Diagnosis of the swollen ureter | Spermatic ducts swollen – What is behind it?

Diagnosis of the swollen ureter

The testicles and the groin region are examined to establish the diagnosis. This involves palpation of hardenings and painful areas, which provide information about a swelling or inflammation of the seminal duct or its neighbouring organs such as the epididymis. In addition, ultrasound can be used to obtain an image of the region in the lower abdomen.

If, for example, there is also a thickening of the vas deferens and prostate, this information can help in making a diagnosis. In addition, a blood sample should be examined in order to make specific statements about the spread, further organ involvement and possible bacterial pathogens. In this way, unspecific inflammations but also very precise differentiation of prostate inflammations due to this or that pathogen can be made.

What symptoms indicate a swollen spermatic duct?

The symptoms that indicate a swollen spermatic duct can vary greatly. These symptoms depend on the underlying cause of the vas deferens swelling. If an infection is hidden behind the swelling, pain in the testicles and abdomen may be an indication.

In this case, fever and fatigue may also be added to the symptoms. If the pathogen also affects organs such as the prostate or the urethra, pain during urination and sexual intercourse and a whitish discharge may occur. If a patient experiences pain in the testicular area and/or in the abdomen, an inflammation must be assumed.

On the one hand an irritation can lead to such pain and inflammation, on the other hand bacteria, viruses and parasites can cause this. In this case an infection is present. It often enters the body from outside via the urethra, but can also reach the spermatic duct via injuries etc.

The ureter, prostate or epididymis is usually inflamed first before the vas deferens is infected and swells painfully. If there is no pain in the patient with a swollen vas deferens, there is very likely no inflammation. The cause of a painless swelling of the sperm duct may be a sperm accumulation.The reasons for this are often a targeted cutting of the vas deferens to prevent pregnancy (vasectomy) or diseases that clog the vas deferens (mucoviscidosis) or do not allow them to develop continuously. The sperm created in the testicles accumulate in the duct and are finally broken down, which leads to an additional thickening of the vas deferens.