What Is Prostatitis?
The inflammation of the prostate gland is called prostatitis. It can be a painful and upsetting experience. Symptoms may include pain in the groin or pelvic area, difficulty urinating, and blood in the urine or semen.
Prostatitis can be caused by an infection, such as a urinary tract infection, or by other factors, such as injuries, medications, or structural problems in the prostate. Treatment depends on the underlying cause. In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed to clear the infection.
Other treatments may include pain relief medicines, warm baths, or surgery. Prostatitis can be a chronic condition that comes and goes. With proper treatment, most men can manage their symptoms and live relatively normal lives.
What Is The Prostate Gland?
The prostate is a small gland located between the penis and the bladder. It secretes a fluid that is combined with sperm to produce semen. Besides producing seminal fluid, it also affects hormone synthesis and controls urine flow. It surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder and out of the body.
How Common Is Prostatitis?
Prostatitis is a condition that affects the prostate gland and is relatively common. Every year, more than two million men with symptoms of prostatitis visit a doctor. The lifetime incidence[1] of chronic prostatitis ranges from 1.8% to 8.2%.
While prostatitis can be a severe condition, it is important to remember that many men experience mild or no symptoms. If you are concerned that you may have prostatitis, talk to your doctor about your symptoms and treatment options.
Who Is More Likely To Develop Prostatitis?
Prostatitis calcification is the most prevalent urinary tract condition among men under 50, and it ranks third among causes of death in males over 50. In some cases, prostatitis can lead to the formation of calcifications in the prostate gland. These prostate calcifications can become a source of urinary tract obstruction or infection.
Prostatitis is also a risk factor for the development of prostate cancer. While prostatitis is not itself a deadly condition, it can have severe consequences if left untreated. Therefore, it is vital to be aware of the signs and symptoms and seek medical treatment if you experience any of them.
What Are the Types Of Prostatitis?
Typically, there are four primary forms of prostatitis. These include:
- Acute Bacterial Prostatitis (ABP) – This can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms. These include nausea, chills, fever, fatigue, and vomiting. The infection can also lead to difficulties with urination, including frequency and retention. Bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family most commonly cause ABP. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for preventing severe health problems.
- Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis – CBP is a condition that results from a recurring or persistent infection of the prostate gland. In most cases, the same bacteria that cause acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) are responsible for CBP. The condition may develop when an initial ABP infection is not treated properly or if the bacteria are not entirely eradicated. Symptoms of CBP include urinary frequency, urgency, and difficulty; pelvic pain; and sexual dysfunction.
- CPPS (Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome) Or Chronic Prostatitis – CPPS is a complex and multifactorial condition that is poorly understood and affects men of all ages. The most common symptoms are prostate calcification and pain in the pelvic area, which can range from mild to severe. It is often accompanied by urinary and bowel symptoms that affect frequency and urgency.
There are two types of CPPS: with and without evidence of inflammation. While the cause of CPPS is unknown, it is thought to be a result of a combination of psychological and physical factors. Treatment typically involves a combination of medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. CPPS can be a debilitating condition, but with proper treatment, most people can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
- Asymptomatic Inflammatory Prostatitis – Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis is a kind of prostatitis that is characterized by a lack of symptoms. The diagnosis of asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis can be made by a medical professional while performing tests for other reproductive or urinary tract problems. However, there are no complications or consequences from this kind of prostatitis.
Is Prostatitis A Sign Of Prostate Cancer?
Although prostatitis and prostate cancer can have similar symptoms, they are not the same. As a benign condition, prostatitis is not always curable, but antibiotics can usually be used to treat the condition. In some cases, prostatitis-related inflammation can cause an increase in PSA levels (prostate-specific antigen).
However, further medical examinations can always rule out prostate cancer. Therefore, while prostatitis may be a sign of an underlying condition, it is not indicative of prostate cancer.
What Are The Complications Of Prostatitis?
If left untreated, prostatitis can lead to complications, such as bladder and urinary retention, prostatic abscess, bacteremia (bacterial infection of the blood), and inflammation of the epididymis (a duct that carries sperm from the testicle). Treatment for prostatitis includes antibiotics to clear the infection, pain relief medication, and muscle relaxants to ease pelvic pain.
What Causes Prostatitis?
