What Is The Difference Between Prostatitis And A Uti
This is another situation where symptoms are very similar.;
Where cystitis is the inflammation of the bladder, prostatitis is simply the inflammation of the prostate gland. And, like cystitis, the most common cause of this is an infection.
Interestingly, the source of this infection is often a UTI, as the bacteria from the bladder can make their way into the prostate. So, where an enlarged prostate can cause UTIs, prostatitis can be a result of a UTI, and they symptoms of all three can overlap. You can see how they can easily get mixed up!
Prostatitis can have very similar symptoms to both UTIs and an enlarged prostate, including pain when urinating, frequent and urgent urination, using the toilet during the night and difficulty starting. However, a few key differences are that it can also cause general pain in the pelvic area, can affect sexual function and can occur in men of all ages. Its particularly common in men aged between 20 and 40.
How Is Prostatitis Treated
Treatment depends on the type of prostatitis.
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Treatment for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome aims to decrease pain, discomfort, and inflammation. A wide range of symptoms exists and no single treatment works for every man. Although antibiotics will not help treat nonbacterial prostatitis, a urologist may prescribe them, at least initially, until the urologist can rule out a bacterial infection. A urologist may prescribe other medications:
- silodo
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors such as finasteride and dutasteride
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugsalso called NSAIDssuch as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium
- glycosaminogly
- cans such as chondroitin sulfate
- muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine and clonazepam
- neuromodulators such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline , and pregabalin
Alternative treatments may include
- warm baths, called sitz baths
- local heat therapy with hot water bottles or heating pads
- physical therapy, such as
- Kegel exercisestightening and relaxing the muscles that hold urine in the bladder and hold the bladder in its proper position. Also called pelvic muscle exercises.
- myofascial releasepressing and stretching, sometimes with cooling and warming, of the muscles and soft tissues in the lower back, pelvic region, and upper legs. Also known as myofascial trigger point release.
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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Organ And Bone Infection After Surgery
An organ and space infection after a surgery involves any organ thats been touched or manipulated as a result of a surgical procedure.
These kinds of infections can develop after an untreated superficial infection or as the result of bacteria being introduced deep in your body during a surgical procedure. These infections require antibiotics, drainage, and sometimes a second surgery to repair an organ or address the infection.
Prostatitis Vs Bph Quick Comparison Of Differences And Similarities
- Both BPH and prostatitis are problems with the prostate gland, a gland surrounding the neck of the bladder in males. The prostate gland is responsible for releasing prostatic fluid that helps make up part of the semen.
- The normal prostate gland is about the size of a walnut. As it increases in size, for whatever reason, it can press on the urethra and cause urinary problems.
- Both prostatitis and BPH can result in an enlarged prostate.
- Most men over 50 years old have some prostate enlargement with no symptoms, while bacterial prostatitis usually occurs in men younger than 35 years old and non-infectious prostatitis occurs in older men.
- You can have either BPH or prostatitis, and have no signs or symptoms. Nevertheless, both can cause pain .
- Prostatitis is caused by infections or other related health problems, while doctors dont know exactly what causes an enlarged prostate, but they think it may be related to hormones.
- BPH can be treated but not cured, but prostatitis is curable in many patients. The large majority of men with prostatitis have an infection of the prostate gland, while those with BPH do not have an infection.
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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.
Treatments For Symptom Relief
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
- avoiding alcohol, caffeine, citrus juices, and hot and spicy food
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What Is The Prostate
The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that is part of the male reproductive system. The main function of the prostate is to make a fluid that goes into semen. Prostate fluid is essential for a mans fertility. The gland surrounds the urethra at the neck of the bladder. The bladder neck is the area where the urethra joins the bladder. The bladder and urethra are parts of the lower urinary tract. The prostate has two or more lobes, or sections, enclosed by an outer layer of tissue, and it is in front of the rectum, just below the bladder. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. In men, the urethra also carries semen out through the penis.
What About Kidney Stones Are They Involved Here Somehow
Sort of. A kidney stone isnt an infection, but a collection of salt and minerals that hardens and turns into a stone.; While some stones may be small others can be much larger. They may stay in the kidney, or begin to move into the ureter, the tube that connects the kidney and the bladder. When this happens, kidney stones can become extremely painful.;
Kidney stones can be tricky, since they may have many of the same symptoms as a UTI or a kidney infection pain when urinating, needing to urinate often, and cloudy or strong smelling urine, blood in the urine, fever, nausea or vomiting. And while stones often pass on their own, larger stones sometimes need to be broken up, or removed.
Sometimes, kidney stones can lead to a urinary tract infection or a kidney infection, so its important to get them checked out by your doctor. And, since the symptoms are so similar, getting a checkup is probably a good idea anyway just to rule out the possibility of an infection, and to make sure the stone is moving along as it should.;
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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.
What Is The Outlook
It is difficult to give an outlook . Your symptoms may last a long time, although they may ‘come and go’ or vary in severity. Painkillers can keep discomfort to a minimum.
Most men diagnosed with chronic prostatitis/CPPS tend to have an improvement in their symptoms over the following six months. In one study, about a third of men had no further symptoms one year later. In another large study, one third of men showed moderate to marked improvement over two years.Â;
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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 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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How Is It Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and examine you. You may have tests such as:
- A rectal exam, which your provider does by gently putting a lubricated and gloved finger in your rectum to feel the prostate gland.
- Urine tests
- Tests of fluid from your prostate
Your provider may ask you to give a urine sample before a rectal exam of the prostate. During the rectal exam, your provider will press on your prostate. This will cause fluid from the prostate to enter your urinary tract. After the rectal exam you will provide another sample of urine. This will help your provider know if your prostate or urinary tract is infected.
Is A Prostate Massage The Same Thing As Trying For A Prostate Orgasm
Yes. If you massage the prostate in a way that feels good, youre probably going to have an orgasm if you keep at it.
Some doctors recommend prostate massage therapy to help relieve the symptoms of certain conditions, such as painful ejaculation prostatitis.
Yep! Though evidence on the efficacy of prostate massage for certain conditions is somewhat limited, it does appear to have some benefits.
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Questions You May Want To Consider Asking Your Doctor Include:
- What type of prostate problem do I have?
- Is more testing needed and what will it tell me?
- If I decide on watchful waiting, what changes in my symptoms should I look for and how often should I be tested?
- What type of treatment do you recommend for my prostate problem?
- For men like me, has this treatment worked?
- How soon would I need to start treatment and how long would it last?
- Do I need medicine and how long would I need to take it before seeing improvement in my symptoms?
- What are the side effects of the medicine?
- Are there other medicines that could interfere with this medication?
- If I need surgery, what are the benefits and risks?
- Would I have any side effects from surgery that could affect my quality of life?
- Are these side effects temporary or permanent?
- How long is recovery time after surgery?
- Will I be able to fully return to normal?
- How will this affect my sex life?
- How often should I visit the doctor to monitor my condition?
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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.
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Is It Prostatitis Or Bph
The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. The main job of this walnut-shaped gland is to add fluid to semen. The prostate is just below the urinary bladder, and it surrounds the most upstream portion of the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the opening at the end of the penis.
Prostatitis refers to inflammation of the prostate. It can be caused by a traumatic injury to the prostate or by bacteria that got into the prostate from urine or during sex.
Prostatitis can be acute or chronic. Acute prostatitis tends to start quickly. Chronic prostatitis tends to last or come and go over a longer period of time.
An inflamed prostate without any symptoms is called asymptomatic prostatitis. This condition is often discovered when diagnosing something else.
BPH causes a person to have an enlarged prostate. This condition becomes more common as men age. As the prostate enlarges, it squeezes and blocks the urethra, making it hard to empty the bladder completely.
When To Seek Medical Care For Prostate Infections
Contact a doctor for any of the following symptoms. These symptoms are even more significant if accompanied with high fever and chills:
- Urinary burning or pain
- Difficulty or pain when starting urination
- Pain in the genital area
- Pain with ejaculation
Doctors usually diagnose and treat prostate infections on an outpatient basis. If a person develops high fever with chills or a new onset of difficulty in urinating, seek medical care immediately or go to a hospital’s emergency department because the infection may be spreading to other areas of the body.
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What Is Bph And How Does It Affect Me
The prostate gland surrounds the urethra and assists in reproduction. As a man ages, the prostate gets larger and begins to put pressure on the bladder and urethra, causing uncomfortable symptoms. It may be responsible for blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder, and can cause issues in the bladder, urinary tract, or kidneys.
What If My Prostatitis Is Not Caused By Infection
Because we do not understand what causes prostatitis without infection, it can be hard to treat. Your doctor might try an antibiotic to treat a hidden infection. Other treatments are aimed at making you feel better. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, and hot soaking baths may help you feel better. Some men get better by taking medicines that help the way the bladder or prostate gland work. These medicines include oxybutynin, doxazosin, prazosin, tamsulosin and terazosin.
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Is It Easy To Orgasm This Way
Lets say it may take some practice and patience.
Actual clinical research on prostate-induced orgasms is seriously lacking, so we dont know how common it is or if its possible for everyone with a prostate to have this type of orgasm.
Every body is different, so some experimenting to see what feels good is in order. If you do manage to have one, reproducing it will be easy.
What Causes Prostatitis Vs Bph
The cause of BPH or enlarged prostate is by benign growth that enlarges the prostate gland. Researchers do not know exactly what causes the gland to enlarge, but they have speculated that it might be related to hormonal changes as men age.
In men under the age of 35, the most common type of prostatitis is acute bacterial prostatitis, while in older patients non-bacterial prostatitis is the most common type. There are four types or syndromes of prostatitis.
- Type I – Acute bacterial prostatitis
- Type II – Chronic bacterial prostatitis
- Type III Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome
- Type IV is asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.
The cause of acute bacterial prostatitis is by bacteria that may be present in the urethra and then infect the prostate gland. Chronic bacterial prostatitis occurs because of inadequate treatment or because of a structural/functional problem in the urinary tract. Researchers and doctors do not completely understand the cause of chronic prostatitis, but it is speculated that the cause may be initiated by neurological injury and/or related to infection.
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