Prostatitis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

What is Prostatitis?

• Inflammation of the prostate gland
• Not life-threatening but can be extremely bothersome
• 8% of men suffer from it and the majority are 30-50 years old
• Effective treatment is available

Causes of Prostatitis

Prostatitis is not prostate cancer. Basically, acute prostatitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection that is when bacteria in the urinary tract enter the prostate. Some men are more likely to get it if they have a recent urinary tract infection (UTI).

The urinary tract includes the bladder, kidneys, and tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder (ureters) and the urethra. It can also be caused by infection in other parts of your genitourinary tract. Antibiotics are used to treat the infection. If they do not eliminate the bacteria, prostatitis may recur or be difficult to treat (chronic bacterial prostatitis).

A) Bacterial Prostatitis

Bacteria ascends to the prostate gland via the urethra

B) Non-Bacterial Prostatitis

Urine seeps into prostate tissue

Symptoms of Prostatitis

• Pain or discomfort at the perineal area.
• Bothersome urinary symptoms or urinary tract symptoms.
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating (dysuria).
• Pain during urination.
• Frequent urination and nocturia.
• Cloudy urine or blood in the urine.
• Urgent need to urinate.
• Pain or discomfort of the penile urethra.

Diagnosis of Prostatitis

• Doctor aims at differentiating whether bacterial or non-bacterial.
• Doctor listens carefully to patient’s complaints.
• Digital rectal exam.
• Prostate fluid or urine examination and culture for bacterial identification.

Treatment of Prostatitis

The types of prostatitis are determined and treated accordingly.

• Acute bacterial prostatitis: Short-term antibiotics, usually 1 week – 2 weeks
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Antibiotics for at least 4 weeks – 6 weeks
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: Alpha-blockers, anti-inflammatory medicines, pain killers, counselling
• Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis: No treatment

Preventing Prostatitis

• Avoid coffee, tea, alcohol.
• Take your medications as long as they are prescribed.
• Keep a urinary diary, if instructed to do so.
• Discuss your symptoms and treatment progress with your doctor.