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
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?