Dr Linh Medical Service

🦓What is epididymitis?

Epididymitis is the term doctors use when the epididymis gets inflamed. The epididymis is a small structure that sits on top of the testicle. The epididymis stores s***m and moves it along the male reproductive tract.
Different infections and conditions can cause epididymitis. In teens and men who are having s*x, epididymitis is commonly caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea. These are 2 different infections that people can catch during s*x.
Epididymitis can also be caused by other conditions or infections that people don't catch during s*x. These things are more likely to cause epididymitis in older men.

🦓What are the symptoms of epididymitis?

Epididymitis causes pain in the testicles or sc***um. The sc***um is the skin sac around the testicles.
Besides pain, epididymitis can also cause:
● Swelling of the sc***um or testicles
● Redness of the sc***um
● Fever

🦓Should I see my doctor or nurse?

Yes. See your doctor or nurse if you have pain or swelling in your testicles or sc***um.
If your pain is severe, and your doctor or nurse can't see you right away, you should go to the emergency room.

🦓Is there a test for epididymitis?

Yes. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and do an exam. He or she will also probably do:
● Urine tests
● An ultrasound of your sc***um – An ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the inside of the body.
● Lab tests – If you have discharge from your urethra (the opening in your p***s where urine leaves your body), your doctor or nurse will take a sample of the discharge. He or she will send the sample to a lab for tests.

🦓Is there anything I can do on my own to feel better?

Yes. To help with the pain and swelling, you can:
● Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the area every few hours, for 15 minutes each time.
● Wear a jock strap to support your sc***um.
● Take an over-the-counter medicine to treat your pain. Over-the-counter medicines include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen(sample brand name: Aleve).

🦓What other treatment might I need?

Other treatment depends on what's causing your epididymitis.
If a bacterial infection is causing your epididymitis, your doctor will prescribe antibiotic medicines. Most men can take antibiotic pills at home, but men with a severe infection might need treatment in the hospital.
If you are treated for chlamydia or gonorrhea, you should tell the person you last had s*x with, and anyone you have had s*x with in the past 2 to 3 months. They might also be infected (even if they have no symptoms) and need treatment.

🦓Can epididymitis be prevented?

You can help prevent epididymitis that is caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea by:
● Using a latex condom every time you have s*x
● Avoiding s*x when you or your partner has ge***al itching, discharge, or other symptoms that could be caused by an infection
● Not having s*x

Something about my career 🤞

You and Your Endocrinologist
Endocrinology is the study of medicine that relates to the endocrine system, which is the system that controls hormones. Endocrinologists are specially trained physicians who diagnose diseases related to the glands. Because these doctors specialize in these conditions, which can be complex and have hard-to-spot symptoms, an endocrinologist is your best advocate when dealing with hormonal issues.

Most patients begin their journey to the endocrinologist with a trip to their primary care provider or family doctor. This doctor will run a series of tests to see what could be the potential problem the patient is facing. If a problem with the hormones is suspected, the primary care doctor will provide a referral. The endocrinologist's goal is to restore hormonal balance in the body.

What Does an Endocrinologist Do?
The glands in a person's body release hormones. Endocrinologists treat people who suffer from hormonal imbalances, typically from glands in the endocrine system or certain types of cancers. The overall goal of treatment is to restore the normal balance of hormones found in a patient's body. Some of the more common conditions treated by endocrinologists include:

- Adrenal disorders
- Osteoporosis and bone health
- Diabetes
- Endocrine disorders in children (lack of growth, problems with puberty)
- Heart problems (high cholesterol, triglycerides, high blood pressure)
- Men's health (infertility, testosterone levels)
- Pituitary disorders
- Thyroid disorders
- Weight and metabolism
- Women's health (menopause, infertility, some menstrual problems)

Most of the work performed by an endocrinologist serves as the basis for ongoing research. Some endocrinologists work solely as research physicians. The goal of the research is to come up with new ways to better treat hormonal imbalances, including the development of new drugs.

