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STDs (Expert Forum)
Maybe a swollen testicle or epidimitis?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
Maybe a swollen testicle or epidimitis?
by veryverynervous, Apr 30, 2005 12:00AM
I am married. I have unprotected sex with my wife all the time. I had a vasectomy 5 years ago. Since then I will occasionally develop pain in my testicles. I thought I had a hernia and have been to the emergency room, pcp, and a urologist. All over the course of the last 5 years. Never found a problem.. My urologist thought perhaps that I had nerve damage, but that was about all.
3 weeks ago I started to get the pain again. This time however my testicles seemed to swell. It really only seems to be the right one, or the right side. It was real bad for about 3 days, then tapered off and kinda comes and goes. I started searching for causes of testicle pain, and of course have found probably to much information. I have since started panicking to the point of not eating. I read that chlamydia and ghonerea can cause this so I have been taking some expired amoxicillin and cephalexin to see if that helped it. I can't really tell if it did, and I have been self medicating myself for 2 weeks. The last 2 days the pain seemed to disappear, but last night my testicles were hanging very, very low. I definitely noticed a difference. I believe I felt a lump on top of my testicle, or a tube like bump. I have no discharge that I can see, and really no pain when urinating. Unfortunately I have been so nervouse and hypersensitive that its ometimes is hard to tell if I have a symptom. This morning, my scrotum is pretty tight to my body. This is how its been most of the last 3 weeks.
My wife hasn't complained of any symptoms as far as I know. I am thinking about going to the ER today. I
3 weeks ago I started to get the pain again. This time however my testicles seemed to swell. It really only seems to be the right one, or the right side. It was real bad for about 3 days, then tapered off and kinda comes and goes. I started searching for causes of testicle pain, and of course have found probably to much information. I have since started panicking to the point of not eating. I read that chlamydia and ghonerea can cause this so I have been taking some expired amoxicillin and cephalexin to see if that helped it. I can't really tell if it did, and I have been self medicating myself for 2 weeks. The last 2 days the pain seemed to disappear, but last night my testicles were hanging very, very low. I definitely noticed a difference. I believe I felt a lump on top of my testicle, or a tube like bump. I have no discharge that I can see, and really no pain when urinating. Unfortunately I have been so nervouse and hypersensitive that its ometimes is hard to tell if I have a symptom. This morning, my scrotum is pretty tight to my body. This is how its been most of the last 3 weeks.
My wife hasn't complained of any symptoms as far as I know. I am thinking about going to the ER today. I
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., May 01, 2005 12:00AM
, May 01, 2005 12:00AM
I also scanned your follow-up message and understand an emergency room doc diagnosed epididymitis. It is true that "lots of things" can cause it. You say nothing about your sexual lifestyle, but sort of imply you are mongamous with your wife and she is unlikely to have other partners, in which case the STD risks obviously are low. In younger men (e.g, under 30-35) and others at risk for STD, chlamydia and gonorrhea are by far the most common. In older men or men who have had recent urological instrumentation (e.g., catheter insertion, surgery) and men who have insertive anal sex, non-STD bacteria (e.g., the infamous E. coli) are most common. Some cases aren't infectious. For example, the cardiac drug amiodarone can cause a toxic reaction with epididymitis, and other drugs may as well. And although I have not heard of vasectomy or other procedures on the scrotum/testes predisposing to epididymitis years afterward, it would not surprise me if this happens from time to time. And it's also true that there are cases whose cause simply can't be determined.
You should have been tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia; I hope the ER doc did this--as well as a urine culture for common non-STD bacteria. He also should have taken a sexual history. But if you are currently monogamous with your wife, and are confident in her fidility, then that overrides the STD risk and you'll need to look to other causes. Also, most cases caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia also have evidence of urethritis, ie discharge, uncomfortable urination, etc; without those, the likelihood of STD is lower.
Take the antibiotics as directed, await test results, and perhaps follow up with a urologist. And of course if this does turn out to be STD, your wife will need to be tested and treated.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
You should have been tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia; I hope the ER doc did this--as well as a urine culture for common non-STD bacteria. He also should have taken a sexual history. But if you are currently monogamous with your wife, and are confident in her fidility, then that overrides the STD risk and you'll need to look to other causes. Also, most cases caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia also have evidence of urethritis, ie discharge, uncomfortable urination, etc; without those, the likelihood of STD is lower.
Take the antibiotics as directed, await test results, and perhaps follow up with a urologist. And of course if this does turn out to be STD, your wife will need to be tested and treated.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Weight loss, and loss of appetite. I have probably lost 5-10 pounds the last 3 weeks. May be attributed to the anxiety, but thought it was important to note.
Should I be concerned with having sex with my wife. And as a precaution, or pain prevention, should I abstain anyways? Should I worry about these cysts?