How to Treat Epididymitis

When you have pain in your scrotum, you likely have epididymitis---an infection or inflammation of the long coiled tube attached to the upper part of each of your testicles inside your scrotum. Since epididymitis affects your testicles, it can cause sterility; if you think you have it, seek treatment quickly.

Instructions

How to Treat Epididymitis

• 1

  Seek medical treatment. Your doctor will prescribe medication as soon as you feel swelling in your scrotum, tenderness in one testicle and soreness and hardness in your other testicle. If your doctor thinks a bacterial infection has caused your epididymitis, he will prescribe antibiotics to treat the underlying cause. Ask your doctor to approve any over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication you may want to take for the pain. With medication, pain will subside between one and three days after treatment starts. However, your epididymitis may not completely heal for weeks, or even months.

• 2

  Treat the underlying infections. Epididymitis results from urinary tract infections, prostatitis, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as gonorrhea or Chlamydia, or fungal infections. In addition, epididymitis can occur if you have a disease called Henoch-Schoenlein purpura, which can cause swelling of the joints and a rash.

• 3

  Stay in bed. Your doctor may recommend that you stay in bed until your epididymitis symptoms subside or for two to three days. Place an ice pack or a small bag of ice wrapped in a towel on the area for approximately 20 minutes once an hour to relieve pain and swelling. In addition, put a rolled-up towel under your scrotum to raise it while you rest. This also will relieve painful symptoms.

• 4

  Avoid strenuous activity until symptoms disappear. Lifesteps.com recommends avoiding sexual intercourse for a month after your symptoms have subsided. If you have to resume normal activities, wear briefs instead of boxers, or wear an athletic support to relieve discomfort.

• 5

  You may need surgery if you have chronic epididymitis. Your doctor may perform an epididymectomy---removal of the inflamed section of your epidiymitis via a small incision in the scrotum. However, a bilateral vasectomy stops your sperm and fluid from traveling through the epididymis. Both procedures occur on an outpatient basis and under local anesthesia. In addition, the surgical procedures can cause sterility.