I think you both have something there, although I personally doubt that it's bacterial or viral.
The processes involved are very similar, and in this case it would be more probable that it is a specific protein or anti-body interaction causing the "infection"/inflamation through the auto-immune system.
This is more likely to be a "life-time" thing rather than bacterial/viral, which is a one off situation, or could repeat but not constantly everytime.
I wonder if it's possible that a bacterial or viral anti-body could "become confused" and attach to sperm or a protein component by mistake and trigger an immune response?