How to Manage Prostatitis: Symptoms and Treatment

What is Prostatitis?

Prostatitis is a disorder affecting the prostate gland, typically linked to inflammation. It frequently causes painful or difficult urination, along with discomfort in the groin, pelvic region, or genitals.

The condition can be short-term or persistent (chronic). Though it leads to distressing symptoms, it is generally not serious.

The prostate gland, a small-sized organ, is situated just beneath the bladder in men. It encircles the upper part of the tube that carries urine from the bladder (urethra).

Types of Prostatitis

There are generally four types of prostatitis:

Acute bacterial prostatitis:

Your urinary system consists of your kidneys, bladder, the tubes that connect them (ureters), and the urethra. If bacteria from this tract enter your prostate, it can lead to an infection. Acute bacterial prostatitis is a serious condition.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis:

This type of prostatitis is also caused by bacteria. Symptoms may develop slowly, and treatment can take longer. Unlike acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis typically doesn’t cause fever or chills. However, you will still experience symptoms such as painful urination.

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS):

This is the most prevalent type of prostatitis. It resembles chronic bacterial prostatitis but isn’t triggered by bacterial infection. It affects around 1 in 3 individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB).

Asymptomatic prostatitis:

Men with this type of prostatitis have an inflamed prostate but show no symptoms. You may only discover you have it if your doctor performs a blood test to assess your prostate health. Asymptomatic prostatitis is not an infection and it does not require treatment.

Common Symptoms of Prostatitis

Prostatitis symptoms differ based on the type and underlying cause. It’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional if you experience pain in your pelvic area or notice changes in urination. Addressing this issue earlier can improve your health and, most importantly, help prevent the development of sepsis.

Here are some of the common symptoms of prostatitis:

• Painful urination: Painful urination is the common symptom in all four types of prostatitis. The affected person feels a burning or stinging sensation while peeing.
• Pelvic pain: Prostatitis causes Pelvic pain, which is a pain felt in the lower abdomen, from below the navel down to the pubis area. This pain can last for a month and may be aggravated by sitting for long periods.
• Pain in the lower back and genital area: The majority of people affected by prostatitis experience deep, aching pain in the lower back, especially the base of the spine. In addition, sometimes pain extends to the genital region like penis, perineum, and scrotum.
• Difficulty urinating: People with prostatitis usually get it difficult when urinating such as dribbling or hesitant urination. The affected prostate may push against the urethra which can result in an interrupted flow.
• Frequent urination, especially at night: Prostatitis can also affect the bladder, an organ responsible for storing urine. Once the bladder is infected, it becomes weak making it unable to store urine which results in an increased frequency of urination. This symptom can disturb sleep patterns, causing fatigue and impacting daily life.
• Flu-like symptoms (for acute bacterial prostatitis): Acute bacterial prostatitis causes a symptom that looks like the flu. These symptoms come along with fever, chills, body aches, and fatigue. Once you notice these signs, look for medical treatment immediately because the condition is known to be severe at this point.

Causes and Risk Factors of Prostatitis

Prostatitis is most commonly triggered by bacteria, which spread from the rectum or from infected urine.

Let us explore the main causes in detail:

• Bacterial: Bacterial prostatitis arises due to an infection caused by bacteria. These bacteria enter the prostate through the urethra or when urine flows backward into the prostate. Potential causes of bacterial prostatitis include bladder infections, prostate biopsy, urinary blockage, STIs, and UTIs.
• Inflammation: Prostatitis is a medical condition marked by the swelling (inflammation) of the prostate gland, The inflammatory process can be initiated through various immune system pathways that become dysregulated due to different factors. These include bacterial infections, viruses, or other sexually transmitted pathogens, urinary backflow, aging, diet, hormonal changes, and autoimmune reactions.
• Autoimmune diseases: Immune cells invade the prostate gland, leading to tissue damage. Genetic predisposition and hormonal imbalance are factors that may trigger the onset of the condition in susceptible young males. Additionally, spontaneous autoimmune prostatitis could also develop with advancing age in susceptible strains.

