Hi everyone,
It seems that I have been experiencing and ignoring this dull ache on the side of one testicle. I have been diagnosed w/ epididymitis a few years ago. That was most likely the result of a woman who had chlamydia giving me "road head."
A shot in the hip, which made me very sore. cleared that up. At the time, the epididymitis was very painful and intermittent. Like being stabbed in the balls w/ an icepick, make you want to drop to your knees kind of pain.
This time it is a chronic, steady, dull ache.
Could it be epididymitis again?
Caused by ????
Should I go to my urologist this time instead of my GP/PA?
Much grass!
PS: I did a search here for "epididymitis" first. Honest, I did.
Not a MD but if it is a chronic, steady and dull ache, yes, it is probably epididymitis. There are other than STD causes. The following may be TMI for most dudes but if anyong reading is concerned, maybe some of my experience can help shed some light on some typical male issues (covering a lot here guys so if it is not of interest . . .) :smile: :
While you are waiting to get in to see a Urologist there are a few things you can do. Take a warm shower and give yourself a testicular exam. If you have done that before, you will be familiar with what you are feeling. If not, check out this link:
Image:Male anatomy.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neither the epididymis or vas deferens should be painful but you can definitely feel them. Any other mass within the scrotum or lump on the testicle itself that you feel will require further diagnosis by a Urologist. In the case of a lump, make sure you tell the person on the phone that you have a lump on your testicle so they can get you in ASAP!
The advise here to go to a Urologist is excellent because, IME, a GP will assume you have an STD, and give you an Rx because STDs are the most common cause of epididymitis. However, there can be other causes. As someone else here mentioned, there could be a hydrocele (fluid) but there could also be a varicocele (a bag of varicose veins that has descended into the testicle).
I had an operation to remove one of those several years ago but unfortunately, it has returned. If feels kinda like an extra little sack within the scrotun but not really on the testicle. There are new, less invasive procedures now to treat a varicocele, one of which I will be checking out within the next few months.
Most men will have either a hydrocele or varicocele in thier lifetime but they go mostly unnoticed unless their presence is adversely affecting their fertility.
For us dudes that making babies is not of immediate concern, these are just extremely uncomfortable and slightly embarrasing having to constantly adjust myself in public.
Mine is worse during warm or hot weather. Even if fertility is not an issue, guys should really have the hydrocele or varicocele treated as they permanently increase the temperature of the testes and IMO, can therefore affect your T level as well as your libido.
I also find that either lack of ejaculation, too frequent ejaculation, or rough sex can bring on a bout of good 'ol epididymitis that is simply an inflamation of the epididymis (not quite the same as "blue balls" relieved by shooting your load). In this case, brief periods (really brief!) of an ice pack with aspirin or tylenol or whatever you use of a OTC pain reliever, can help over a period of just a few days.
There is possibly 1 more cause but that would definitely have you in much pain and would require Emergency Room treatment. That is a torsion of the testicles. You would know this due to the extreme pain!
It requires immediate emergency treatment. You can do a search on that for the "low down." :biggrin1: But this is rare.
Sorry if this was a bit TMI, but having experienced a few of these, and knowing that many men will just ignore the pain or discomfort *and* many GP's just write it off with an Rx, makes it all the more important that you see a Urologist.