Acute prostatitis is typically caused by bacteria invading the prostate from the urinary tract. If left untreated, acute prostatitis can lead to serious complications, including a potentially life-threatening condition caused by infection spreading throughout the body. On the other hand, Chronic prostatitis is more difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are often less severe and more slowly progressing. Additionally, the cause of chronic prostatitis is often unknown. It can either be caused by a lingering ABP after a urinary tract infection.
What Are The Symptoms Of Prostatitis?
The symptoms of each type of prostatitis might differ from individual to individual and depend on the underlying cause. In many cases, symptoms can be misdiagnosed. ABP is characterized by an abrupt onset of severe symptoms, which can include:
- Frequent urination
- Chills
- Fever
- Discomfort and burning pain while urinating
- Nocturia
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Weak and interrupted or blocked urine stream
- Urinary tract infection
The CBP symptoms are comparable with those of ABPs and include:
- Frequent urination
- Chills
- Fever
- Discomfort of burning pain while urinating
- Nocturia
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Inability to start a urine stream, or
- Weak and interrupted or blocked urine stream
- Unpleasant or difficult ejaculation
- Urinary tract infection
Symptoms for CPPS (Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome). The main signs of CPPS can include pain or discomfort that lasts three months or more in any or all of the following regions:
- The penile area
- The scrotal area
- Around the anus and scrotum
- The lumbar region
- The central and lower abdomen
How Is Prostatitis Diagnosed?
As numerous conditions might result in the same symptoms for prostatitis, we recommend visiting a urology specialist. To diagnose you, your doctor will need to perform a thorough physical examination, analyze your symptoms and medical history, and run diagnostic testing.
Testing For Bacterial Infections
The most common tests used to diagnose bacterial prostatitis include urine tests, blood tests, digital rectal exams, or a test on a prostatic specimen.
- Urine tests require a urine sample to be further tested in a laboratory for the presence of bacteria or white blood cells. A high number of white blood cells in the urine might indicate an infection.
- Blood tests are used to check for the presence of bacteria in the blood.
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During a rectal exam, a doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the patient’s rectum to check for abnormalities.
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A prostatic specimen test is a procedure where the prostate fluid is drained from the prostate gland for further examination.
You might undergo additional testing if initial examinations reveal no evidence of infection. These either include a urodynamic[2] test or an imaging[3] test.
How Can Prostatitis Be Prevented?
There are several things you can do to help prevent prostatitis. First of all, is to keep the penile area clean at all times. Get up and move around often to avoid sitting for long periods, which can put pressure on the prostate gland and lead to inflammation.
Avoid alcohol and spicy foods, which can irritate the prostate gland. Drink plenty of fluids to keep the prostate gland hydrated, and try to avoid as much caffeine as possible.
Finally, consider sauna treatments every week to help with keeping the toxins out of your body and reduce inflammation. If you follow these tips, you will help reduce your risk of developing prostatitis.
FAQ's
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the treatment for prostatitis will vary depending on the underlying cause. However, some general tips for reducing symptoms and promoting healing include drinking plenty of fluids, frequently urinating, soaking in a warm bath, applying heat to the pelvic area, exercising regularly, practicing stress-relieving activities, and avoiding alcohol and spicy foods.
There is no strong evidence that abstinence and non-ejaculation can cause prostatitis or prostate calcification. Doctors have found that the primary reason which can cause or be the prevalence of prostatitis is age. Specifically in men over 50 years, and that is why doctors recommend annual checkups for these groups of men.
Prostate stones, also known as the calcification of the prostate gland, is a disorder characterized by calcium deposition in the prostate gland. This can block the tiny sacs that release fluid into the urethra, causing fluid stagnation. It can lead to infection and lime precipitation. Prostate calcification is most common in men over the age of 60, and the risk increases with age.
Prostate calcification typically doesn't cause any symptoms and doesn't need any particular care. There is no known cure for prostate calcification. However, some treatments can help to reduce the symptoms and improve urinary function. The smaller prostate calcifications or calculi can naturally be passed with the urine. If the calcification is too large, then surgery may be required to remove it.
In some cases, it may be due to an untreated urinary tract infection or other infection. It can also be caused by an enlarged prostate.
Interface prostate calcification is a relatively common finding in imaging studies and is generally considered to be benign. The incidence of interface prostate calcification increases with age, and it is present[4] in up to 32.3% of men over the age of 50 and 66.7% of aged 70 and above.
Conclusion
Prostatitis is a common condition that affects many men. The more you know about this condition and its treatment options, the better prepared you will be to take action against it.
