AboutArthur Goldstein, M.D. Expertise Any problems or questions related to the field of urology; ie urinary stone disease, urinary cancers (kidney, bladder, prostate, testis, etc.), urinary infections, impotency, etc.
Experience I am retired from the active practice of urology. My 34 years was totally in the clinical field and involved the entire gamut of genitourinary problems, with special interest in male impotence and endourology.
Organizations American Medical Association, American Urological Association, American College of Surgeons
Question Hi, I was diagnoised with traumatic epididymitis on the left and right side. I started my meds two weeks after the pains. My question will this condition have any effect of the production of testerone produced by the testicles.
Thank you
Answer Phil, most cases of epididymitis are due to infection (usually bacterial - occasionally viral). Treatment is with antibiotics, warm compresses, scrotal support, and pain medication. "Traumatic" epididymitis is inflammation of the epididymis due to injury and not micro-organisms. This most often is due to trauma from surgery on the scrotal contents but can also be due to non-surgical injury (although bilateral injuries of this type are rare). It is treated as noted above except antibiotics are not necessary. If you truly have traumatic epididymitis and the testes were not injured, there will be no adverse effect on your testosterone levels. If, in retrospect, it turns out that your epididymitis was indeed due to infection, the infection can sometimes spread from the epididymitis into the testicle (orchitis). Usually with epididymo-orchitis the infection resolves without permanent damage to the testicle. If, however, the infection involving the testicle is especially severe or if a testicular abscess forms, that testis can be irreparably damaged. However, for the testosterone level to be significantly affected, the orchitis would have to be bilateral. In summary, the likelihood of lowering the testosterone level from epididymitis of any type is quite an unusual event. Good luck.
