Sperm ducts swollen - what's behind it?
Definition - what is a swollen vas deferens?
The spermatic duct is a connection between the epididymis and the prostate through which the sperm are transported. A swollen vas deferens therefore certainly represents a thickened and / or hardened tissue, which can be narrowed as a result. The cause can be infections or semen accumulation.
The spermatic duct should not be confused with the vessels accompanying it, which can also be swollen.
Causes of a swollen sperm duct
A swollen vas deferens is often caused by an infection. The inflammation usually spreads from the prostate or epididymis. This is often caused by various bacteria such as E. coli, Pseudomonas, which can also cause urinary tract infections, or the sexually transmitted bacteria chlamydia or gonococci.
Read more on the topic: Inflammation of the vas deferens
Other possible causes of a swollen vas deferens include inguinal hernias, cystic fibrosis disease, surgical transection, or a genetic disease that causes the vas deferens to become blocked. All of these diseases result in a build-up of semen, as the sperm formed in the testes cannot drain through the seminal duct and it swells as a result.
Swollen vas deferens after inguinal hernia surgery
In an inguinal hernia surgery, sections of the intestine are shifted back into the abdominal cavity and then the hernial port is closed with sutures and nets. During the hernia, the intestine often presses on the spermatic duct, which also runs through this opening in the abdominal wall.
During the operation there is a risk that the vas deferens may be injured or, in the worst case, severed. All these factors promote irritation of the spermatic duct, which is why it often swells. If there is no serious injury to the conductor, it can be assumed that it will heal completely and swell again.
Read more on the topic:
- Surgery for an inguinal hernia
- Testicular swelling
Swollen vas deferens after vasectomy
A vasectomy is a deliberate severing of the vas deferens. In most cases this is done to prevent the partner becoming pregnant.
The severed ends of the vas deferens scarred. As a result, the sperm can no longer be guided from the testicles to the urethra and accumulate in the spermatic duct and are finally broken down. This congestion leads to a swollen vas deferens, but in most cases it is not painful.
However, if the ends of the vas deferens become inflamed during the operation, a bacterial infection can also be responsible for swelling of the vas deferens.
Read more on the topic:
- Side effects of a vasectomy
- Postoperative Complications - What Are There?
Diagnosis of the swollen ureter
The testicles and the groin area are examined to establish the diagnosis. Here indurations and painful areas are felt, which provide information about swelling or inflammation of the vas deferens or its neighboring organs such as the epididymis.
Furthermore, an image of the region in the lower abdomen can be made using the ultrasound. If, for example, there is also a thickening of the spermatic duct and the prostate, this information can contribute to the 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 prostate inflammations due to this or that pathogen can be differentiated from one another very precisely.
Read more on the topic: Epididymitis
What are the symptoms of a swollen vas deferens?
The symptoms that indicate a swollen vas deferens can vary widely. These symptoms depend on the underlying cause of the spermatic duct swelling.
If an infection is hidden behind the swelling, pain in the testicles and abdomen may indicate this. In this case, fever and fatigue can also be added to the symptoms. If the pathogen also affects organs such as the prostate or urethra, pain during urination and sexual intercourse and a whitish discharge can occur.
Read more on the topic:
- Abdominal pain in men
- Pain when urinating in men
If the cause lies more in a mechanical occlusion of the spermatic duct, the swelling stems from a sperm jam. These causes are often the targeted surgical closure of the vas deferens or diseases such as cystic fibrosis or genetic defects that lead to a non-continuous vas deferens. As a rule, there is no pain here. Those affected are usually unable to father children naturally.
Read more on the topic: Unfulfilled desire to have children
Swollen vas deferens with pain
If a patient feels pain in the area of the testicles and / or in the abdomen, an inflammation must be assumed. On the one hand, irritation can lead to such pain and inflammation; on the other hand, bacteria, viruses and parasites can trigger it. In this case there is an infection. It often enters the body from the outside through the urethra, but it can also reach the vas deferens through injuries, etc. Usually the ureter, prostate or epididymis becomes inflamed before the spermatic duct becomes infected and swells painfully.
Further information on this topic can be found at: Spermatic duct pain
Read more about the topics:
- Inflammation of the prostate
- Epididymis
- Abdominal pain in men
- Burning sensation in the urethra
Swollen vas deferens and no pain
If there is no pain in the patient with a swollen vas deferens, it is very likely that there is no inflammation.
The cause of a painless sperm duct swelling can be a jamming of the semen. The reasons for this are often a targeted severing of the vas deferens to prevent pregnancy (vasectomy) or diseases that stick together the vas deferens (cystic fibrosis) or prevent it from developing continuously. The sperm produced in the testicles collect in the ladder and are eventually broken down, which leads to an additional thickening of the spermatic duct.
Treatment for swollen vas deferens
Treatment depends on the cause of the swelling.
Infections can be treated very well with the help of antibiotics such as penicillin. A decongestant and anti-inflammatory pain reliever such as ibuprofen is also very popular. In addition, protection and cooling should also be carried out. To protect against infection and to avoid further irritation, sexual intercourse should be avoided for the time being.
If there is a mechanical blockage of the spermatic duct, depending on the cause and the findings, an operation can help. However, this is generally decided on a case-by-case basis.
Duration and prognosis of a swollen vas deferens
Without therapy, such a swelling of the vas deferens can be very tedious. In particular, if an infection is hidden behind the swelling, action should be taken.
In any case, a swelling in the area of the spermatic duct should be thoroughly examined by a doctor in order to prevent dangerous courses. Often only he can reliably distinguish the vas deferens from the surrounding vessels and nerve cords.
However, the prognosis for an infection is usually very good. Damage is rarely left behind.
The duration and prognosis of a mechanical barrier in the vas deferens depends largely on the exact cause. In many cases, operative methods can produce a good result.
