*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Perforated Eardrum

A perforated (burst) eardrum is a hole or tear in your eardrum. It usually gets better on its own within 2 months, but you may need treatment such as antibiotics.

Check if you have a perforated eardrum

Symptoms of a perforated eardrum usually start suddenly after an:

ear infection
injury (such as getting hit on your ear)
loud noise
sudden change in air pressure (such as flying on a plane)

Most of the time symptoms affect 1 ear and include:

hearing loss
a ringing or buzzing sound in your ear (tinnitus)
earache or ear pain
itching in your ear
clear fluid, blood or pus leaking from your ear
feeling dizzy
a high temperature

If you're not sure if it's a perforated eardrum, find out about other conditions that can cause earache, hearing loss or tinnitus.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you have sudden hearing loss in 1 or both ears
your hearing has been getting worse over the last few days or weeks
you have hearing loss along with other symptoms, such as earache or discharge coming out of the ear

It might not be anything serious, but it's best to get help as it may need to be treated quickly.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Treatment for a perforated eardrum

A perforated eardrum usually gets better on its own within 2 months and your hearing returns to normal.

A GP may prescribe antibiotics if you have an ear infection, or to stop you getting an ear infection while your eardrum heals.

Sometimes, surgery to repair the eardrum (myringoplasty) may be needed if the eardrum is not healing by itself.

Important

Go back to your GP if your symptoms have not started to improve after a few weeks.

More information

Find out more about myringoplasty surgery on the ENT UK website

Things you can do if you have a perforated eardrum

There are some things you can do to help heal a perforated eardrum and ease symptoms.

Do

take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease any pain
put a large piece of cotton wool covered in petroleum jelly in your outer ear when you wash your hair to stop water getting in

Don't

do not go swimming or get your ear wet until your eardrum heals
do not put anything inside your ear, such as cotton buds or eardrops (unless a doctor recommends them)
try not to blow your nose too hard because this can damage your eardrum as it heals

Flying with a perforated eardrum

It's safe to fly if you have a perforated eardrum. But if you've had surgery to repair a perforated eardrum (myringoplasty), do not fly until you're told it's safe to.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.