Can’t Keep It Up? It might be Prostatitis

Prostatitis is defined as the inflammation of the prostate gland. The prostate is a small-sized gland between the bladder and the penis. It is located just in front of the rectum.

The prostate’s purpose is to secrete fluid that nourishes and protects sperm. The urethra also runs through the center of the prostate, from the bladder to the penis, letting urine flow out of the body. The prostate also contracts at the time of ejaculation to prevent retrograde (or backward) flow of semen into the bladder.

A Healthy and Enlarged Prostate.
Photo Source: My Gyno

Because of its location, prostate problems are often associated with the bladder. Symptoms include increase in urgency to urinate, painful or difficult urination (dysuria), poor urine flow, or inability to begin a urine stream.

Research also shows that sometimes prostate inflammation causes other sexual problems such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, and stress, which can make sex more difficult. Some men experience pain with sex when they have it.

Prostatitis is the general term used to describe prostate inflammation (-itis). Because the term is so general, it does not adequately describe the range of abnormalities that can be associated with prostate inflammation.

There are four recognised types: Acute bacterial prostatitis; Chronic bacterial prostatitis; Chronic prostatitis without infection and Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.

Acute bacterial prostatitis is an infection of the prostate that is often caused by some of the same bacteria that causes bladder infections. These include E. coli, Klebsiella, and Proteus.

The infection can also spread to the prostate through the blood stream, directly from an adjacent organ, or as a complication of prostate biopsy.

Patients with acute bacterial prostatitis present with signs of an infection and may have: fever, chills, and shakes.

Chronic prostatitis without infection, is also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It is a condition where there is recurrent pelvic, testicle, or rectal pain without evidence of bladder infection. There may be difficulties with painful urination or ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction. It’s cause is not clearly understood.

Diagnosis

• The doctor does a test concentrating on the scrotum. It presents as inflammation of the testicle(s) or epididymis, and the flank and mid-back, where the kidney is located.
• If a rectal examination is performed, the prostate may be swollen and boggy, consistent with acute inflammation.
• The most important laboratory test is a urinalysis to help differentiate the types of prostate inflammation.

• A blood test called PSA (prostate surface antigen) may be recommended in case of  chronic prostatitis.

What is the treatment for it?

Treatment depends on the type. For example treatment for acute bacterial prostatitis is a antibiotics by mouth, usually ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or tetracycline (Achromycin). Home care includes drinking plenty of fluids, medications for pain control, and rest.

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