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Oral Sex Leading to Epididymitis
Mid-May received unprotected oral from a risky partner. There was one episode lasting 4-5 seconds. A few weeks later I began feeling a very dull pain the right testicle. It has now been a few weeks that I have had this pain. it is quite dull. hard to call it pain, but it is enough that I notice it. I began excessive self examination. online says it is epididymitis. this is caused by chlamydia and gonorrhea. could my brief oral exposure have caused the std that lead to epididymitis? is this epididymitis? I feel around the right and left testicle. I find a small lump behind both testicles. is the head of the epididymis supposed to be a firm lump? if so, that is what I found and the one on the right is tender and causes pain when I squeeze it. the ongoing dull pain comes from here. It comes and goes but sometimes I think it is always there and I just get used to it. I squeeze and rub the testicles. they are both the same size and neither testicle causes pain. the pain is coming from the lump behind the right testicle. I'm guessing it is the epididymis head, but not sure. the timing to me suggests chlamydia or gonorrhea from the oral exposure leading to epididymitis. I have no other symptoms. no painful urination. no penis discharge. no pain in urethra. can the std be asymptomatic and get into the epididymis? I have a long term girlfriend and am afraid of spreading something to her. it has been almost two months since my possible exposure and she has not had any symptoms. Does this sound like epididymitis? do I have the right symptoms? I search online but the symptoms are so vague, I cant find anything concrete. I was hoping Dr. Hook or Dr. Handsfield could comment.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
This may be one of those questions that can be accurately answered based only on the title. Oral sex, NGU acquired by oral sex, is not known to lead to epididymitis.
Now I have read your question. The extremely brief oral-penile exposures you describe carried virtually no risk of any STD. And your symptoms are not epididymitis, which does not cause the vague, on and off, highly localized testicular pain you describe. It only causes unilateral pain (a single testicle) that is also swollen, abnormally firm and hard feeling, and very tender to touch. The "small lumps" you feel probably are entirely normal, part of the epididymis, which is easily felt in all men. Also, sexually transmitted epididymitis usually has overt urethritis, i.e. discharge of pus or mucus from the penis.
Vague symptoms (your term) of this sort usually are a reflection of genitally focused anxiety, which is very common following sexual exposures that cause regret, shame, or guilt -- which would seem to apply here. If your symptoms continue, I would suggest you be professionally evaluated. But from all you say, I expect nothing to be found, which should be reassuring.
In the meantime, I would advise that if you have a regular sex partner, you can safely continue unprotected sexual relations without putting that person at risk for any STD. That's what I would do, if I somehow found myself in your circumstances.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
This may be one of those questions that can be accurately answered based only on the title. Oral sex, NGU acquired by oral sex, is not known to lead to epididymitis.
Now I have read your question. The extremely brief oral-penile exposures you describe carried virtually no risk of any STD. And your symptoms are not epididymitis, which does not cause the vague, on and off, highly localized testicular pain you describe. It only causes unilateral pain (a single testicle) that is also swollen, abnormally firm and hard feeling, and very tender to touch. The "small lumps" you feel probably are entirely normal, part of the epididymis, which is easily felt in all men. Also, sexually transmitted epididymitis usually has overt urethritis, i.e. discharge of pus or mucus from the penis.
Vague symptoms (your term) of this sort usually are a reflection of genitally focused anxiety, which is very common following sexual exposures that cause regret, shame, or guilt -- which would seem to apply here. If your symptoms continue, I would suggest you be professionally evaluated. But from all you say, I expect nothing to be found, which should be reassuring.
In the meantime, I would advise that if you have a regular sex partner, you can safely continue unprotected sexual relations without putting that person at risk for any STD. That's what I would do, if I somehow found myself in your circumstances.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Ultrasound is not a standard method to diagnose epididymitis-- and in any case, I have no experience with it. I'm sure the cysts that were found have nothing to do with the pain you have had, and I'm equally sure you don't have epididymitis and that your pain isn't due to any infection from the sexual events described above.
That ends this thread. I won't have any further comments.
That ends this thread. I won't have any further comments.
Dr. I finally got my ultrasound results back. my doctor says there were a couple of small cysts but can't say why they are causing pain. I'm happy with your thoughts on this and my doctors as well. One final question, is an ultrasound a proven method of finding epididymitis?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm glad to have helped ease your anxieties.
One testicle always hangs lower; that's normal in all adults males. (In the custom tailor industry, the tailor asks the customer "Do you dress right or left?", meaning which side of the seam to allow a bit more room for the genitals.) And there certainly is no other medical problem that comes to mind from your description.
If you remain concerned, you'll need to be examined professionally -- if not right away, perhaps at your next routine medical visit, whenever that might come up.
One testicle always hangs lower; that's normal in all adults males. (In the custom tailor industry, the tailor asks the customer "Do you dress right or left?", meaning which side of the seam to allow a bit more room for the genitals.) And there certainly is no other medical problem that comes to mind from your description.
If you remain concerned, you'll need to be examined professionally -- if not right away, perhaps at your next routine medical visit, whenever that might come up.
HHH, thank you for the response. Apology for harping on a self diagnosis. Fear, pain, and anxiety are a terrible mix. I slept well last night for the first time in three weeks. thanks for that. I'm getting over the idea of not having an STD. However, is there a possible medical reason that would stand out in your mind as to what would cause the pain behind the testicle. also, the right half of my scrotum hands lower than the left and the testicle is in a slightly different position than the left. seems to be set back further on the right. The testicle does not feel swollen to me, but the right side of the scrotum is visibly larger than the left.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This pain pattern is exactly typical for genitally focused anxiety, not epididymitis or any other infection or physical abnormality.
HHH, one more comment is that my pain/discomfort that is on and off as you stated is way more on than off. almost constant. sometimes when I am heavily involved in my work or a movie I stop feeling it. maybe because i'm focused on something else at that moment. Do I get a follow up question??
HHH, thank you for your reply. I have read many of your posts and other work you have done. Your comments are accurate and reassuring. After my exposure. I first thought I had herpes. nothing ever showed up. Went to the doctor twice in three weeks. Once he reassured me I didn't have herpes, I began feeling this pain behind the testicle. online searching lead me to epididymitis caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea. I'm hoping this is anxiety. I had an ultrasound done a few days ago and am waiting for the results.
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
