Inflammation (prostatitis)

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. It affects at least half of all men at some time during their lives. Having this condition does not increase your risk of any other prostate disease.

Prostatitis Symptoms:

• Trouble passing urine
• A burning or stinging feeling or pain when passing urine
• Strong, frequent urge to pass urine, even when there is only a small amount of urine
• Chills and high fever
• Low back pain or body aches
• Pain low in the belly, groin, or behind the scrotum
• Rectal pressure or pain
• Urethral discharge with bowel movements
• Genital and rectal throbbing
• Sexual problems and loss of sex drive
• Painful ejaculation (sexual climax)

Several tests, such as the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) and a urine test, can be done to see if you have prostatitis. Correct diagnosis of your exact type of prostatitis is key to getting the best treatment. Even if you have no symptoms you should follow your doctor's advice to complete treatment.

Types of prostatitis

• Acute bacterial

Treatment: Most cases can be cured with a high dose of antibiotics, taken for 7 to 14 days, and then lower doses for several weeks. You may also need drugs to help with pain or discomfort. If your PSA level was high, it will likely return to normal once the infection is cleared up.

• Chronic bacterial

Also caused by bacteria, this type of prostatitis doesn't come on suddenly, but it can be bothersome. The only symptom you may have is bladder infections that keep coming back. The cause may be a defect in the prostate that lets bacteria collect in the urinary tract.

Treatment: Antibiotic treatment over a longer period of time is best for this type. Treatment lasts from 4 to 12 weeks. This type of treatment clears up about 60 percent of cases. Long-term, low-dose antibiotics may help relieve symptoms in cases that won't clear up.

• Chronic pelvic pain syndrome

This disorder is the most common but least understood type of prostatitis. Found in men of any age from late teens to the elderly, its symptoms can come and go without warning. There can be pain or discomfort in the groin or bladder area. Infection-fighting cells are often present, even though no bacteria can be found.

Treatment: There are several different treatments for this problem, based on your symptoms. These include anti-inflammatory medications and other pain control treatments, such as warm baths. Other medicines, such as alpha-blockers, may also be given. Alpha-blockers relax muscle tissue in the prostate to make passing urine easier. Some men are treated with antibiotics in case the symptoms are caused by an undetected infection.

• Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis

You don't have symptoms with this condition. It is often found when you are undergoing tests for other conditions, such as to determine the cause of infertility or to look for prostate cancer. If you have this form of prostatitis, your PSA test may show a higher number than normal.

Treatment: Men with this condition are usually not treated, but a repeat PSA test will usually be done if the PSA number is high.

• Prostate cancer - most prostate changes are not cancer

Having prostatitis or an enlarged prostate does not increase your risk of prostate cancer. It is also possible for you to have more than one condition at the same time.