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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you're an adult male, you may have heard that getting mumps may affect your fertility. The reason is viral orchitis, an inflammation of one or both testicles, most commonly associated with the virus that causes mumps. About one-third of males who contract mumps develop orchitis.
Fortunately, infertility as a result of mumps-related orchitis is rare, especially when only one testicle becomes inflamed.
Other causes of orchitis usually are bacterial, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The best way to prevent orchitis is to prevent mumps and to avoid behaviors that may result in STDs.
Symptoms
