What Is The Epididymis Blockage? | Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
Do you want to know What Is The Epididymis Blockage?? Are you looking for its causes, diagnosis, and treatment of it?
If yes, then welcome because you are on the right spot because, in this article, we will be going to discuss it. The epididymis is a long, coiled tube that connects the testicles to the uterus.
It is responsible for collecting and storing sperm. It is possible to develop an epididymal blockage or obstruction, preventing sperm from reaching the ejaculate. Fortunately, it is curable, and we can assist.
What is the epididymis?
Epididymis: The epididymis is a thin-walled, tightly coiled duct that runs through the scrotum and gathers and stores male reproductive sperm from the sperm generating (or seminiferous) tubules of the testicles, which are where sperm are produced.
In appearance, it is crescent-shaped (moon-shaped), and it runs lengthwise along the back of the testicles. Its walls get thicker and straighter as it develops into the vas deferens, which is the thicker tube that transports sperm to the prostate and seminal vesicles and then to the testicles.
Believe it or not, when it is uncoiled, it reaches a length of moreover 20 feet.
During traveling through the epididymis, sperm develop and acquire mobility. Some men can develop a blocked epididymis, which prevents sperm from entering the vas deferens and making its way into the ejaculate. A blockade might occur on one side of the road or on both sides.
If a man has an epididymal blockage on one side of his body, he may decrease his sperm count. A guy will have azoospermia if he has epididymal blockages on both sides of his body (a zero sperm count).
What is the Epididymis Blockage?
Infection: Of all the structures in the scrotum, the epididymis is the one that is most prone to being infected with bacteria. This may occur due to sexually transmitted diseases or bacteria (which is more common in older men).
An infection may cause the epididymis to become scarred down and obstructed for the rest of one’s life. For this reason, it is very vital to treat any epididymal infection as soon as possible once it has occurred.)
In the case of scrotal surgery, the epididymis may get clogged.
Among the procedures that may be performed are:
Hydrocele Repair: A hydrocele is a collection of fluid around the testicle that must be removed.
Spermatocele Repair: A spermatocele is an outpouching of the epididymis tube, which is similar to a weakness in the wall of a tire. It is a condition that requires treatment.
When it begins to fill with fluid, it feels like a cyst. It is critical to understand that this gathering of fluid very seldom interferes with the movement of sperm. The repair of a spermatocele, on the other hand, has a high probability of preventing sperm from passing through the epididymis.
It is very, extremely, extremely unusual for a cystic formation in the epididymis to be a cancerous tumor. As a result, it should be assessed using ultrasonography if one is detected.
If it is determined to be a simple cystic formation, it should be observed rather than operated on. Accidental injury to the scrotum: The epididymis may be injured when the scrotum is examined for damages, either in childhood or in adults.
If the testis twists on itself, the testis may be irreversibly destroyed due to the disruption of the testis’ blood supply.
As a result, this occurrence must be addressed as a surgical emergency, as described above. In this circumstance, if discovered in time, the twisted testis and the testis on the other side are sewed down to the wall of the scrotum to prevent them from twisting again (orchidopexy.)
This may, on rare occasions, result in a blockage of the epididymis on one or both sides.
Traditionally, the side coming from the testicles was closed when the vas deferens were cut to prevent the sperm from going through. Still, an open-ended vasectomy is the standard of care for this procedure (see the section on open-ended vasectomy).
This results in the build-up of pressure in the thin-walled epididymis, which may then burst out and scar down as a result of the force. This is significant for guys who want to have a family after a vasectomy and contemplating having their vasectomy reversed.
DIAGNOSIS
When your doctor does a physical exam, he will be able to feel the presence of an epididymal blockage. During an examination of the ductal structures, the epididymis may seem to be dilated and hardened, which is not uncommon.
It is flat in the center and hence cannot be touched in most cases. In the case of dilated and hardened epididymis, this might suggest an obstruction in the urinary tract.
Depending on whether an epididymal blockage is detected in a guy who has no sperm in his ejaculate, you may need to undergo further testing for your condition to be corrected.
TREATMENT of Epididymal Obstruction
If your doctor determines that you have an epididymal blockage after all of the tests, the next step would be a testicular biopsy, which would be performed based on your medical history.
A chunk of the testis is removed either by a surgical incision in the scrotum and testicle or by using a needle in the testicles.
If excellent sperm production is discovered, it is evident that it is not the generation of sperm that is the problem, but rather the transport of sperm into the ejaculate.
If it is determined that there are no more obstructions, a bypass of the block may be done. This procedure is referred to as a vasoepididymostomy (because the vas deferens is reconnected to the epididymis.) The importance of having this procedure performed by a trained expert who has previous experience with this kind of surgery has been mentioned in earlier sections.
