How Is Prostatic Disease Diagnosed
The first step in diagnosis is to determine if the prostate is enlarged. To do this, your veterinarian will attempt to palpate the prostate either through the abdominal wall or during a rectal exam. Radiographs or an ultrasound examination may be required to diagnose an enlarged prostate gland.
“Several tests will be needed to determine the exact cause of a particular patient’s condition”
Because there are many diseases of the prostate, it is necessary to perform several tests to determine the exact cause of a particular patient’s condition. These tests may include:
- culture of the dog’s urine to determine if there is a bacterial infection,
- a microscopic examination of the cells in the urine, and
- a microscopic examination of the cells in prostatic fluid or in the prostate.
Causes & Risk Factors
Bacterial prostatitis is caused by a bacterial infection that usually occurs when bacteria travel from the urethra into the prostate. In most cases, bacteria in your urine leak into your prostate and cause an infection. With chronic bacterial prostatitis, bacteria chronically infects the prostate gland, leading to repeated urinary tract infections.
The cause of chronic pelvic pain varies. It can come from an initial infection of the prostate, an injury, surgery involving the prostate or lower urinary tract, and spasms of the pelvic floor muscles.
A 2016 study published in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases indicates potential risk factors for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain. The most common risk factors include stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, minimal water intake, imbalanced diet, frequent sexual activity, delaying ejaculation, holding urine and nightshift work. Living a sedentary life, drinking caffeinated drinks and not drinking enough water were found to be associated with severe pain in patients with prostatitis.
Some other risk factors associated with prostatitis include having an infection in the bladder that spreads to the prostate having pelvic trauma having a prostate biopsy or having a catheter inserted into the urethra to drain your bladder.
What Are The Signs Of Prostatic Disease
Enlargement of the prostate gland is common with most prostatic diseases. Since the urethra passes through the prostate, enlargement of the gland compresses the urethra and urination becomes difficult and uncomfortable.
Complete urethral obstruction rarely occurs with prostatic problems, but an affected dog will spend a prolonged time urinating and will often produce only a thin stream of urine. If the prostate is very enlarged, the colon, located just above the prostate, may also become compressed, causing difficulty with passing bowel movements. Dogs with prostatic enlargement often have a history of straining to urinate or defecate.
“A dog with prostatic enlargement often has a history of straining to urinate or defecate.”
In addition, some dogs with prostatic disease will have blood in the urine however, bloody urine is not specific for prostatic disease as this is a sign for other diseases affecting the urinary system.
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What Are The Complications Of Prostatitis
Men with acute bacterial prostatitis may develop . This widespread inflammation can be life-threatening. It requires immediate medical treatment.
Antibiotics can cause an upset stomach. Men with chronic bacterial prostatitis may need lots of antibiotics to treat recurring infections. Some people develop antibiotic resistance, making treatment ineffective.
Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis can lower sperm count, affecting fertility.
What Are The Symptoms Of Prostatitis
Each type of prostatitis has a range of symptoms that vary depending on the cause and may not be the same for every man. Many symptoms are similar to those of other conditions.
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. The main symptoms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome can include pain or discomfort lasting 3 or more months in one or more of the following areas:
- between the scrotum and anus
- the central lower abdomen
- the scrotum
- the lower back
Pain during or after ejaculation is another common symptom. A man with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome may have pain spread out around the pelvic area or may have pain in one or more areas at the same time. The pain may come and go and appear suddenly or gradually. Other symptoms may include
- pain in the urethra during or after urination.
- pain in the penis during or after urination.
- urinary frequencyurination eight or more times a day. The bladder begins to contract even when it contains small amounts of urine, causing more frequent urination.
- urinary urgencythe inability to delay urination.
- a weak or an interrupted urine stream.
Acute bacterial prostatitis. The symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis come on suddenly and are severe. Men should seek immediate medical care. Symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis may include
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Prostate Infection Risk Factors
Yes, there are certain factors that put a person in the risk zone of prostate infection. For instance, consuming inadequate water is said to increase the chances of contracting prostate infection. With less water intake, the body finds it difficult to flush off bacteria from the urinary system. Hence, drinking 6-8 glasses of water everyday is an easy way to minimize the risk of prostate infection. The incidence of getting this infection also increases in people suffering from sexually transmitted disease. So, adhering to precautionary measures such as using condoms during intercourse or avoiding sexual contact from infected partner could actually help to keep prostate infection at bay. A physical injury that affects the groin area too can increase the risk of prostatitis
Facts You Should Know About Prostate Infections
- Prostate infections comprise only small percentage of all men with prostatitis. This small percentage is comprised of acute and chronic prostatic infections.
- E. coli and other Gram-negative bacteria cause most acute and chronic prostatic infections.
- Prostatic infection symptoms include groin pain, dysuria, pain with ejaculation, reduced urine output and may include fever, malaise, and periodic recurrence of symptoms even after treatment.
- Seek medical care if symptoms develop, emergency care if fever or inability to urinate occurs.
- Diagnosis of prostate infections or prostatitis is made by identifying the agent infecting the prostate.
- Treatment of prostate infections or prostatitis is usually antibiotics chronic infectious prostatitis may require long-term antibiotic treatment, and severe infections may require hospitalization with IV antibiotics.
- Home care is limited to pain reduction. Men with a prostate infection or prostatitis need medical care.
- Follow-up is important to confirm adequate treatment results or to plan additional treatment if the infection reoccurs.
- Some prostate infections cannot be prevented, but reducing the risk of groin trauma or injury, avoiding sexually transmitted diseases, and staying well hydrated are ways to reduce the chance of getting infectious prostatitis.
- The prognosis of acute infectious prostatitis is usually good, but chronic infectious prostatitis is only fair because it is difficult to cure.
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Is There More Than One Type Of Prostatitis
The main types of prostatitis are bacterial prostatitis and non-bacterial prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis
Bacterial prostatitis is an infection caused by bacteria. Its the easiest kind of prostatitis to diagnose and treat, although it can become serious if not dealt with quickly.
Acute bacterial prostatitis is the least common form of prostatitis, but if the infection is not dealt with it can be life-threatening.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is when bacterial prostatitis comes back again and again. Its caused by an underlying problem in the prostate, such as prostate stones or an enlarged prostate , which attract bacteria. Chronic bacterial prostatitis is also a common cause of repeated urinary tract infections , which are infections in the urinary system.
Non-bacterial prostatitis
Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis is when the prostate is inflamed, but there isnt any bacteria present. We dont yet understand this form of prostatitis very well, although we know that they dont cause urinary tract infections. Symptoms can disappear and come back later, and are often made worse by stress.
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An enlarged prostate can also be the cause of other problems. If the enlarged prostate is causing symptoms, the best treatment would be a natural remedy. In the meantime, there are treatments for a wide range of conditions that cause a man to experience pain. A common surgical procedure involves an electric loop, laser, or electro-stimulation. The procedure is a safe and effective option for treating enlarged or symptomatic BPH.
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Prostatitis: Inflamed Prostate Can Be A Vexing Health Problem
- By Patrick J. Skerrett, Former Executive Editor, Harvard Health
When it comes to prostate trouble, the lions share of attention goes to prostate cancer and an enlarged prostate. A third condition, prostatitis, flies under the radar even though it affects up to one in six men at some point in their lifetimes. It triggers more than two million visits to doctors and untold agony each year.
Prostatitis, which means inflammation of the prostate gland, is an equal opportunity disorder. Unlike prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia , which predominantly affect older men, prostatitis affects men of all ages.
Prostatitis refers to a loose assemblage of syndromes characterized by urinary problems such as burning or painful urination, the urgent need to urinate, trouble voiding, difficult or painful ejaculation, and pain in the area between the scrotum and rectum or lower back. Although it causes some of the same symptoms as BPH and can occur at the same time, prostatitis is a separate condition.
Some types of prostatitis are caused by bacterial infection. These cases are often accompanied by the classic symptoms of infection, such as fever, chills, and muscle pain along with urinary problems. As a result, they are relatively easy to diagnose and treat, and they usually respond well to antibiotics. Unfortunately, such straightforward forms of prostatitis are the minority.
When To Seek Medical Care
A person may have urinary symptoms unrelated to prostatitis that are caused by bladder problems, UTIs, or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Symptoms of prostatitis also can signal more serious conditions, including prostate cancer.
Men with symptoms of prostatitis should see a health care provider.
Men with the following symptoms should seek immediate medical care:
- complete inability to urinate
- great discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen and urinary tract
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Prostatitis Vs Prostate Cancer Symptoms And Signs
- Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland the four types are acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.
- Prostate cancer develops when abnormal prostate gland cells multiply without control and may metastasize to other organs.
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a noncancerous condition where normal prostate gland cells keep multiplying, thereby increasing the size of the prostate.
- Prostatitis usually does not lead to death, but prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, even though it is a slow-moving disease.
