Epididymitis is inflammation in the tube that stores sperm at the back of the testicle. In some cases, the actual testicle can become inflamed. Symptoms of epididymitis include pain and swelling. MayoClinic.com reports that while males of any age can get epididymitis, it typically occurs in men 20 to 39 years old.
Causes
Epididymitis is often caused by sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea and chlamydia. Nonsexually transmitted causes of the condition occur when bacteria spread to the epididymis. Boys, older men and homosexual men with a urinary tract infection or prostate infection are at an increased risk of developing epididymitis. Amiodarone is an anti-arrhythmic heart medication that can cause inflammation associated with epididymitis. Chemical epididymitis is caused when urine flows backward, which can occur during exercise.
Treatment
Many men first notice symptoms of epididymitis while exercising because straining and heavy lifting engage the scrotum, which is the pouch that contains the testes. MayoClinic.com recommends staying in bed for one or two days, elevating your scrotum, wearing an athletic supporter, applying ice or a cold pack and refraining from sexual activity until the infection goes away. According to MedlinePlus, epididymitis should get better after taking an antibiotic, but the condition can recur. If your epididymitis is not properly treated, your condition can become long term and result in chronic pain.
Warnings
Aggravating symptoms of epididymitis could worsen your condition and lead to sepsis, abscesses and the inability of the condition to clear up. Sepsis is a serious medical condition characterized by difficulty urinating, fever, low body temperature, rapid heart rate and more. An abscess occurs when tissue becomes infected. It's characterized by swelling, pain and pus. MayoClinic.com reports that if an abscess forms, you may need to have the pus drained and in some cases, the epididymis will need to be fully or partially removed.
Exercise
Before returning to your exercise routine, you should have a conversation with your doctor about the risks of lifting weights while the condition is present. If exercising every day, despite pain and inflammation around the scrotum, is important to you, you can take some precautions that will minimize your risk of aggravating your condition. Avoid lifting weights and doing exercises that cause you to strain. Instead, do aerobic exercises that increase your heart rate and cause sweating. While these exercises won't build and tone muscle, they will keep you in shape. It's important to wear an athletic cup to support your testicles. If your pain increases while exercising, you should rest, elevate your scrotum and apply ice.
If the inflammation persists after taking an antibiotic for 10 days, see your doctor, who will check for a tumor, abscess or other complication.
Treatment and Prevention
Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to treat epididymitis caused by an STD. Even though you may start to feel better after two or three days, the condition can still last several weeks. While you might not be in any pain or discomfort, going back to weightlifting too soon could cause your symptoms to return.
Using protection during sexual activity easily prevents Epididymitis caused by an STD. If you are in a monogamous relationship with someone who has an STD, unless your partner is treated, you can contract the STD and epididymitis again.
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