Mumps is a contagious viral illness caused by the mumps virus. It spreads through direct contact with infected saliva or respiratory droplets from an infected person’s nose, mouth, or throat. While often considered a childhood disease, mumps can affect individuals of any age. The common symptoms include headache, fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite, often followed by painful swelling of the salivary glands, particularly the parotid glands. Although usually a mild illness, mumps can lead to complications, including those that might affect fertility.
Mumps and Testicular Inflammation
Mumps can cause orchitis, an inflammation of one or both testicles, primarily affecting males who have reached puberty. This complication occurs in approximately 20% to 30% of post-pubertal males with mumps, typically appearing one to two weeks after the onset of salivary gland swelling.
The inflammation can damage the testicular tissue, impairing sperm production and potentially causing testicular atrophy, where the affected testicle may shrink. This damage can also disrupt testosterone production, a hormone essential for sperm development and male reproductive health.
Impairment of fertility is estimated to occur in about 13% of patients with mumps orchitis. For those with bilateral orchitis, 30% to 87% may experience some degree of infertility. Although mumps orchitis can reduce sperm count and quality, it generally does not lead to complete sterility. However, it can contribute to subfertility, making natural conception more challenging.
Mumps and Female Reproductive Health
Mumps can also affect female reproductive health, though complications are less common and less severe than in males. Oophoritis, or inflammation of the ovaries, can occur in females who contract mumps after puberty. This condition is estimated to affect around 5% to 20% of post-pubertal women with mumps.
Symptoms of mumps oophoritis may include lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Unlike orchitis in males, mumps-related oophoritis rarely leads to long-term fertility issues or sterility in females. The issues experienced are short-lived, with symptoms resolving as the body recovers from the infection.
Preventing Mumps and Protecting Fertility
The most effective way to prevent mumps and its potential complications, including those affecting fertility, is through vaccination. The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is effective in preventing mumps. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are approximately 86% to 88% effective at preventing mumps. Vaccination is recommended for children as part of routine immunization schedules. Adults who were not vaccinated as children or who have only received one dose can also get the MMR vaccine.
Even if a vaccinated person contracts mumps, the symptoms are milder, and the risk of complications, such as orchitis, is reduced. For individuals who do contract mumps, there is no specific antiviral treatment. Management focuses on supportive care to alleviate symptoms, which includes rest, adequate fluid intake, and pain relievers. Most individuals recover from mumps without long-term health issues, even if they experience complications like orchitis.