Prognosis
The prognosis of an epididymitis is in principle good. Thus, the correct therapy with antibiotics and strict bed rest usually leads to an improvement of the symptoms within a few days. The inflammation can become dangerous if it becomes chronic or if no treatment is given.
This can lead to an inflammation of the entire testicle and even to an extension of the disease to both testicles. The formation of an abscess can also worsen the course of the disease. In this case blood poisoning can occur which can have life-threatening consequences.
An epididymitis usually heals well.However, if the healing process is complicated, there may be long-term consequences due to the inflammation. The epididymitis can lead to an impairment of fertility. The epididymal canal can become scarred during the healing process and thus the transport of sperm is hindered.
In case of recurrent epididymitis, a vasectomy (cutting the spermatic cord) or removal of the epididymis (epididymectomy) may be necessary. This also results in infertility. If the epididymitis is very severe and the immune system is weakened, a Fournier’s gangrene may develop. This leads to necrosis (death of connective tissue strands) in the testis, which can lead to a severe inflammatory reaction of the entire organism.
Consequences
In most cases an epididymitis heals without consequences if the disease is treated correctly. However, complications can occur which have an unfavorable influence on the course of the disease. It is possible that there is a risk of inflammation of the other epididymis and the affected organ must be removed.
If both epididymis are severely inflamed and a conservative therapy has no chance of success, both epididymis have to be removed, which results in infertility of the affected person. Inadequate therapy of the pathogen responsible for the inflammation can also lead to chronic inflammation of the epididymis. Should a so-called abscess develop and there is also a risk of blood poisoning, which can be accompanied by life-threatening complications.
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