Can You Get An Infection In Your Prostate

Treatments For Symptom Relief

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The preferred treatment regimen for chronic bacterial prostatitis is a combination of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .

Although NSAIDs can provide relief from the pain of prostatitis, theyre primarily used to reduce inflammation.

Other medications you may receive are:

stool softeners to avoid constipation
alpha-blocker medications, such as tamsulosin , to help treat urinary retention

Certain home remedies may be able to ease your symptoms too. Home remedies include:

warm baths

Talking With Your Doctor

Different kinds of doctors and other health care professionals manage prostate health. They can help you find the best care, answer your questions, and address your concerns. These health care professionals include:

Family doctors and internists
Physician assistants and nurse practitioners
Urologists, who are experts in diseases of the urinary tract system and the male reproductive system
Urologic oncologists, who are experts in treating cancers of the urinary system and the male reproductive system
Radiation oncologists, who use radiation therapy to treat cancer
Medical oncologists, who treat cancer with medications such as hormone treatments and chemotherapy
Pathologists, who identify diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope

View these professionals as your partnersâexpert advisors and helpers in your health care. Talking openly with your doctors can help you learn more about your prostate changes and the tests to expect.

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What Tests Diagnose Prostatitis What Are Prostate

Prostatitis is usually diagnosed by analyzing a urine sample and undergoing an examination of your prostate gland by your health care practitioner. This examination involves a digital rectal examination to palpate the prostate gland and feel for abnormalities of the gland. Occasionally, the physician may also collect and test a sample of the prostatic fluid.

Sometimes a prostate massage is performed to compare samples of the prostatic fluid both before and after this intervention has been performed. To perform this procedure, the doctor will stroke/massage the prostate gland during the digital rectal examination. Because there is the concern that this procedure can release bacteria into the bloodstream, this test is contraindicated in cases of acute bacterial prostatitis.

Additional tests that may be obtained include a complete blood count , an electrolyte panel, blood cultures, a swab of urethral discharge if present, and sometimes a prostate-specific antigen level. The PSA test, which is used as a screening test for prostate cancer, may also be elevated with prostatitis.

Other tests that may also be obtained include urodynamic tests , ultrasound imaging, computed tomography imaging, cystoscopy, and a prostate biopsy.

If recurring episodes of urinary tract infections and prostatitis occur, see your doctor for a more detailed evaluation of your genitourinary system for anatomic abnormalities, which may make you more prone to infections.

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Treatments That A Specialist May Suggest

Various treatments have been tried for chronic prostatitis. They may benefit some people but so far there are few research studies to confirm whether they help in most cases. They are not ‘standard’ or routine treatments but a specialist may advise that you try one.

For chronic bacterial prostatitis, possible treatments may include the following:

A longer course of antibiotics. If the specialist suspects that you have chronic bacterial prostatitis and your symptoms have not cleared after a four-week course of antibiotics, they may suggest a longer course. Sometimes a course of up to three months is used.
Removal of the prostate may be considered if you have small stones in the prostate. It is not clear how much this may help but it has been suggested that these small stones may be a reason why some people have recurrent infections in chronic bacterial prostatitis. However, this is not commonly carried out and is not suitable in everyone. Your specialist will advise.

For chronic prostatitis/CPPS, possible treatments may include the following:

What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

What type of prostatitis do I have?
What is the best treatment for this type of prostatitis?
What are the treatment risks and side effects?
How can I avoid getting prostatitis again?
What type of follow-up care do I need after treatment?
Should I look out for signs of complications?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Prostatitis is a common problem that affects many men. Unfortunately, theres a lot of confusion about the disease. People use the word prostatitis to describe four different conditions. There isnt a one-size-fits-all treatment for prostatitis, which is why an accurate diagnosis is so important.

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Touching Your Prostate With Your Finger

1See a trained professional if you want your prostate medically examined. Medical professionals do not recommend prostate self-exams. An untrained finger is unlikely to accurately recognize signs of problems, and there is a small but not inconsequential risk of damage to the rectum or prostate.XResearch source

Talk to your primary care doctor to determine if you should have a DRE to check your prostate.

Check your prostate if youre older than 40, have a high risk for prostate cancer, or if you have symptoms of an enlarged or infected prostates.

If you want to access your prostate for sexual pleasure, take all the precautions described in this article and work very slowly and gently.

2Take a shower and clean between the cheeks thoroughly. Use soap, water, and a soft washcloth to clean the area as best you can, then rinse it out thoroughly with clean water from the shower. The cleaner you feel “up there,” the less self-conscious you’re likely to be when the time comes to insert your finger.

Dont use a rough washcloth or brush, scrub too vigorously, or try to clean deep into your rectum. You may damage the sensitive tissue in the area. Just accept that its not possible to get this area 100% clean.

Even when youre accessing your own rectum, its best to play it safe and wear a glove.

