Index
Mumps is one of the infections considered common mainly in childhood, but the most worrying in the case of boys. One of its main complications is male infertility so the mumps x fertility connection is always a dreaded subject.
Mumps is an infection that lodges in the parotid glands located just below the ears , responsible for a very large swelling in the area. It is a communicable disease and passes to others through droplets of saliva, sneezing and coughing. Its greatest complication is when the infection descends and lodges in the testicles, which affects fertility in 30% of cases in men who have already gone through puberty.
Inflammation when it reaches the area of the testicles is called orchitis and there are large numbers of cases of men who are irreversibly infertile. When infected, the testicles have a 50% chance of the testicles atrophying and the glands that produce the sperm to be damaged, thereby decreasing sperm production or even stopping altogether. That is why it is indicated when a man who has had mumps, in his adolescence or adulthood and is having difficulty getting his partner pregnant, undergoing fertility tests and testsfor verification. Women can also be affected, but the risks are much less, almost nonexistent. Only 5% of mumps in women can damage the ovaries, decreasing fertility, but this possibility is almost zero.
What is the treatment for mumps and how to avoid it?
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for mumps other than recovery and treatment of symptoms . The visit to a general practitioner or pediatrician is recommended for the proper guidelines and prescriptions of medications that will alleviate the symptoms so annoying. The symptoms of mumps are stronger and more evident in the early days, disappearing during the first week, getting a maximum of two weeks. Enough time for the person’s immune system to fully heal from the infection.
Care during this period is basic as absolute rest, being prohibited when a child attends school and when an adult works and does his normal activities. Drink plenty of fluids and gargle with warm water and salt to reduce discomfort. Take the medications prescribed by the doctor and use warm water compresses to relieve the swelling pain. Contact with other people, especially those who have never had mumps, is advised to avoid transmission. As the swelling is very large and uncomfortable, the person may have difficulty eating normally and chewing becomes very uncomfortable. Therefore, food should be adapted to the moment and give preference to foods that are easy to eat.like mashed potatoes, soups, broths and vegetable creams that do not need chewing. The symptoms subside as the first week progresses, disappearing completely in the second.
In case the symptoms do not disappear during this period, showing pain in the intimate part, high fever, vomiting and severe pain in the head are signs of worsening of the mumps. Usually the worsening occurs due to the patient not following the recommendations and treatment indicated by the doctor. As a complication, the patient may suffer from infertility, pancreatitis, meningitis and even develop a condition of deafness. The best form of prevention is through the triple viral vaccine, which is provided free of charge at all health centers, usually administered in childhood, offering immunity for the rest of life.
Experts indicate that when mumps occurs in adulthood, after spending the period of 6 months the man seeks his doctor to perform a fertility test to check the rate of sperm production. And they claim that even with all the care and rest accomplished, the male and adult patient is at risk of mumps descending to the testicles.
See also: What are the symptoms of mumps?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
