Epididymitis And Orchitis

Diagnosis

After you describe your symptoms, your doctor will ask questions about your medical history, surgical history and sexual activity. He or she then will examine you, and will look at your genital area. You may need one or more of the following tests:

• Urinalysis, a chemical analysis of urine

• Urine cultures, which determine whether bacteria are present in the urine, indicating a possible urinary tract infection

• Laboratory testing of fluid taken from inside the urethra

• Laboratory tests on a sample of any discharge from the penis

• Blood tests to check for signs of infection, including STDs

In some cases, symptoms of epididymitis are so severe that the doctor must test to see if you have testicular torsion, a sudden, painful twisting of the testicle that cuts off the testicle's blood supply. You may need an ultrasound, a painless test that uses sound waves, in this case to measure blood flow in the testicles. Radionuclide scanning is another test you may need. In this test, a small amount of a radioactive isotope is injected into your blood. If the isotope collects near the testicle, it may indicate testicular torsion.

Expected Duration

In most cases of mild bacterial epididymitis, pain decreases within one to three days after you start taking antibiotics. However, swelling in the scrotum and testicle may last for several weeks or months.