If you wear a ring on the index finger youll be using, remove it.

Your entire index finger should be fully coated from the tip down to at least the middle knuckle.

How Is Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Managed Or Treated

Prostatitis treatments vary depending on the cause and type. Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis doesnt require treatment.

For chronic pelvic pain syndrome , your healthcare provider may use a system called UPOINT to classify symptoms into six categories. Your provider uses multiple treatments at the same time to treat only the symptoms youre experiencing.

Approximately 80% of men with CPPS improve with the UPOINT system. The system focuses on these symptoms and treatments:

Urinary: Medications, such as tamsulosin and alfuzosin , relax muscles around the prostate and bladder to improve urine flow.
Psychosocial: Stress management can help. Some men benefit from counseling or medications for anxiety, depression and catastrophizing .
Organ: Quercetin and bee pollen supplements may relieve a swollen, inflamed prostate gland.
Infection:Antibiotics kill infection-causing bacteria.
Neurologic: Prescription pain medicines, such as amitriptyline and gabapentin , relieve neurogenic pain. This pain can include fibromyalgia or pain that extends into the legs, arms or back.
Tenderness: Pelvic floor physical therapy may include myofascial release . This therapy can reduce or eliminate muscle spasms.

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How Can You Lower Your Psa

Tips for Naturally Lowering PSA Levels

Eat more tomatoes. Tomatoes have an ingredient called lycopene thats known to have health benefits.

Choose healthy protein sources. In general, going for lean proteins, like chicken, fish, and soy or other plant-based protein, is better for overall health.

Take vitamin D.

What Is The Prognosis For A Prostate Infection

Prostatitis (Prostate Inflammation): Different Types, Causes, Signs & Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

The prognosis for acute bacterial prostatic infections is usually good if treated appropriately with effective antibiotics. The prognosis for chronic bacterial prostatic infections is less or only fair because the recurrent disease is difficult to cure, and the cure rate is less than the acute type.

No evidence suggests that any prostate infections increase the risk of urinalysis.
Only a few men with acute bacterial prostatitis develop chronic bacterial prostatitis. After patients recover, their doctor should evaluate their upper urinary tract.
Only half of the men with chronic bacterial prostatitis will be cured . Relapses are common and may lead to psychological problems, especially depression.

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How Can I Help Prevent Prostatitis

Avoid sexually transmitted diseases and infections . Use latex or polyurethane condoms during sex. Have just 1 sexual partner who does not have sex with anyone else.
Keep your genital area clean. If you are a man who has not been circumcised, good hygiene includes gently pulling back the foreskin to wash the tip of the penis every time you bathe or shower. This helps to prevent urinary tract infections, which can lead to prostatitis.
Get prompt treatment for any urinary tract problems. This lowers your risk for prostate infection.

What Is The Prognosis For People Who Have Prostatitis

Antibiotics can cure acute bacterial prostatitis. These medications also ease chronic bacterial prostatitis symptoms in approximately 30% to 60% of men. Up to 80% of men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome feel better after receiving appropriate treatments for their symptoms using the UPOINT system. Men with asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis dont need treatment.

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Can Prostate Infections Make Me Infertile

Infections of the prostate can cause swelling and block off part of the reproductive passage that goes through the prostate. This can also stop sperm from being ejaculated.

Because the prostate and seminal vesicles create most of the fluid that you ejaculate, a blockage near the prostate can sometimes lower the amount of semen ejaculated. Infected cells can also be passed from the prostate and seminal vesicles into the semen, which can damage the sperm.

Could A Prostate Infection Spread To Your Partner

Prostate infection is usually caused by bacteria or other pathogens. When prostate get infected, there must be bacteria or pathogens in prostate fluids, which can enter into vagina during intercourse as a part of semen. Then bacteria or pathogens entering into vagina can cause infection or inflammation. This is the point view that many people hold. But it is true?

Actually, this question can’t be anwsered simply by “Yes” or “No”. First, you should know clearly about the type of your prostatitis. Clinically there is no bacteria found in 90% of prostatitis, which means it is non bacterial prostatitis. If a man has this type of prostatitis, the infection can’t be trasnmitted to a woman.

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Prostatitis: A Common Problem In Men Under 50

“The PSA test is a good screening tool for prostate cancer, but it is not very specific,” says Erik P. Castle, MD, a urologist and researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. “Common causes of inflammation in the gland, called prostatitis, can cause high PSA levels.”

Prostatitis is the most common prostate problem for men younger than 50.

Prostatitis caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics. Another, more common type of prostatitis, called nonbacterial prostatitis, can be harder to treat and may last a long time.

What Causes Prostatitis

The causes of prostatitis differ depending on the type.

Chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The exact cause of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is unknown. Researchers believe a microorganism, though not a bacterial infection, may cause the condition. This type of prostatitis may relate to chemicals in the urine, the immune systems response to a previous urinary tract infection , or nerve damage in the pelvic area.

Acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis. A bacterial infection of the prostate causes bacterial prostatitis. The acute type happens suddenly and lasts a short time, while the chronic type develops slowly and lasts a long time, often years. The infection may occur when bacteria travel from the urethra into the prostate.

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When To See A Doctor

You should see your doctor when you have symptoms of prostatitis. Sometimes these symptoms can signal other more serious conditions, including prostate cancer. Getting treatment for prostatitis can help prevent complications, including sexual dysfunction and infertility.

You should immediately seek medical help if you are completely unable to urinate, have problems or pain while urinating, have a fever and/or chills, see blood in your urine, or have a lot of pain and discomfort in your urinary tract or lower abdomen.

What Is The Prognosis For Prostatitis Does It Increase The Risk Of Developing Prostate Cancer

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Prostatitis caused by bacterial illness often can be treated with antibiotics, or the condition can be chronic that recurs and requires long-term medical attention.

Acute bacterial prostatitis can often be treated very successfully and has a very good prognosis.
Chronic prostatitis, and especially chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, can often lead to long-term symptoms and discomfort if treatment is unsuccessful. It is important to have close follow-up and continued care by either your primary care doctor or a urologist.
Prostatitis does not increase your risk of developing prostate cancer.

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Cause Of Urinary Problems As Men Age

Many men experience urinary symptoms as they age, which may be caused by inflammation of the prostate gland . In older men, symptoms may be due to a blockage in the tubes due to a benign enlargement of the prostate gland . The most common symptom is difficulty emptying your bladder. Urinary symptoms may become bothersome enough that they require treatment. Not all urinary symptoms are due to changes to the prostate. Also, some men have enlarged prostates and yet experience few, if any, symptoms.

What Is The Outlook

Acute prostatitis usually clears with a course of antibiotics. However, it is important to take the full course to clear the infection completely. There is a risk that an acute infection may become a persistent infection if you do not take the full course of antibiotics. See the separate leaflet called Chronic Prostatitis for further details.

Rarely, apart from chronic bacterial prostatitis, other complications of acute prostatitis can occur. These include:

Sudden-onset urinary retention. Because it may be so painful to pass urine, urine can build up in your bladder, causing pain in your lower tummy and inability to pass urine at all. To relieve this, a thin, flexible, hollow tube is needed. This is usually inserted through a small cut in your tummy directly into your bladder to drain the urine. The catheter can usually be removed once the antibiotics have started working and the infection of the prostate is clearing.
Prostate abscess. If the antibiotics do not effectively treat the prostate infection, rarely you can develop an abscess of your prostate. Your doctor may suspect this if your symptoms do not improve despite antibiotic treatment. Further tests are needed to confirm a prostate abscess, such as an ultrasound or CT scan of your prostate. If an abscess is present, an operation is needed to drain it.

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What Should I Do If I Have Prostate Cancer Symptoms

If you are displaying one or more signs of prostate cancer, be sure to promptly consult with a physician. Even benign prostate conditions like prostate enlargement warrant timely medical attention, so dont delay seeking treatment. And, like most other malignancies, prostate cancer is usually more easily treated when it is detected at an early stage.

Medical Procedures Can Cause Psa To Rise

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“Anything that traumatically interferes with the architecture around the prostate gland can make PSA go up,” says Dr. Milner. “One of the most common causes of significantly high PSA from this type of trauma is the placing of a catheter into the bladder.”

Another cause is a prostate or bladder exam that involves passing a scope or taking a biopsy.

“Since it takes about two to three days for PSA to go down by half, you should wait two to three weeks after this type of trauma to do a PSA test,” Milner says.

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Can Kidney Stones Affect Your Prostate

Every year more than 500,000 people seek emergency care for kidney stones. Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form within the kidneys when your body is not properly filtering waste and excess water. Kidney stones will eventually exit your body through the urinary tract. Kidney stones typically do not cause symptoms until they start to pass through the urinary tract. When kidney stones pass, it can be extremely painful and cause complications like blockages of the urinary tract, blood in the urine, and problems with the prostate. Were taking a closer look at how kidney stones can affect your prostate.

What Is The Prostate Gland What Does It Look Like

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system, and it is a walnut-sized gland found in men that is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds the urethra, the tube through which urine and semen exit the body. Its main function is to produce seminal fluid in order to transport sperm through the urethra.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Uti

The problem here is that the symptoms of a UTI are often very similar to the symptoms of BPH frequent urination, urgent urination and pain/discomfort while urinating.

However, there are a few indications of a UTI that differ from those of an enlarged prostate. Look out for unpleasant-smelling urine, cloudy urine and a burning sensation when urinating. Take a look at our cystitis symptoms pages for a better idea.