From the Guidelines
Prostatitis symptoms include pain or discomfort in the pelvic area, painful urination, increased urinary frequency and urgency, difficulty starting urination, weak urine flow, and sometimes pain during ejaculation, as reported in the most recent study 1. These symptoms can vary depending on the type of prostatitis, with acute bacterial prostatitis often presenting abruptly with febrile UTI symptoms and chronic bacterial prostatitis involving more persistent symptoms or recurrent UTIs.
Key Symptoms
- Pain or discomfort in the pelvic area
- Painful urination
- Increased urinary frequency and urgency
- Difficulty starting urination
- Weak urine flow
- Pain during ejaculation
- Flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, and body aches, particularly with acute bacterial prostatitis
- Persistent discomfort in the lower back, rectum, or perineum (area between scrotum and rectum) with chronic prostatitis Some men may also experience pain in the testicles or penis, and may have blood in semen or urine.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis for acute bacterial prostatitis relies on clinical presentation and laboratory tests, while chronic bacterial prostatitis diagnosis involves comparing bacteria levels in prostatic fluid and urinary cultures 1. Treatment depends on the type of prostatitis, but often includes antibiotics for bacterial cases, anti-inflammatory medications, alpha-blockers to relax prostate muscles, and warm sitz baths 1. It is essential to seek medical attention promptly if these symptoms occur, as early treatment can prevent complications and provide symptom relief, especially for bacterial prostatitis which requires specific antibiotic therapy. The optimal durations of treatment for acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis are unknown and have not been established by high-quality studies, highlighting the need for additional prospective studies to determine the appropriate duration of treatment 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Prostatitis
The symptoms of prostatitis can vary depending on the type and cause of the condition. Some common symptoms include:
- Pain or burning sensation while urinating
- Frequent or urgent need to urinate
- Pain in the groin, abdomen, or lower back
- Discharge or bleeding from the urethra
- Painful ejaculation
- Fever and chills
Types of Prostatitis
There are several types of prostatitis, including:
- Acute bacterial prostatitis: caused by a bacterial infection, characterized by sudden onset of symptoms 2
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis: caused by a recurring bacterial infection, characterized by recurring symptoms 2
- Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: characterized by chronic pain and discomfort in the pelvic area, cause unknown 3
- Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis: characterized by inflammation of the prostate gland, no symptoms present 2
Treatment Options
Treatment options for prostatitis depend on the type and cause of the condition. Some common treatment options include:
- Antibiotics: effective in treating bacterial prostatitis, such as levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin 2, 4
- Alpha-blockers: effective in treating chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, such as tamsulosin and terazosin 2, 5
- Anti-inflammatory agents: effective in reducing pain and inflammation, such as ibuprofen and naproxen 3
- Combination therapy: combination of antibiotics and alpha-blockers, effective in treating chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome 6