Spermatocystitis is an inflammation of the seminal sac that is caused by bacteria and can be associated with other inflammations. In addition to severe pain, patients often suffer from micturition disorders, such as pollakiuria. The treatment is medical and, in the case of drainage disorders, surgical.
What is spermatocystitis?
The paired sex glands in men are also known as the seminal vesicles. The gland opens into the urethra with the vas deferens and produces the main component of the ejaculate, which provides the sperm with energy to move. The sex glands can be affected by a wide variety of diseases. One of them is vesiculitis or spermatocystitis. This is an inflammation of the seminal vesicle that manifests itself primarily in pain. For definition of klippel-feil syndrome in English, please visit acronymmonster.com.
The inflammation can be unilateral or bilateral. In addition to the acute course, a chronic course is also conceivable. The inflammation is often associated with other inflammatory phenomena in the immediate vicinity of the seminal vesicle and is then usually due to this inflammation. Conceivable sequelae or complications of spermatocystitis are urosepsis or seminal vesicle abscess.
Causes
Inflammation of the seminal vesicle is always caused by bacteria. In most cases, the culprits are gonococci. These bacteria are mainly transmitted during sexual intercourse and trigger gonorrhea in particular. Depending on how the bacteria reached the seminal vesicle, spermatocystitis can be divided into subtypes.
Ascending spermatocystitis is caused by either a previous urinary tract infection, prostatitis or inflammation of the epididymis and testicles. In the ascending form of the disease, the bacteria reach the seminal vesicle from the testicles or urethra via the ejaculatory duct. This is to be distinguished from hematogenous inflammation. In this form of spermatocystitis, the bacteria migrate into the seminal vesicle via the blood system.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
Patients with spermatocystitis suffer from non-specific general symptoms. The inflammation can be accompanied by fever, for example . In other cases, chills set in. Most of those affected also suffer from relatively unspecific pain symptoms. Patients often complain of pain in the lower abdomen. Painful urination is also a common symptom.
In individual cases, intestinal pain can also occur, which manifests itself particularly during bowel movements. Many patients also describe pain symptoms during erection or ejaculation. Dysuria is a common renal symptom. Those affected are therefore affected by disturbances in urination, which in most cases are caused by the accompanying pain.
Voiding disorders such as pollakiuria are also among the symptoms of seminal vesicle inflammation. In this case, those affected only pass extremely small amounts of urine when urinating. In the late stages of seminal vesicle inflammation, an abscess of the seminal vesicle often also manifests itself. Clinically, spermatocystitis can appear like prostatitis or even prostate carcinoma.
Diagnosis & course of disease
The anamnesis gives the doctor a first indication of a seminal cystitis. The combination of pain when urinating and having a bowel movement, for example, can arouse initial suspicion of the inflammatory disease. In order to rule out an enlargement of the prostate, a rectal examination is usually carried out, which also helps to rule out prostate carcinoma.
In the laboratory, the doctor has the bacteria determined in the urine and blood. In addition, instrument-based diagnostics such as transrectal ultrasound, CT or MRI of the pelvis can help in the differential diagnosis of other diseases. With the detection of the bacteria, however, the suspected diagnosis is usually considered to be certain.
Complications
First and foremost, spermatocystitis causes general symptoms of the flu or a cold. For this reason, the disease is not recognized and treated early in many cases. The patients suffer from chills and also from fever. There is still severe pain in the lower abdomen and also pain when urinating.
These can be burning or stinging and have a very negative effect on the quality of life of those affected. Pain in the intestines or during bowel movements can also occur. When urinating, spermatocystitis can also lead to bloody urine. If the pain due to the disease also occurs at night, this can lead to irritability in the patient and sleep disorders.
Sexual reluctance is also common and can have a negative effect on the relationship with the partner. In most cases, treatment of spermatocystitis is carried out with the help of antibiotics. There are no complications. Surgical interventions are only necessary in serious cases. As a rule, spermatocystitis does not have a negative effect on the life expectancy of the person affected.
