Epididymitis

can i masturbate with epididymitis
can i masturbate with epididymitis

How is epididymitis treated?

Epididymitis treatment depends on the cause.

Bacterial epididymitis

If bacteria cause epididymitis, treatment involves antibiotics. The most common medications include:

  • Doxycycline.
  • Ciprofloxacin.
  • Levofloxacin.
  • Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Most people need to take antibiotics for about one to two weeks. In rare cases, you may need a prolonged course of antibiotics.

Tuberculosis epididymitis

If tuberculosis causes epididymitis, a healthcare provider may prescribe:

  • Isoniazid-pyrazinamide-rifampin.
  • Ethambutol.
  • Rifapentine.

Most people need to take antituberculosis medications for six to nine months.

In severe cases, a surgeon may need to remove one or both of your epididymides (epididymectomy) or testicles (orchiectomy).

Amiodarone epididymitis

If the arrhythmia medication amiodarone causes epididymitis, a healthcare provider may reduce your dosage or prescribe another medication. Talk to a provider before you adjust or stop taking amiodarone.

Other causes of epididymitis

Epididymitis treatment varies for non-infection causes. A healthcare provider will talk to you about how to stay comfortable.

Does epididymitis go away?

Bacteria causes most cases of epididymitis. Bacterial epididymitis cases won’t go away on their own. It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider as soon as you notice symptoms to get proper treatment and avoid further complications.

Does ejaculating help epididymitis?

Ejaculating won’t make epididymitis worse. But it can make the pain more intense for some people. You shouldn’t have sexual intercourse with anyone until a healthcare provider says it’s OK. It’s also best to avoid masturbation until you complete your treatment.

Can I self-treat epididymitis?

You can’t self-treat most cases of epididymitis. It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider for an official diagnosis and treatment. But you can help relieve epididymitis symptoms by:

  • Resting.
  • Elevating your scrotum.
  • Applying ice packs to your scrotum or groin.
  • Wearing tight-fitting underwear to reduce swelling.
  • Drinking lots of fluids, especially water.
  • Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) for pain.

Not everyone can take NSAIDS, so talk to a healthcare provider before you take them.

How long does it take epididymitis to heal?

It depends on what causes epididymitis.

In most cases of bacterial infection, you should start to feel better a few days after starting antibiotics. However, swelling can take several weeks to improve. It’s possible to experience discomfort or swelling for weeks or even months after you finish your course of antibiotics.

Tuberculosis epididymitis may take up to nine months for you to heal with medications.

If amiodarone causes epididymitis, you should start to feel better shortly after you reduce your dosage or stop taking it.

In extremely rare circumstances, if a surgeon removes your epididymides or testicles, you may experience worsening pain immediately after surgery due to swelling. It can take several weeks to feel better after surgery. But that doesn’t mean the surgery was ineffective.

This post was last modified on December 7, 2024 4:16 am