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Johns Hopkins Symptoms and Remedies

Johns Hopkins Medicine

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Orchitis

What is it?

Orchitis is the inflammation of one or both of the testicles because of infection. Indeed, orchitis is the most common complication of mumps in adult males, occurring in up to one-fourth of men who contract mumps after puberty.Orchitis is characterized by swelling and severe pain in the testes, which usually begins to subside after three to seven days. Most of the time the affected testicles return to normal size and function, but complications may include testicular atrophy and, rarely, infertility. Two-thirds of cases affect only one testicle; involvement of both carries a higher risk of infertility.Orchitis is most common among males 15 to 25 years old.

What Causes It?

  • Orchitis is most often caused by a viral infection, especially the virus responsible for mumps.
  • Bacterial infections of the epididymis (the long, tightly coiled sperm conduit that rests on the back of each testicle) or the prostate may spread to the testes.
  • Testicular inflammation may be a manifestation of sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Prevention

  • Be sure you have been immunized with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.
  • Practice safe sex behaviors, such as monogamy and condom use.

Diagnosis

  • Patient history and a physical examination are necessary.
  • Urinalysis and urine culture are performed to screen for an underlying bacterial infection.

How to Treat It

  • Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial infections. Sexual partners may also need to be treated.
  • If orchitis is caused by a virus, treatment is aimed exclusively at relieving symptoms (as antibiotics are effective against bacterial but not viral infections). Analgesic drugs, bed rest with support of the scrotum on a rolled towel, and application of ice packs may help to ease the pain of orchitis.

When to Call a Doctor

  • Call your doctor if you develop any persistent pain or swelling in the scrotum. It is likely that you will be referred to a urologist. A careful urological evaluation is necessary to rule out other disorders such as epididymitis and testicular torsion, which produce similar symptoms to orchitis.