the acute phase is not completely cured, but most patients do not have a clear acute phase. Inflammation often occurs secondary to chronic prostatitis or injury. Patients often feel dull pain in the scrotum on the affected side, with a sense of bloating. The pain often extends to the lower abdomen and the ipsilateral inguinal groove, and sometimes may be accompanied by secondary hydrocele. During examination, the epididymis often enlarges and hardens to varying degrees. There is mild tenderness, and the ipsilateral vas deferens may be thickened.