Epididymitis

[richysmith35]

Hi there, I wanted to ask u a quick question... Maybe I am being too paranoid like so many others but still... I'm a 35 year old male and about 7 weeks ago I had unprotected oral sex performed on me to completion by a guy I didn't really know.... Several weeks later I got epididymitis to my left testicle (swelling, pain, redness) that got better on its own after about 5 days... I didn't have any problems for several more weeks until just recently when the epididymitis came back with severe swelling, tenderness, pain to the left testicle...  I saw the doctor and they did an ultrasound and confirmed epididymitis... The doctor put me on Cipro 500 mg for 3 weeks and it does seem to be getting better... I have had no other symptoms at all, no discharge or painful urination at all... I also did have a vasectomy about 2 years ago and ever since my left testicle has been somewhat sensitive but not swollen like these epididymitis episodes... I have had several sexual encounters outside my marriage over the past 12 years but always protected for vaginal intercourse but unprotected for oral... I'm curious your opinion on catching chlamydia or gonorrhea from these unprotected oral sex encounters... once again, i have never had any other symptoms in my life but I'm a little worried with these recent epididymitis episodes... The doctors never asked me about STD's or anything just gave me the Cipro...

Sincerely, Kinda worried :)

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. EWH

[richysmith35]

Ok... Thanks for your info Dr. Hook... Take care :)

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sorry, I really do not know much about the post operative course and complications of vasectomy.  I would suggest that you discuss this with a urologist.  I would suggest however that once a person has had epididymitis once, they are at increased risk to have it again. This is because the inital infection can cause small irregualrities which predispose people to repeated infection.  EWH

[richysmith35]

Thanks for your response... It has eased my worries... Is it sometimes normal to have epididymitis flare up off and on after vesectomies? Just kinda curious... My left testicle has never swelled up before like it has with these two epididymitis episodes but I do get some left testicular pain from time to time since the vasectomy... Once again, thanks for your response, highly appreciated :) Take care

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Interesting.  Let's deal with your risk for STD first, then the epididymitis.  Oral sex is an inefficient way to transmit STDs.  Of the bacterial STDs only gonorrhea and nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) are transmitted through oral sex; chlamydia is not.   If you had gotten gonorrhea or NGU you would have most likely developed symptoms of urethritis (penile infection) before you developed epididymitis.  Even if your partner had an STD (any STD and it is likely he did not), most exposures do not lead to infection.   My guess is that your epididymitis is coincidental, not due, to your receipt of oral sex.

Yur history of occasional swelling since your vasectomy makes me think that this is related to your epididymitis.  Not all epididymitis is due to STDs and in your case, the vasectomy and its aftermath suggests that this is the likely cause of your problems.   Personally, I would not worry that your epididymitis is related to the exposure you mention.   I would just go on and take the cipro.  

I hope this helps.  EWH