Orchitis

Orchitis (or-KY-tis) is swelling or inflammation of one or both of your testicles (testes). Your testicles are part of your reproductive system — they make reproductive cells (sperm) and testosterone, which is a hormone. Most people assigned male at birth (AMAB) have two testicles.

What is the difference between orchitis and epididymitis?

Epididymitis is a condition that causes swelling and inflammation in your epididymis. The epididymis is a tube at the back of your testicles that carries and stores sperm.

Epididymo-orchitis is when you have epididymitis and orchitis at the same time.

How common is orchitis?

Orchitis alone isn’t common — it usually appears alongside other conditions like epididymitis. When it does appear on its own, it usually results from a mumps infection.