When should you go to the doctor?
A spermatocystitis should always be evaluated and treated by a doctor. In most cases, there is no self-recovery, so the person affected is always dependent on medical treatment by a doctor. The earlier spermatocystitis is recognized and treated, the better the further course of this disease will usually be. A doctor should be consulted if the person concerned suffers from severe pain in the lower abdomen or pain when urinating. These symptoms will not go away on their own. There can also be severe pain during defecation, so that a doctor should also be consulted.
Many patients also show symptoms such as chills or fever and usually feel tired or exhausted. If you have these symptoms, you should see a doctor. In most cases, spermatocystitis can be treated relatively well by a general practitioner or a urologist. Complete healing also occurs and there are no special complications. The life expectancy of those affected is usually not reduced by spermatocystitis.
Treatment & Therapy
Various treatment options are available to patients with seminal vesicle inflammation. The bacteria must be expelled from the body. Initially, the doctor can rely on conservative treatments. Patients are often advised to rest in bed. In addition, they should drink as much liquid as possible. In most cases, these general measures are combined with drug treatment.
Antibiotics in particular have proven effective in combating bacterial infections. In individual cases, the administration of analgesics and antispasmodics can also be considered. If these treatment steps are not effective, surgery may have to be considered. This is especially true when there are obstacles to drainage. Such obstacles lead to a congestion, which can worsen the inflammation or promote secondary diseases such as an abscess.
In this case, a drain can help to drain the liquid. If secondary diseases such as an abscess of the seminal vesicle have already set in, these symptoms must also be treated. In the case of an abscess in particular, surgical intervention must take place. After the abscess is surgically opened with an incision, pus usually drains adequately.
In most cases, the abscess cavity must be irrigated to set the drain and avoid premature closure of the incision. If the incision closes again too early, drainage of secretions is impeded and leads to renewed abscess formation. The surgical procedure depends heavily on the exact location and size of the abscess.
Prevention
The seminal cystitis is most often the result of unprotected sex and is caused by the transmission of bacteria during the sexual act. For this reason, contraception with condoms is the most important preventive measure for the disease.
Aftercare
In most cases, those affected with spermatocystitis only have limited options for direct follow-up care. Therefore, the affected person should ideally consult a doctor very early on and also initiate treatment so that complications or other symptoms do not arise later on. It cannot heal itself, so treatment by a doctor is always necessary.
The symptoms of spermatocystitis can be relieved relatively well by taking antibiotics. The person concerned should always ensure that the dosage is correct and that it is taken regularly in order to permanently relieve the symptoms. Likewise, if you have any questions or are unclear, you should always consult a doctor first.
Alcohol should not be drunk during treatment so as not to reduce the effectiveness of the antibiotics. Regular checks and examinations by a doctor are also very useful after the treatment of spermatocystitis. Furthermore, aftercare measures are no longer available to the person concerned, although these are usually not necessary. The disease usually does not reduce the patient’s life expectancy.
You can do that yourself
The cause of the disease can be found in an inflammation of the seminal vesicle. As part of self-help, those affected can take various measures to support and stabilize their own body’s defense system. This is particularly important when dealing with pathogens. The immune system prevents disease-causing bacteria from multiplying. In addition, they are killed by the immune system and later excreted from the organism.
In some cases, the body can mobilize sufficient self-healing powers with a healthy immune system. It is particularly important to avoid harmful substances such as nicotine and alcohol. With a healthy and balanced diet, sufficient exercise and restful sleep, those affected can do a lot to maintain their own health. Physical exertion and emotional stress should be reduced to a minimum. Stress, hectic and a state of immense physical strain contribute to a weakening of the body’s defenses. Therefore, these damaging developments should be avoided as a matter of principle.
The organism needs sufficient rest and protection in order to be able to defend itself against various disease triggers. Even in the early stages of the disease, it is particularly helpful if the person concerned does not expose themselves to any other situations that are exhausting or push them to their physical and mental limits.
