Epididymitis: How STDs Cause It

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most common STD causes, with the bacteria spreading from the urethra up into the epididymis. Symptoms typically include swelling, tenderness, and pain in the scrotum, often gradual in onset over a day or two rather than sudden, sometimes alongside discharge or burning during urination if the underlying chlamydia or gonorrhea infection is still causing those symptoms too.

Epididymitis is treatable with antibiotics once the underlying cause is identified, and most cases resolve well with prompt treatment. Left untreated, it can in some cases contribute to fertility issues or a chronic, harder-to-treat form of the condition — which is the main argument for getting it evaluated promptly rather than waiting to see if it resolves on its own.

It's also worth knowing that sudden, severe testicular pain has a separate, time-sensitive differential — testicular torsion — which needs emergency care and can look similar in its early stages. Sudden severe pain, as opposed to gradual swelling and tenderness, is the detail that should prompt an ER visit rather than a routine appointment.