- Most men with early prostate cancer have no symptoms or signs symptoms and signs appear when the cancer becomes large enough to cause urinary blockage. Prostatitis, in contrast, usually appears with symptoms such as urinary frequency, urgency and/or pain with urination and possibly, some type of sexual dysfunction.
- Prostate cancer, when it produces signs and symptoms, may produce one or more of the following symptoms or signs that may also be seen in patients with prostatitis or BPH:
- Painful ejaculation
How Will My Veterinarian Get These Samples
A free-flow urine sample iscollected . Samples of prostatic fluid are obtained by passing a urethral catheter to the level of the prostate and massaging the prostate to milk fluid out of it.
Samples of prostatic cells are obtained by fine needle aspiration or biopsy. If the prostate is greatly enlarged, it may be sampled by through the body wall by FNA or biopsied. FNA involves taking a small needle with a syringe and suctioning a sample of cells directly from the prostate and placing them on a microscope slide. A veterinary pathologist then examines the slide under a microscope. In some cases, results from FNA may not be entirely clear and biopsy may be necessary.
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More Information About Prostatitis
The following is an English-language resource that may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of this resource.
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Prostatitis Foundation: This organization provides access to relevant publications , patient testimonials, a list of providers who treat prostatitis in the United States and the United Kingdom, and access to third-party prostatitis-based web sites in French, Swedish, and Italian.
Providing Your Medical History
At first, the doctor will probably ask you about your medical history. Do you have any chronic illnesses? What illnesses and operations have you had in the past? What medications are you taking, if any? Your doctor is also likely to ask about your psychological well-being and lifestyle: Do you suffer from depression? Are you under a lot of stress? Do you drink alcohol? Smoke? Use illegal drugs? Have you felt a loss of affection for your partner? Have you recently grown interested in a new partner?
As part of this health history, be prepared to tell your doctor specific details about the symptoms that brought you to the office and when they began. Your doctor might want to know how often you had sex before the problem started and if there have been weeks or months in the past when youve had erectile dysfunction. Your doctor may conduct a written or verbal screening test.
If the cause is clear a recent operation for prostate cancer, for example the conversation may move directly to your treatment options. Otherwise, you may need to answer more questions to help the doctor narrow down the possible causes and avoid unnecessary testing.
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Does Prostatitis Cause Cancer
Although prostatitis can cause you trouble, it does not cause cancer. There is a blood test some doctors use for prostate cancer called the prostate-specific antigen test . If you have prostatitis, your PSA level might go up. This does not mean you have cancer. Your doctor will treat your prostatitis and may check your PSA level again.
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Eating Diet And Nutrition
Researchers have not found that eating, diet, and nutrition play a role in causing or preventing prostatitis. During treatment of bacterial prostatitis, urologists may recommend increasing intake of liquids and avoiding or reducing intake of substances that irritate the bladder. Men should talk with a health care provider or dietitian about what diet is right for them.
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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.
Can Treating Your Enlarged Prostate Help
If your UTI is indeed the result of an enlarged prostate, then taking steps to treat this condition may help to prevent further infections.
The traditional herbal treatment for an enlarged prostate is Saw Palmetto, which you can find in our Prostasan capsules. This remedy is used to reduce the symptoms of your enlarged prostate.
Aside from Prostasan, you should also reduce your intake of inflammatory foods red meat, dairy, sugar, processed foods and alcohol and fill up on lots of fresh vegetables, fruit, complex carbohydrates, nuts and seeds. Pumpkin seeds have been found to be particularly effective in helping BPH symptoms, so give these a go! I love them toasted in the oven with a sprinkle of paprika.
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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.
Can Bph Cause Bladder Infections In Men
In some cases, it is plausible that an enlarged prostate could cause a UTI, depending on the symptoms youre experiencing and their severity.
Urinary infections are generally caused when stagnant urine sits in the bladder for too long, as this gives bacteria time to multiply. If your main symptoms are frequent and urgent urination then this is less likely to be a problem as your bladder is being regularly emptied.
However, if your symptoms are usually things like difficulty starting urination or difficulty fully emptying the bladder then this could become a problem, as these symptoms could cause urine to sit in the bladder for too long.
In some cases, men try to reduce their intake of water in an attempt to reduce the frequency with which theyre going to the bathroom, but this can actually make things much worse! Not only will the acidic urine irritate your bladder and potentially worsen symptoms, but concentrated urine also provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
If you experience a total inability to empty the bladder, you must go to the hospital where they can empty your bladder using a catheter.
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