Acute epididymitis has an acute onset, mainly manifesting as swelling and pain in the scrotum, radiating to the groin, and pain in the lower abdomen. It is accompanied by a high fever and causes painful urination, frequent urination, and urgent urination. 
 
If the infection is not treated actively and effectively in time, it will become more serious, form an abscess, break down, and turn into chronic epididymitis. It will lead to the destruction of the epididymis and testicles. And it affects the function of the epididymis, which will lead to the influence of the reproductive process.
 
Chronic epididymitis mainly evolves from acute epididymitis—for example, retrograde infection through the urethra, seminal tract, hematogenous spread, and lymphatic spread. Acute epididymitis causes rapid enlargement of the epididymis, and the inflammation can be recovered after timely treatment and therapy. 
 
However, most chronic epididymitis is caused by various reasons, such as untimely treatment, a short course of treatment, or insufficient medication dosage. It causes chronic epididymitis to be challenging to heal, resulting in fibrous hyperplasia of the tubules of the epididymis. The obstruction of the tubules may even cause obstructive azoospermia in men.
 
Epididymitis is caused chiefly by retrograde infection of the seminal urethral tract. Therefore, if there are complications such as urethritis, cystitis, prostatitis, and vesiculitis, they can easily lead to inflammation of the testicles and epididymis. In particular, acute infections that are not controlled in time can turn into chronic epididymitis.
 
If acute is not treated thoroughly, the probability of acute epididymitis turning into chronic epididymitis is very high. So after the patient finds out the cause of the disease, they must be treated in time and comply with the doctor's instructions for treatment. This disease is not a small danger, and not actively treating it will impact future sexual function and fertility.
 
Treatment of epididymitis
 
1. Treatment of acute epididymitis. 
 
Acute epididymitis should be treated with proper rest and given antibacterial agents and general analgesics. Local hot compresses, physiotherapy, and the scrotal brace can be used to hold up the scrotum. If there is abscess formation, incision and drainage are required. Patients should also actively treat the primary cause. 
 
2. Treatment of chronic epididymitis. 
 
Chronic epididymitis often exists simultaneously as chronic prostatitis may, so the general treatment measures are the same as for chronic prostatitis. The symptoms of chronic epididymitis can be relieved at the same time as the treatment of prostatitis. The complex nodes of the epididymis that remain after the epididymitis heals can sometimes cause a burden on the patient's mind. 
 
The symptoms may not always be relieved after surgical removal. Therefore, de-orchidopexy is generally not performed. For male infertility with obstructed sperm output after bilateral epididymitis, a proximal anastomosis of the blocked part of the vas deferens can partially solve sperm drainage. Still, the postoperative conception rate is not high.
 
Chronic epididymitis is generally recommended to be treated conservatively with medication, and the herbal medicine Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill can be used. Drug treatment can avoid the risk of orchiectomy, reduce surgical infection, and minimize the patient's mental burden. 
 
Antibiotics for chronic epididymitis are not very effective, and long-term use may also produce drug resistance or side effects. The Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill are made of herbs, which have no drug resistance or side effects and can increase natural conception after cure.