What is a prostate infection?
A prostate infection (prostatitis) occurs when your prostate and the surrounding area become inflamed. The prostate is about the size of a walnut. It’s located between the bladder and the base of the penis. The tube that moves urine from the bladder to the penis (urethra) runs through the center of your prostate. The urethra also moves semen from the sex glands to the penis.
Several types of infections can affect the prostate. Some men with prostatitis experience no symptoms at all, while others report many, including intense pain.
Types of prostatitis
There are four types of prostatitis:
Acute bacterial prostatitis: This type is the least common and lasts a short time. It can also be life-threatening if left untreated. This is the easiest type of prostatitis to diagnose.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Symptoms are less intense and develop over several years. It’s more likely to affect young and middle-aged men and cause recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome: This condition causes pain and discomfort around the groin and pelvic area. It can affect men of all ages.
Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis: This is prostatitis that doesn’t have any symptoms – the word asymptomatic means there are no symptoms. It is usually detected by chance when you’re having tests for other conditions, such as prostate cancer.
Causes of prostatitis
The cause of prostate infection isn’t always clear. For chronic prostatitis, the exact cause is unknown. Researchers believe:
- a microorganism can cause chronic prostatitis
- your immune system is responding to a previous UTI and STD
- your immune system is reacting to nerve damage in the area
For acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis, bacterial infections are the cause. Sometimes, bacteria can get into the prostate through the urethra.
You are at increased risk of prostate infection if you use a catheter or have a medical procedure involving the urethra. Other risk factors include:
- Bladder obstruction
- Infection
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Enlarged prostate or injury, which can encourage infection
Symptoms of a prostate infection
Symptoms of a prostate infection vary depending on the type.
Acute bacterial prostatitis
Symptoms of an acute bacterial prostatitis are serious and happen suddenly. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Burning or pain during urination
- Nausea and vomiting
- Body aches
- Inability to empty your bladder
- Fever and chills
- Pain in your abdomen or lower back
You should notify your doctor if any of the following symptoms last longer than a few days:
- Experience trouble urinating, whether starting or having a weak or divided stream
- Think you have a UTI
- Have the need to urinate frequently
- Experience nocturia, or the need to urinate two or three or more times during the night
You may also notice an unpleasant odor or blood in your urine or semen. Or feel severe pain in your lower abdomen or when urinating. These may be signs of an acute bacterial prostatitis infection.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis
Symptoms of a chronic infection, which may come and go, aren’t as severe as an acute infection. These symptoms develop slowly or remain mild. Symptoms can last more than three months, and include:
- Burning while urinating
- Frequent or urgent urination
- Pain around the groin, lower abdomen, or lower back
- Bladder pain
- Testicle or penis pain
- Trouble starting a stream of urine or having a weak or divided stream
- Painful ejaculation
- UTI
Chronic prostatitis
The symptoms of chronic prostatitis are similar to the symptoms experienced with chronic bacterial prostatitis. You may also experience feelings of discomfort or pain for three or more months:
- Between your scrotum and anus
- Central lower abdomen
- Around your penis, scrotum, or lower back
- During or after ejaculation
See a doctor if you have pelvic pain, painful urination, or painful ejaculation.
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include:
- Age: Your risk of prostate cancer increases as you age.
- Race: For reasons not yet determined, black men carry a greater risk of prostate cancer than do men of other races. In black men, prostate cancer is also more likely to be aggressive or advanced.
- Family history: If men in your family have had prostate cancer, your risk may be increased.
- Obesity: Obese men diagnosed with prostate cancer may be more likely to have advanced disease that's more difficult to treat.
Prostate Conditions
- Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate, sometimes caused by infection. It is typically treated with antibiotics.
- Enlarged prostate: Called benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH, prostate growth affects virtually all men over 50. Symptoms of difficult urination tend to increase with age. Medicines or surgery can treat BPH.
- Prostate cancer: It’s the most common form of cancer in men (besides skin cancer), but only one in 41 men die from prostate cancer. Surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy can be used to treat prostate cancer. Some men choose to delay treatment, which is called watchful waiting.
Diagnosing prostate
- Digital rectal examination (DRE): A doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate. A DRE can sometimes detect an enlarged prostate, lumps or nodules of prostate cancer, or tenderness from prostatitis.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA): The prostate makes a protein called PSA, which can be measured by a blood test. If PSA is high, prostate cancer is more likely, but an enlarged prostate can also cause a high PSA. Recommendations about whether or not a man should be screened and at what age differ. Talk with our doctor's about whether you need testing and the potential benefits and risks.
- Prostate ultrasound (transrectal ultrasound): An ultrasound probe is inserted into the rectum, bringing it close to the prostate. Ultrasound is often done with a biopsy to test for prostate cancer.
- Prostate biopsy: A needle is inserted into the prostate to take tissue out to check for prostate cancer. This is usually done through the rectum.
Treatment
Chronic prostatitis:
Treatment for chronic prostatitis depends on your symptoms. Your doctor will provide antibiotics in the beginning to rule out a bacterial infection.
Alternative treatments
In our clinic we use natural way for treatment and regeneration of prostate function . These includes combination of herbal medicine Metaprost and Spermastim capsules, and Uroprost tea, and physiotherapy course to massage prostate, activate blood circulation at surrounding soft tissue and reduce swelling , pain and enlargement of prostate.
Prevention
You can reduce your risk of prostate cancer if you:
Eat a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. Avoid high-fat foods and instead focus on choosing a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that can contribute to your health.
Exercise your sexual life, have regular intercourse and ejaculation, avoid long sitting at a particular place to protect pelvic congestion.
Exercise most days of the week. Exercise improves your overall health, helps you maintain your weight and improves your mood. There is some evidence that men who don't exercise have higher PSA levels, while men who exercise may have a lower risk of prostate cancer.
Try to exercise most days of the week. If you're new to exercise, start slow and work your way up to more exercise time each day.
Maintain a healthy weight. If your current weight is healthy, work to maintain it by exercising most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, add more exercise and reduce the number of calories you eat each day. Ask your doctor for help creating a plan for healthy weight loss.