Common courses that will have to be completed to become an endocrinologist include:

- Thyroid imaging and analysis
- Clinical endocrinology
- Endocrinology and genetics
- Molecular endocrinology concepts
- Endocrine tumors

It usually takes at least 10 years for a person to complete all of the necessary coursework, schooling and training to become an endocrinologist. From the year 2010 through 2020, there is an expected growth rate of 24 percent for this position. Before a person starts the educational path to becoming this type of physician, it is highly recommended that he or she carefully consider whether or not it is the right path.

What are anoge***al warts?

Anoge***al warts are small, skin-colored or pink growths that form on the v***a (the lips of the va**na), va**na, p***s, or a**s. They are caused by a virus called human papillomavirus, or "HPV." You can catch this virus during s*x. Anoge***al warts are often called just "ge***al warts."

Is HPV dangerous?

The type of HPV that causes most forms of ge***al warts is not usually dangerous. But other types of HPV can lead to cancer of the cervix (a part inside the woman's body), p***s, or a**s.

Do warts hurt or itch?

Not usually. Most people with ge***al warts have no symptoms (other than the warts). But some people have itching, burning, or tenderness.

Is there a test for ge***al warts?

No, there is no test. But your doctor or nurse should be able to tell if you have warts just by doing an exam. He or she might also take small samples of tissue (biopsy) if it is not clear what you have. But that is not usually necessary.
How are ge***al warts treated?

There are several medicines that can help get rid of warts. Some work by slowly destroying the warts. Others work by getting your body's own infection-fighting system to attack the warts.
Most medicines are lotions or gels that go on the warts. They have to be applied one or more times a week for many weeks. Some medicines must be applied by a doctor or nurse. Others you can apply yourself.
People who do not get better with medicines or who have a very big wart or a lot of warts can have them removed. This is also an option for people who have warts that could become cancer.
There are different treatments to remove warts:
●Cryotherapy, which uses a chemical to freeze warts
●Electrocautery, which uses electricity to burn away warts
●Traditional surgery, which involves cutting away warts
●Laser surgery, which uses light to destroy warts
●Ultrasound surgery, which uses sound waves to break up and remove warts (this is not available many places)

What if I am pregnant?

If you are pregnant, make sure to tell your doctor before you get treated for ge***al warts. Some of the treatments for ge***al warts are safe to use during pregnancy, but others are not.

What happens after treatment?

After you have been treated for warts, your doctor might ask you to check once in a while to see if they come back. If warts are going to come back, they will probably do so within a few months.
You should know that even if you cannot see any warts, you might still have HPV. That means that warts can come back at any time. If warts do come back, you could spread them to someone else.

Can ge***al warts be prevented?

Yes. There are now vaccines against HPV. They can help prevent infection with most of the forms of HPV that cause warts. But the vaccines can prevent infection only if you get vaccinated before you get warts.
You can also protect yourself by not having s*x with anyone who is infected with HPV. But that is hard, because people do not always know that they have the virus. Condoms can help reduce the risk of infection. But they do not totally protect you. The virus can live on places on the skin not covered by a condom

