Prostatitis

An inflammation of the prostate is called Prostatitis and is usually caused by an infection. For men under 50, it is the most common prostate problem. About half of adult men will be treated for it during their lifetime

There are 3 major types of prostatitis:

  • Bacterial prostatitis
  • Prostatodynia
  • Nonbacterial prostatitis

Chronic bacterial prostatitis may involve few symptoms other than those of a recurring urinary tract infection (frequent and painful urination), and the condition keeps returning even after the initial infection has been treated and symptoms have disappeared.

About

Bacterial prostatitis. There are two types of bacterial prostatitis: acute (meaning it develops suddenly) and chronic (meaning it develops slowly over several years). Both types can be treated with antibiotics. Each type affects about 1 in 10 men. Symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis are often severe, and therefore quickly diagnosed..

Nonbacterial prostatitis occurs in about six out of 10 men with prostatitis. Although the causes are unknown, the inflammation may be related to organisms other than bacteria, like a reaction to the urine or substances in the urine. For example, men with a history of allergies and asthma sometimes develop nonbacterial prostatitis. More research needs to be done as currently as currently healthcare providers cannot be sure exactly how these conditions are related. Healthcare providers do know that nonbacterial prostatitis is not found in men with recurrent bladder infections.

Prostatodynia (pain in the area of the prostate gland) occurs in about 3 out of 10 men with prostate irritation. Normal testing to diagnose infection and other problems with the prostate gland are not applicable. In some instances, the pain may be caused by a muscle spasm (an involuntary sudden movement or contraction) in the bladder or the urethra.

FYI

Certain activities increase your risk of developing prostatitis. These include:

  • Having had a recent bladder infection
  • Having benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
  • Having gonorrhea, chlamydia or another sexually transmitted disease
  • Having frequent, unprotected sex or unprotected sex with multiple partners
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Eating a lot of spicy, marinated foods
  • Injury to the lower pelvis (often as a result of cycling, lifting weights, etc.)

Symptoms

  • Occasional discomfort in the
    • Testicles
    • Urethra
    • Lower abdomen
    • Back
  • Discharge from the urethra, especially during the first bowel movement of the day
  • Blood or urine in ejaculate
  • Low sperm count
  • Sexual difficulties
  • Fever
  • Aching muscles
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Frequent and/or painful urination

Prevention

Learning how to prevent prostatitis is not an easy task however it is possible. Here are some tips to help you get started.

  1. Taking probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, may be an effective addition to antibiotic therapy for men who have bacterial prostatitis and are looking for natural prostatititis prevention.
  2. Practice good hygiene, and keep your penis clean
  3. Drink enough fluids to cause regular urination
  4. Seek early treatment of a possible urinary tract infection
  5. Eat a low-fat, low-sodium, low-cholesterol diet
  6. Quit smoking
  7. Drink less alcohol
  8. Get more exercise. Exercise builds muscle, improves blood flow and helps get the cholesterol out of your blood. It also improves your mood and self esteem.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is usually made during a DRE (digital rectal exam), where the health care provider inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate, or by examining fluid from the prostate under a microscope. Some healthcare providers use a symptom index questionnaire developed by the National Institutes of Health. Still, diagnosing prostatitis isn’t easy, so the most important diagnostic tool your health care provider has is you and your detailed descriptions of your symptoms. While prostatitis is not considered a serious disease and it does not lead to cancer, if you live with the condition it is painful, extremely inconvenient, and sometimes difficult to cure.

Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider

It’s important that you become proactive in your healthcare to get the best treatment. Here are some questions you can ask your healthcare provider about prostatitis.

  1. What treatment is best for me?
  2. Are there any side effects from my treatment?
  3. Is there anything I can do to feel better until my treatment starts working?
  4. Could my symptoms be caused by something other than prostatitis?
  5. Do I have chronic bacterial prostatitis or acute prostatitis?
  6. Is there anything I can do to avoid getting prostatitis again?
  7. Will I be at higher risk of developing prostate cancer?

Treatments

Treatment for prostatitis is based on the cause. There are a number of treatment options that usually provide relief.

These include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and surgery. Antibiotics are used to treat prostatitis that is caused by a bacterial infection. You might have to take antibiotics for several weeks or a few months. If prostatitis is severe, you might have to go to a hospital for treatment with fluids and antibiotics.

Resources

Find out more about prostatitis at the following websites:

Mayo Clinic
Prostatitis Foundation
Medline Plus
WebMD

Last modified: May 30, 2014