Epididymitis (, , ) is a medical condition characterized by discomfort or pain of the
epididymis, a curved structure at the back of the
testicle in which
sperm matures and is stored. Epididymitis is usually characterized as either
acute or
chronic: if acute, the onset of testicular pain is often accompanied by inflammation, redness, and warmth in the
scrotum; if chronic, pain may be the only symptom. In either form, testicular pain in one or both testes can vary from mild to severe, and one or both epididymides may noticeably swell (inflame) and/ or harden (indurate). The pain is often cyclical and may last from less than an hour to several days.