What Every Man Should Know About Prostatitis Key Facts

• An estimated 50% of men will experience the symptoms of prostatitis, an inflammation of the prostate gland, at some point in their lifetime.
• The prostate is a walnut-sized gland of the male reproductive system that wraps around the urethra. Its main function is to produce fluid for semen.
• While the incidence of infection increases as one gets older, prostatitis can occur in men of any age.
• Although prostatitis and prostate cancer can exist at the same time, prostatitis is non-cancerous and there is no evidence that it leads to cancer.
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate), prostatitis, and prostate cancer are three common conditions affecting the prostate.
• Prostatitis is not contagious.

Types and Symptoms

• There are three types of prostatitis: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, and nonbacterial prostatitisvii.
• Acute bacterial prostatitis and chronic bacterial prostatitis are caused by bacteria that infect the prostate. The cause of nonbacterial prostatitis is unknown, but the inflammation may be related to organisms other than bacteria.
• The symptoms of prostatitis vary from one type to another and often mimic those of other urinary or prostate disorders. There can be no symptoms at all or symptoms severe enough to require emergency medical care.
• Of the three, symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis come on the most suddenly and are usually the most severe. Symptoms include fever, chills, frequent urination, burning or painful urination, and pain in the lower back.
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis is associated with repeated urinary tract infections. Other symptoms may include frequent, urgent, burning, or painful urination and possibly perineal and low-back pain.
• Nonbacterial prostatitis may be asymptomatic or may be similar to chronic bacterial prostatitis.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Because treatment may be different depending on the type of prostatitis, the correct diagnosis is very important.
• A digital rectal examination is the first step in diagnosis of prostatitis and any prostate problem. It is a quick, simple procedure in which a physician inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to determine the size, shape, and texture of the prostate.
• Acute bacterial prostatitis and chronic bacterial prostatitis are treated with antibiotics, with chronic bacterial prostatitis often requiring longer or repeated treatment to cure the infection.
• Depending on the cause of nonbacterial prostatitis, different treatments may be used. But because the cause often cannot be determined, treatment can be difficult and often focuses on alleviating the symptoms.

References

"Current Management of Prostatitis." A Supplement to Contemporary Urology. December 1999. Medical Economics, Montvale, NJ.
ii Prostatitis: Before, During and After. American Foundation for Urologic Disease. Web site text.
iii Prostatitis. Bayer Roundtable Fact Sheet, May 1999.
iv Prostatitis: Patient Education. AACU/Bayer 1999.
v Prostatitis: Before, During and After. American Foundation for Urologic Disease. Web site text.
vi Prostatitis: Patient Education. AACU/Bayer 1999.
vii Ibid.
viii Ibid.
ix Prostatitis: Before, During and After. American Foundation for Urologic Disease. Web site text.
x Prostatitis: Patient Education. AACU/Bayer 1999.
xi Prostatitis. Bayer Roundtable Fact Sheet, May 1999.
xii Prostatitis: Before, During and After. American Foundation for Urologic Disease. Web site text.
xiii Ibid.
xiv Prostatitis: Patient Education. AACU/Bayer 1999.
xv Ibid.
xvi Prostatitis. Bayer Roundtable Fact Sheet, May 1999.
xvii Prostatitis: Before, During and After. American Foundation for Urologic Disease. Web site text.