Epididymitis may eventually cause:
- Scrotal abscess, when infected tissue fills with pus
- Chronic epididymitis, which can occur when untreated acute epididymitis leads to recurrent episodes
- Shrinkage of the affected testicle (atrophy)
- Impaired fertility, but this is rare
If the condition spreads from your epididymis to your testicle, the
resulting condition is known as epididymo-orchitis. Signs, symptoms and
treatment options are basically the same as they are for epididymitis.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Having epididymitis usually means you're experiencing considerable pain
and discomfort. To ease your symptoms, try these suggestions:
- Rest in bed. Depending on the severity of your discomfort, you may want to stay in bed one or two days.
- Elevate your scrotum. While lying down, place a folded towel under your scrotum.
- Wear an athletic supporter. A supporter provides better support than boxers do for the scrotum.
- Apply cold packs to your scrotum. Wrap the pack in a thin towel and remove the cold pack every 30 minutes or so to avoid damaging your skin.
- Don't have sex until your infection has cleared up. Ask your doctor when you can have sex again.