Risk Factors

Some risk factors for prostatitis may include:

• Being over the age of 50 and having conditions such as an enlarged prostate increases the risk for all types of prostatitis.
• History of prostatitis
• Infection in the urinary or reproductive system
• HIV infection or AIDS
• Use of urinary catheter
• Diagnostic of biopsy
• Nerve damage or trauma in pelvises

Diagnosing Prostatitis

The symptoms linked to prostatitis can stem from various conditions. You may be referred to a urologist to be diagnosed.

Common diagnostic methods include:

• Physical exam (digital rectal exam): In this procedure, your healthcare provider inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum to check for swelling or inflammation of the prostate gland.
• Urine and blood tests: You'll be asked to provide a urine or blood sample, which will be analyzed to detect the presence and type of bacterial infection.
• Imaging tests: These tests such as ultrasounds or MRIs, may be ordered to identify abnormalities in the prostate, unusual growths, or other issues in the pelvic area that could be causing the pain.
• Prostate fluid test: In some cases, a healthcare professional may gently massage the prostate during a rectal exam to release fluid into the urethra. A urine sample taken after the massage helps to this fluid for bacterial analysis.

Treatment Options for Prostatitis

Treatment for prostatitis is tailored to the specific type and your symptoms:

• Medications: If you have acute or chronic bacterial prostatitis, you’ll be prescribed antibiotics, including intravenous (IV) antibiotics administered in a hospital for a short duration. Other medications, such as alpha-blockers, help to relax the bladder neck and improve urine flow.
• Home Remedies: If the prostatitis pain is not severe, you can treat it at home. Some of these home remedies include taking warm baths to relieve pain, taking plenty of fluid to avoid dehydration, and improving your diet.
• Lifestyle Changes: Changing lifestyle also treats prostatitis, introducing techniques such as yoga and meditation can help to manage stress that may be associated with chronic pain. Avoiding sitting for periods also helps to relieve pain.
• Physical Therapy: Conducting pelvic floor exercises and having massage therapy regularly also helps in pelvic pain relief.

Natural and Alternative Remedies for Prostatitis

Consuming plenty of natural plant-based foods, especially those rich in beta-sitosterol, may help lower the risk of prostatitis.

Natural remedies like green tea, which contains high levels of antioxidants, are known to support prostate health.

Other options include pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto. Saw palmetto acts as a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, has anti-inflammatory effects, and can reduce the number of estrogen and androgen (DHT) receptors.

However, it’s important to note that these remedies should complement, not replace, medical treatment.

Additionally, probiotics may help decrease inflammation and oxidative stress, while also minimizing the effects of antibodies. Acupuncture is another therapeutic option that can offer relief from pelvic pain.

Long-term Management and Prevention of Prostatitis

Here are some tips for the prevention of prostatitis:

• Maintaining proper hydration: Ensure to drink a lot of water and eat juicy fruits so that you can stay hydrated.
• Regular exercise and pelvic floor strengthening: Avoid sitting idle, do exercise that targets pelvic floor as much as you can. This will help to reduce your pain and improve muscle tone.
• Stress reduction and a healthy diet: Applying stress management techniques such as yoga and meditation can help to prevent prostatitis. Also, avoid taking spicy food, alcohol, and caffeine that can cause irritation of the bladder.

Note that it’s important to conduct regular prostate check-ups to catch any potential issues early. Furthermore, maintain communication with a healthcare professional to adjust treatments and ensure optimal symptom management.

When to Seek Medical Help

Consult a doctor if you experience any signs of prostatitis, such as frequent urges to urinate, painful urination, lower back discomfort, chills, and other related symptoms. They can determine the exact cause of these symptoms and suggest appropriate treatment.

Additionally, seek medical attention right away if you notice symptoms like:

• Inability to urinate
• Painful, frequent, and urgent need to urinate, accompanied by fever and chills
• Blood in your urine or semen
• Intense pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen