Overview

 

Prostatitis is a condition of the prostate gland most often linked with swelling and irritation, called inflammation. Prostatitis can make it painful or hard to urinate. It also may cause pain in the groin, pelvic area or genitals. Bacterial infections cause some but not all prostatitis.

 

 

The prostate gland, about the size of a walnut, sits just below the bladder in men. It surrounds the top part of the tube that drains urine from the bladder, called the urethra. The prostate and other sex glands make the fluid (semen) that carries sperm during ejaculation. 

 

 

 

Types

There are four main types of prostatitis:

• Acute bacterial prostatitis. Bacteria causes this infection of the prostate. It most often has sudden, serious symptoms.

• Chronic bacterial prostatitis. This is a bacterial infection that lasts or comes back. The symptoms often are less serious than are those of acute bacterial prostatitis.

• Chronic prostatitis, also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome. This causes pelvic pain and urinary tract symptoms that last or come back. But there's no sign of infection.

• Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. This has signs of an inflamed prostate with no urinary symptoms.

 

Symptoms

Symptoms of prostatitis depend on the type of condition. They may include:

• Pain or burning feeling when urinating, called dysuria.
• Trouble urinating, such as dribbling or trouble starting a stream of urine or keeping it going.
• Urinating often, mostly at night, called nocturia.
• Urgent need to urinate.
• Cloudy urine.
• Blood in the urine.
• Pain in the belly, groin or lower back.
• Pain in the area between the scrotum and rectum, called the perineum.
• Pain or discomfort of the penis or testicles.
• Painful ejaculation.
• Fever, chills, muscle aches and other flu-like symptoms with acute bacterial prostatitis.

 

When to see a doctor

Several conditions can cause symptoms like those of prostatitis. Get a diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.

Get care right away if you:

• Are not able to pass urine.
• Have a fever and trouble urinating or pain while urinating.
• Have blood in your urine.
• Have a lot of discomfort or pain in the pelvic area or genitals.

 

What are the complications of prostatitis?

People with acute bacterial prostatitis may develop sepsis. This is a life-threatening, widespread infection in your body. It requires immediate medical treatment. Other complications could include:

• Sexual dysfunction.
• Inflammation that spreads to organs near your prostate.

 

Is prostatitis a sign of prostate cancer?

Prostatitis is benign (not cancerous). It doesn’t increase your risk of prostate cancer. But, inflammation from prostatitis sometimes raises the level of prostate-specific antigens (PSA) in your blood — just like prostate cancer does. Further tests can help determine what’s causing elevated PSA levels.

 

How is prostatitis treated?

Prostatitis treatments vary depending on the cause and type. Nonbacterial prostatitis doesn’t require treatment.

 

Approximately 80% of people with CPPS improve with the UPOINT system. The system focuses on these symptoms and treatments:

 

• Urinary: Medications, such as tamsulosin (Flomax®) and alfuzosin (Uroxatral®), relax muscles around your prostate and bladder to improve urine flow.
• Psychosocial: Stress management can help. Some people benefit from counseling or medications for anxiety, depression and catastrophizing (overreaction to minor stresses common in people with chronic pain).
• Organ: Quercetin and bee pollen supplements may relieve a swollen, inflamed prostate gland.
• Infection: Some healthcare providers use antibiotics as part of treatment for CPPS.
• Neurologic: Prescription pain medicines, such as amitriptyline (Elavil®) and gabapentin (Gralise®), relieve neurogenic pain. This pain can include fibromyalgia or pain that extends into your legs, arms or back.
• Tenderness: Pelvic floor physical therapy may include myofascial release (gentle massage to ease tension on tight pelvic floor muscles). This therapy can reduce or eliminate muscle spasms.