Physiologically, Epididymis plays a significant role in male reproductive system. It’s responsible for storing and carrying the sperm. The inflammation of epididymis, which is also known as epididymitis, will cause male infertility. There are many factors can induce epididymitis, and long-term sitting is one of them, which is also ignored by many male friends.

Why does long-term sitting result in epididymitis?

Males who need to sit for a long periods of time have high risk of getting epididymitis, mainly including office workers and long-distance bus drivers. Doctors point out that when a man is sitting, the scrotum is under the pressure, which will block the venous return if sitting for a long time. Thus, the blood vessels that near to testicles will become thicker and cause blood stasis, and then lead to acute epididymitis.

Acute epididymitis is a very common male reproductive system disease, and it usually happens to young and middle-aged men. long-term sitting is one of the main factors that can induce acute epididymitis. Except that, bacterial infection and sexual transmitted diseases can also cause epididymitis.

Patients with acute epididymitis may have swelling scrotum, and the overlying skin may be red. There may be tenderness over the groin (spermatic cord). Patients will also have chills and high fever. At the early stages, patients can use ice packs to relieve the swelling and taking medicines like Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill to improve the symptoms.

To prevent acute epididymitis from developing into chronic, men need to have a treatment once notice the pain and discomfort in scrotum. Otherwise, the infection will spread to testicles and lead to epididymo-orchitis.

How to prevent epididymitis?

You should always develop a healthy lifestyle and keep on it for a long time. Avoid spicy and fatty foods. Don’t drink alcohol and smoking. It’s helpful to take some exercise to enhance the immunity which can prevent from a bacterial infection. Avoid long-term sitting, driving, riding and bicycling. What’s more, eat more fruits that are beneficial to prevent epididymitis include grapes, mango, litchi, walnuts and others.

The last but not least one is to practise safe sexual life. Abstaining from excessive sexual intercourse and masturbation is necessary. Since many sexual transmitted disease can induce epididymitis and spread to partners through sexual intercourse, it’s important to have safe and healthy sexual life to prevent the infection, which is beneficial to both the couple.