Friday, April 19, 2024

What Is Prostatitis And What Causes It

Must read

How Is Prostatitis Treated

The Prostate: WHAT is it & WHY does it cause cancer or issues?

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.
  • relaxation exercises
  • phytotherapy with plant extracts such as quercetin, bee pollen, and saw palmetto
  • acupuncture
  • Alternative Remedies For Prostatitis

    Patients with chronic prostatitis may benefit from alternative remedies combined with traditional medical treatment. Taking a warm bath or applying heat therapy with a heating pad or a hot water bottle may help ease discomfort. Physical therapy may be useful as well, including kegel exercises or myofascial release. Some patients may also find relief through relaxation exercises, phytotherapy or acupuncture . Patients should use alternative remedies with a doctors permission in conjunction with the medical treatment that the physician advises.

    Questions Your Doctor May Ask To Determine Chronic Prostatitis

    • How would you describe your walk?
    • Do you feel pain when you urinate?
    • Have you been feeling more tired than usual, lethargic or fatigued despite sleeping a normal amount?
    • Have you ever been diagnosed with diabetes?
    • Do you wake up almost every night to urinate?

    Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions.

    Recommended Reading: What Does Prostate Cancer Cause

    Causes Of Prostatitis And Risk Factors

    According to statistics, prostatitis is the most common urological disease after hyperplasia and prostate cancer in men under 50 years of age and the third most common in men over 50 years of age.

    At least 30% of outpatient urology visits are due to prostatitis.

    For all the men who have experienced prostatitis, and their number has increased in recent years, it is clear that there will not be a simple and carefree life with such a disease. Many factors influence the appearance of the disease. This is both a deteriorating ecology and a hectic pace of life, as a result of which men are exposed to stress and depression These reasons sometimes cannot be changed, but there are factors that depend entirely on the men themselves.

    The most common causes of the disease:

    • sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work, rest in front of the TV
    • prolonged abstinence from sexual activity
    • erratic diet that leads to improper metabolism
    • bad habits: smoking, drinking alcohol and beer
    • chronic diseases of the genitourinary system
    • frequent change of sexual partners increases the risk of prostatitis
    • sexually transmitted diseases and genitourinary infections
    • delayed ejaculation and ejaculation during intercourse
    • excessive consumption of spicy, fatty, salty and spicy foods
    • frequent constipation, hemorrhoids
    • reduced immunity.

    Possible causes of prostatitis also include:

    Symptoms:

    Diagnostics:

    I – acute bacterial prostatitis

    III – chronic abacterial prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome :

    Bacteria From A Prostate Biopsy

    Possible causes of prostatitis

    After a transrectal prostate biopsy, inoculation of bacteria is always a possibility.

    Doctors always try to prevent this problem by cleaning the fields and prescribing antibiotics. However, resistant bacteria may still colonize the prostate gland .

    It is more likely that you get prostatitis as a young adult if you have these risk factors:

    • A recurrent urinary tract infection
    • Abnormalities in your urinary tract
    • Diagnosed prostatic calculi or intraprostatic ductal reflux
    • If you constantly engage in anal sex
    • Phimosis and excessive foreskin
    • Developed exclusively by our nutritionist
    • Helps reduce prostate size and symptoms

    Also Check: How Often Should You Get A Prostate Exam

    When To See A Doctor

    Prostatitis by itself is not always an emergency, and plenty of patients live with asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis without knowing.

    But when you start experiencing symptoms, it is essential to see a doctor and evaluate your condition.

    Both acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis have complications.

    Acute bacterial prostatitis can trigger a prostatic abscess when it is not adequately treated.

    Chronic prostatitis causes sexual dysfunction, depression, and a decrease in quality of life.

    Thus, talk to your doctor whenever you feel pain in your pelvic floor, testicles, or urinary tract, and it does not go away. If your pain frequently returns, you should look for medical help.

    Find out what food to include in your prostatitis diet and which foods you should avoid.

    How Common Is Prostatitis

    Prostatitis is the most common urinary tract problem for men younger than age 50 and the third most common urinary tract problem for men older than age 50.1 Prostatitis accounts for about two million visits to health care providers in the United States each year.2

    Chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome is

    • the most common and least understood form of prostatitis.
    • can occur in men of any age group.
    • affects 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. male population.3

    Don’t Miss: What Nuts Are Good For Your Prostate

    Causes Of Prostatitis Food Allergies

    Food allergies can cause prostate inflammation and prostatitis. Symptoms of food allergy can include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, as well as diarrhea. A food allergy is known as an immune system response, so its symptoms can affect the whole body. Besides, food allergy can lead to itchy skin, a sudden decrease in blood pressure, shortness of breath and difficulty swallowing.

    One reason why food allergy can be a cause of prostatitis is that some patients experience a flare-up of signs and symptoms when consuming certain foods. Some products such as pasta, breads as well as baked goods are commonly associated with food allergy. So, you should try a wheat-free diet to help determine whether or not wheat is the cause of your prostatitis. Besides, some other men reported that their symptoms become worse after they consume spicy or acidic foods.

    Keep reading this entire article to discover other causes of prostatitis that can make you experience some of the symptoms of prostatitis.

    Causes Of Prostatitis Immune Responses

    What Is Prostatitis?

    When it comes to common causes of prostatitis, you should not forget immune responses. Many patients are intrigued with the immune system and it can be a cause of the symptoms of prostatitis. This may make this disorder similar to rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, asthma, lupus, allergies and a few other diseases.

    Learn More: Natural Home Remedies For Allergies In Babies & Toddlers

    Read Also: What Is The Test For Prostate Cancer

    What Is Chronic Prostatitis

    The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits below the bladder in men. This gland makes fluid that mixes with sperm to form semen.

    Prostatitis is inflammation or swelling of the prostate gland. When symptoms start gradually and linger for more than a couple of weeks, the condition is called chronic prostatitis.

    Three major types of chronic prostatitis are:

    Chronic prostatitis is common and affects adult men of all ages and from all backgrounds. About five percent of men experience symptoms of chronic prostatitis at some point in their lives. Chronic prostatitis is the reason for up to 25% of office visits to urologists. Urologists are doctors who specialize in diseases of the urinary tract.

    Some men develop a chronic infection in the prostate that does not cause any symptoms. Men with this problem may be diagnosed during an evaluation for other urological conditions, such as enlarged prostate or infertility. Doctors often treat the infection with the same antibiotics used for chronic bacterial prostatitis.

    Bacterial infection of the prostate gland also can cause acute prostatitis, which starts suddenly and usually causes fever and more serious symptoms. Acute prostatitis is less common than chronic prostatitis.

    What Natural Or Home Remedies Relieve Pain Symptoms And Treat Prostatitis

    In addition to medical treatment, natural home remedies for prostatitis include:

    • Warm sitz baths
    • Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods.
    • Prostate massage: In a few studies, prostate massage has been shown to decrease symptoms in some patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.
    • Lifestyle changes: If you cycle or ride horses, it is recommended to suspend this activity until you improve.
    • Although there are many herbal preparations available, there is no current evidence that herbal remedies are definitely helpful with prostatitis.
    • Acupuncture has shown a decrease in symptoms for some people who suffer from prostatitis.

    Recommended Reading: What Are The Different Treatments For Prostate Cancer

    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.

    Questions To Ask Your Doctor

    Chronic Prostatitis and Exercise: Why Moving is Vital
    • Could my symptoms be caused by something other than prostatitis?
    • How do I know if an STD caused my prostatitis?
    • How long do I need to take medicine?
    • Are there any side effects from treatment?
    • Should I avoid having sex while I have prostatitis?
    • Is there anything I can do to avoid getting prostatitis again?

    Don’t Miss: How To Reduce Risk Of Prostate Cancer

    Causes Of Burning And Pain In The Prostate

    As a rule, prostatitis occurs due to the prostate gland invasion by bacteria, mainly intestinal bacteria, against the background of hypothermia, reduced immunity, congestion and other factors. There are acute inflammation and the chronic form, which develops, as a rule, due to insufficient treatment of the acute process. Pain in this case occurs due to inflammation, in some cases purulent: the tissues become swollen and painful, this is also noted by the doctor during diagnosis. Burning and threading in the urinary tract usually indicate that the infection has spread to them as well a frequent phenomenon in acute prostatitis. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome, a disease with similar symptoms but non-infectious, is also distinguished. There are suggestions that the syndrome is even more common than chronic bacterial prostatitis. This disease is not fully understood, but it has been suggested that the causes of the pain are bladder contents entering the prostate, which cause inflammation, and neurogenic factors in non-inflammatory CPPS.

    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

    Don’t Miss: What Foods Help Prostate Health

    What Are The Causes

    Tracking the cause of prostatitis can be a bit difficult, but it is often brought by a bacterial infection, inflammation from an injury, and nerve damage around the prostate. Stress, nerve irritation, injuries, or past urinary tract infections can also cause prostatitis or increase the chances of contracting it.

    Can Prostatitis Affect Young Men

    Causes and Treatments of Prostatitis and Pelvic Pain

    According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, prostatitis is the most common urinary tract condition in males before 50 years. It happens in men of any age group.

    However, if you have prostate symptoms as a young man, it is more likely due to prostatitis.

    It is still essential to visit your doctor in such cases because prostate cancer in young men is hazardous, and it is important to rule out that possibility .

    Why is prostatitis a relatively common ailment in young men?Prostatic lithiasis can form at any age. They are common in young men and cause prostatitis.

    Cystitis or an inflammatory process in the rectum develops regardless of the patients age. The prostate is contiguous and may become inflamed as well.

    Young males are more commonly affected by sexually transmitted diseases.

    If they engage in anal sex without protection, they are at a higher risk of prostatitis, epididymitis, and similar conditions.

    Recommended Reading: What Is The Roto Rooter Prostate Procedure

    What Is The Prostate Gland

    The prostate is a gland that lies just below a man’s urinary bladder. It surrounds the urethra like a donut and is in front of the rectum. The urethra is the tube that carries urine out of the bladder, through the penis and out of the body. Your doctor may check your prostate by putting a finger into your rectum to feel the back of your prostate gland.

    The prostate gland makes a fluid that provides nutrients for sperm. This fluid makes up most of the ejaculate fluid. We do not yet know all of the ways the prostate gland works.

    Chronic Prostatitis/chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

    Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome produces similar symptoms to the bacterial form of the condition, but its causes are unknown. It was previously called chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.

    CP/CPPS is the more common type of chronic prostatitis. According to a 2016 study, CP/CPPS cases make up at least 90 percent of chronic prostatitis cases.

    The symptoms of both the bacterial form of chronic prostatitis and CP/CPPS are very similar. They usually start out mild and build in intensity over time.

    Symptoms include:

    Musculoskeletal pain and constipation are also possible.

    Seek medical attention if you have any of these symptoms. Your doctor can rule out serious conditions or help you get started on an appropriate therapy, if necessary.

    Both types of chronic prostatitis have multiple possible causes.

    You May Like: How Long Does A Prostate Mri Scan Take

    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.

    What Is The Pain Of Prostatitis

    Prostatitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

    Pain sensations can also vary. Sometimes they indicate an acute process, sometimes a chronic or subacute course of the disease. As a rule, the intensity of pain depends on how pronounced and active the inflammation is: strong painfulness most often indicates that the prostatitis is acute, perhaps even giving rise to an abscess. If the pain is intense, it is advisable to immediately consult a doctor, and with unbearable pain sensations that are accompanied by fever and chills, you should call for emergency medical assistance: such a clinical picture can give a formidable complication of prostatitis prostate abscess. Lets consider what kind of pain can be caused by inflammation of the prostate gland.

    Whining. Dull, aching pains are characteristic of follicular prostatitis, a subspecies of the disease in which the follicles of the gland become involved in the inflammatory process and purulent contents begin to accumulate in them. Usually they give off to the head of the penis or to the perineum, less often to the anus or the lumbosacral region of the spine. If the prostatitis is chronic, nagging pains sometimes occur outside of exacerbations, although they are not as pronounced as with an acute process. Pain in such cases intensifies in the morning or after a long stay in a sitting position. The thing is that when a person sits for a long time, there is fullness of the pelvic organs, which may increase the pain.

    Don’t Miss: What Foods Can Prevent Prostate Cancer

    Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

    This is one of the common causes of prostatitis that I want to mention in this entire article and want all of my readers to know for good. According to a research , the cases of getting nonbacterial prostatitis make up about 90% of all of the prostatitis sufferers. And about half of the cases are because of problems with pelvic tension disorders or pelvic floor muscles. To treat chronic pelvic pain syndrome, you can try practicing Kegels.

    Read More: How To Do Kegels For Women Correctly And Cautions

    How Is It Treated

    Treating prostatitis depends on the type that you have. For those developed through bacterial infections, taking anti-biotics is often enough to do the trick. For the more chronic, non-bacterial forms, however, pain-relief measures such as taking alpha-blockers, prostatic massages, and acupuncture can help alleviate the symptoms. In more severe cases, a lifestyle-change might be warranted or even surgery on the urethra or prostate.

    To have the quickest and most sure-fire way of treatment, however, consult with a reputable urologist for diagnosis. They will first have to determine how your prostatitis began, which involves a series of questioning about the circumstances of your prostate.

    To assure the nature of your condition, they may have to perform a digital rectal exam , a transrectal ultrasound, or use a cystoscope to take a closer look at your prostate. For a clearer picture, they may also have to take a urine sample to examine the bacterial content within your body.

    You May Like: How To Remove Prostate Stones

    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.

    Read the full article.

    • Get immediate access, anytime, anywhere.
    • Choose a single article, issue, or full-access subscription.
    • Earn up to 6 CME credits per issue.
    Already a member/subscriber?

    More articles

    Popular Articles