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS
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What are s*xually transmitted infections?
S*xually transmitted infections, often called STIs, are infections you can catch during s*x. They are also called s*xually transmitted diseases, or STDs. Some STIs are caused by bacteria, and others are caused by viruses.
The most common STIs include:
● Chlamydia
● Gonorrhea
● Mycoplasma ge***alium
● Ge***al herpes, also called "herpes simplex virus" or "HSV"
● Ge***al warts, also called "human papillomavirus" or "HPV" – Some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer in women.
● Hepatitis A, B, and C
● Syphilis
● Trichomoniasis
● Human immunodeficiency virus, also called "HIV" – This is the virus that causes AIDS.
Many of these infections can be transmitted through any type of s*x. That includes not just p***s-in-va**na or p***s-in-a**s s*x, but also oral s*x and other types of s*x play. HIV and hepatitis can be transmitted in other ways, too, such as exposure to body fluids.
What is STI screening?
STI screening includes a series of tests that doctors use to find out if a person has any STIs. STIs often don't cause any symptoms. People can have STIs and not know it. That's what makes screening so important.
Doctors recommend that people who are at risk for STIs be screened even if they have no symptoms and feel fine. For example, you could be at risk for chlamydia if you had unprotected s*x with a new partner. Screening for chlamydia will alert your doctor that you have this infection. Treatment will prevent the infection from getting worse and keep you from infecting other people.
There are different types of tests that screen for different infections. Many STIs can be found through a blood or urine test. If you decide to be screened for STIs, your doctor or nurse can work with you to figure out which specific tests you need.
Who should be screened for STIs?
Different screening tests are appropriate for different people, depending on their gender and s*x habits.
● All men and women (including teenagers) should get screened for HIV.
● All girls and women younger than 26 years who have had s*x should be screened every year for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
● Older women who have s*x with more than one partner and do not use condoms should be screened every year for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
● All men and women who are having s*x and either do not have a stable partner or are having s*x with more than one partner should get screened for hepatitis B.
● All men and women born between 1945 and 1965 should be screened for hepatitis C. Also, anyone who has had s*x with a person infected with hepatitis C should be screened.
● Pregnant women should be screened for syphilis, chlamydia, HIV, and hepatitis B. Some pregnant women might also need to be screened for other infections depending on their s*x habits.
● Men and women who are infected with HIV should be screened at least once for hepatitis A, B, and C. They should also be screened at least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Women who are infected with HIV should be screened at least once a year for trichomonas. Men who are infected with HIV, and who have s*x with men with HIV, should be screened at least once a year for hepatitis C.
● Men who have s*x with men should be screened at least once for hepatitis A, B, and C. They should also be screened at least once a year for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea.
The list above includes some general guidelines, but some people might need other screening tests depending on their s*x habits and other factors. If you are unsure whether you should be screened and for what, ask your doctor or nurse for advice.
Where can I get screened?
If you have a doctor or nurse you see regularly, he or she should be able to screen you. But if you prefer to have screening done without your regular doctor or nurse, or if you don't have one, you can go to a clinic. Some clinics let you get screened without giving your name (anonymously).
Be careful with any pharmacies or online stores that offer to sell you kits to use at home to screen for STIs. For some of these tests, you turn in or mail away a sample, and then you get the results either by phone or online. For others, you do a test at home and get results within an hour. But it is not always clear which test kits are ones you can trust. If you do use one of these kits and get a positive result, be sure to follow up with a doctor or nurse. And if you get a negative result but think you might have an infection, see a doctor or nurse.
What symptoms should I watch for?
In general, watch out for any ge***al itching, burning, sores, or discharge. But be aware that many STIs do not cause any symptoms. The best way to know for sure if you have an STI is to be screened.
What if I have an STI?
If you have an STI, you will need treatment. The right treatment will depend on the type of STI you have. Treatment might include antibiotics or medicines called antivirals, which fight viruses. Treatment will cure your infection or keep it from getting worse. It will also reduce the chances that you spread your infection to others.
If you do have an infection, you might need to tell the people you could have infected. Your doctor or nurse can help you figure out which partners you need to tell based on when you last had s*x with them.
Can STIs be prevented?
There is no surefire way to prevent all STIs, but there are things you can do to reduce your chances of catching one.
● The most important thing you can do is to wear a condom every time you have s*x. Both male and female condoms can protect against STIs. But be aware that male condoms made out of "natural materials," such as sheep intestine, do not protect against STIs.
● Ask your doctor if there are any vaccines you should have. If you are 26 years old or younger, you can get a vaccine to protect against HPV, the virus that causes ge***al warts. If you do not have hepatitis A or B and have not already gotten the vaccine for hepatitis A or B, you can get those vaccines, too.
● If your partner has herpes, he or she can reduce the chances of infecting you by taking a medicine called valacyclovir (brand name: Valtrex).
● If you are at very high risk of catching HIV, you might be able to take a pill every day to reduce the chances that you will get HIV. This is an option only for very few at-risk people. If you are interested in this, talk to your doctor