Orchitis
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KEY POINTS
- Orchitis is swelling and redness (inflammation) of one or both testicles. The testicles are part of the male reproductive organs.
- Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotic medicine. Your sexual partner may need to be treated at the same time to prevent re-infection if a sexually-transmitted disease is the cause.
- Follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. If you are taking an antibiotic, take all of it as prescribed, even if you no longer have symptoms.
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What is orchitis?
Orchitis is swelling and redness (inflammation) of one or both testicles. The testicles are part of the male reproductive organs. They are in a sac of loose skin, called the scrotum, which is below and behind the penis. The testicles make sperm and the male hormone, testosterone.
The tube that stores and carries sperm from the testicles to the penis can also be swollen and irritated. This is called epididymitis and may happen along with orchitis.
What is the cause?
Orchitis can be caused by an infection, blockage, or inflammation from:
- A sexually transmitted disease or infection, also called an STD or STI, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea
- A viral infection such as mumps
- Urinary tract infections
- Blockages in your urinary tract that you were born with
- Infection of the prostate gland
- Surgery, such as prostate removal or a vasectomy
- A medical procedure on your urinary tract, such as having a urinary catheter (tube)
Rarely, men have orchitis and epididymitis when they are taking a heart medicine called amiodarone.
It can follow heavy lifting or straining. Sometimes no cause can be found.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may include:
- Pain in one or both testicles that comes on slowly
- Red, warm, swollen scrotum
- Pain with urination
- Fever and chills
- Nausea
- Feeling very tired
- Headache
How is it diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. Tests may include:
- Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to show detailed pictures of the testicles
- Urine tests
- Tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea
- Blood tests
How is it treated?
Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotic medicine. Your sexual partner may need to be treated at the same time to prevent re-infection if a sexually-transmitted disease is the cause. Your provider may prescribe another medicine for pain and swelling. The pain usually gets better in 1 to 3 days.
If you have an infection, it is very important to have a follow-up visit with your healthcare provider to make sure the infection is completely gone. If it is caused by a bacterial infection, the symptoms may come back if antibiotics do not kill all of the bacteria.
- Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, or other medicines recommended or prescribed by your provider for pain relief and fever. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, you should not take these medicines for more than 10 days.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age.
- Acetaminophen may cause liver damage or other problems. Unless recommended by your provider, don't take more than 3000 milligrams (mg) in 24 hours. To make sure you don’t take too much, check other medicines you take to see if they also contain acetaminophen. Ask your provider if you need to avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.
How can I take care of myself?
- Follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take the antibiotics for as long as your healthcare provider prescribes, even if you feel better. If you stop taking the medicine too soon, you may not kill all of the bacteria and you may get sick again. If you have side effects from your medicine, talk to your healthcare provider.
- Ask your provider:
- How and when you will get your test results
- How long it will take to recover
- If there are activities you should avoid and when you can return to your normal activities
- How to take care of yourself at home
- What symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if you have them
- Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup.
- If you are very uncomfortable, you may need to rest in bed for a couple of days.
- It is very important to rest and elevate the scrotum using a scrotal support. This will help to decrease swelling and discomfort. You can raise the scrotum by putting a rolled-up towel under it when you are resting.
- Put an ice pack, gel pack, or package of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth on the scrotum every 3 to 4 hours for up to 20 minutes at a time, but not longer than 20 minutes. Never put ice directly on the scrotum.
- Avoid straining and lifting heavy objects.
- Take care of your health. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Eat a healthy diet and try to keep a healthy weight. If you smoke, try to quit. If you want to drink alcohol, ask your healthcare provider how much is safe for you to drink. Learn ways to manage stress. Exercise according to your healthcare provider's instructions.
How can I help prevent orchitis?
- Keep your penis and scrotum clean. If you are not circumcised, gently pull back the foreskin when you bathe or shower to clean the penis.
- If you have symptoms of burning when you urinate or a discharge from the penis, see your healthcare provider right away.
- Practice safe sex:
- Use latex or polyurethane condoms during foreplay and every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
- Have just 1 sexual partner who is not having sex with anyone else.
Get the shots your healthcare provider recommends for you. They may include vaccines against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). Teen and adult males who get mumps can have problems with one or both testicles. In rare case, this can cause sterility.
