The “mumps”, a disease characterized that’s been all-but-eradicated in the United States and Europe, the condition is making a comeback in teen boys in the British Isles.  This has proven worrisome for doctors who have connected mumps in teens with serious problems including infertility. 

The surge is the result of a shortage of the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine (MMR) during the ’90s.  Many children at the time did not receive inoculation; thus, they are experiencing a “teen” version of the mumps, known as mumps orchitis. 

This type of mumps causes painful swelling of the testicles, ultimately leaving some with lowered sperm counts.  And a small percentage are left unable to have children.