Have you recently asked yourself what is Prostatitis? It is the swelling, tenderness, or inflammation of the prostate gland in men.
In all men, the prostate is the walnut-sized gland located directly below the bladder. The prostate gland produces seminal fluid, which is fluid that nourishes, protects, and transports sperm as they travel to a female’s egg for reproduction. Usually, prostatitis is caused by common bacterial strains. Bacteria from urine can leak into your prostate gland, causing an infection.
Prostatitis is not prostate cancer, and it is not the same as having an enlarged prostate. It is most common in young or middle-aged men who have previously had another instance of prostatitis, have an infection in the bladder or urethra (tube that transports semen and urine through penis), have a pelvis injury, or have HIV.
Types and symptoms of prostatitis:
There are four types:
- Acute bacterial prostatitis: a sudden bacterial infection in your prostate that can result in flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, muscle aches, and joint pain. Men with acute bacterial prostatitis often experience pain around the base of the penis or behind the scrotum, trouble peeing, and a feeling of needing to have a bowel movement.
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis: a milder bacterial infection common in older men that can remain for several months at a time. This often occurs after having a urinary tract infection (UTI) or acute bacterial prostatitis. Symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis can come and go, so it may be harder to detect this type. Men with chronic bacterial prostatitis often experience an urgent need to pee, peeing more often in the night, pain while urinating or after ejaculating, a feeling of heaviness behind the scrotum, blood in the semen, or a urinary blockage.
- Chronic prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome: This is the most common form of prostatitis. The symptoms are similar to the two forms of bacterial prostatitis described above, but if a test is run, this type of prostatitis will not show any bacteria present. It is unknown what exactly causes this type of prostatitis, but it can be triggered by stress, nearby physical injury, or nerve damage. Symptoms of this type of prostatitis including pain in the penis, scrotum, lower abdomen, lower back, and between the scrotum and rectum may last more than 3 months. Peeing or ejaculating may also be painful. Urinary problems like a frequent need to urinate, a weak urine stream, and an inability to hold in your urine may also be associated with this form of prostatitis.
- Asymptomatic prostatitis: This occurs when a man has a swollen or inflamed prostate but does not experience any symptoms. This type of prostatitis does not require treatment, it can lead to infertility. It can be detected through a blood test from your doctor
Depending on the type, symptoms can come on suddenly or more slowly over time.
What happens if I have prostatitis?
Some cases can get better on their own, but other cases may need treatment by antibiotics. If not fully treated, a man can end up with chronic bacterial prostatitis, meaning that prostatitis can recur. Treatment needs and recommendations can depend on the type and severity of the individual case.
If you are experiencing pain while urinating or ejaculating, pelvic pain, or other symptoms, your doctor can help diagnose and treat prostatitis. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with the best urologist in NYC.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.UrocenterofNewYork.com