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What is prostatitis?
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate, and is so common that about 50% of adult men are said to experience it at some point in their lives. Frequent in men from adolescence through middle age, it produces a range of urinary symptoms: pain on urination, frequent urination that does not feel complete, a sense of residual urine after voiding, and waking at night to go to the toilet. Non-specific pain and symptoms such as discomfort or a heavy, aching feeling in the lower abdomen, perineum and testicles may occur. Itching of the urethra, a tingling sensation and urethral discharge may also accompany it.
Symptoms of prostatitis
A problem with the prostate can produce a variety of symptoms.
- 1
- Voiding symptoms: frequency, residual urine, nocturia, urgency, post-void dribbling
- 2
- Discomfort and chronic pain in the perineum, testicles and prostate area
- 3
- Chronic discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis and back
- 4
- Discomfort, burning or pain in the penis or urethra
- 5
- Sexual symptoms — premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, reduced libido, decreased erectile function, painful ejaculation and blood in the semen
Causes of prostatitis
Much about the cause of prostatitis remains unclear, but research, including at the genetic level, is actively ongoing.
In young men, sexually transmitted bacteria are sometimes the cause of the inflammation, but in most cases it is related to reduced immunity from repeated drinking, overwork, stress and prolonged sitting. The factors cited as causes of prostatitis are as follows.
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Bacterial infection
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Around the prostate
Venous circulation disorder -
Prostatic sphincter
Urinary reflux due to abnormality -
Weakened immunity
Painful urination, chills and fever, with bacteria confirmed on testing
Chronic bacterial prostatitis: chronic symptoms with bacteria confirmed on testing
Symptoms of prostatitis are present and no bacteria grow on culture, but inflammation is found in the prostatic fluid, on semen analysis, or on urinalysis after prostatic massage
When prostatic fluid, semen and post-massage urine tests are normal but symptoms of prostatitis are present
When there are no symptoms of prostatitis but inflammation is found in prostatic fluid or on biopsy
