Prostatitis

What is prostatitis?

The prostate is a small gland between a man's penis and bladder, which is responsible for producing fluid that contains semen. Prostatitis is when the prostate becomes inflamed or tender. Men at risk for this condition are those 36 to 50 years old, and particularly those who have had prostatitis before. You might also be at risk if you have had a groin injury, urinary tract infection (UTI) or urinary catheter. Men who've had a prostate biopsy or have HIV/AIDS are also at greater risk for prostatitis. Keep in mind that prostatitis is not the same as an enlarged prostate and is not necessarily going to lead to prostate cancer.

Types of prostatitis

There are four types of prostatitis, usually categorized as acute (comes on suddenly) or chronic (long-term recurrence). They are:

• Acute bacterial prostatitis – when bacteria from the kidneys, bladder and connecting tubes reach the prostate and cause infection
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis – when a bacterial infection, possibly caused by a UTI or acute bacterial prostatitis, lasts for several months
• Chronic prostatitis (CP)/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) – when there are no bacteria present but symptoms are similar to bacterial prostatitis; may be caused by immune disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, or chronic fatigue
• Asymptomatic prostatitis – when the prostate is inflamed but you have no symptoms; condition may be found during a blood test to check the health of your prostate

Symptoms of prostatitis

You may have certain symptoms involving urination, such as:

• Pain or burning (dysuria)
• Difficulty urinating
• Dribbling
• Having to pee frequently, especially at night (nocturia)
• Having cloudy or bloody urine

Other symptoms you might have include:

• Abdominal, lower back or groin pain
• Pain in the testicles or penis
• Pain with ejaculation
• Pain between the scrotum and rectum (perineum)

With bacterial prostatitis, you may also have fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms.