Prostatitis

If your prostate becomes swollen, tender and inflamed, you may have a condition called prostatitis. The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system and is located underneath the bladder. When it becomes enlarged or infected, it can be painful and make it difficult to urinate.

Types of Prostatitis 

Prostatitis is the most common urinary tract problem for men under 50, but it affects older men too. There are four types of prostatitis:

• Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome
• Acute bacterial prostatitis
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis
• Asymptomatic prostatitis – meaning you don’t notice any symptoms and don’t need treatment

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on what type of prostatitis you have. You may experience pain or discomfort between the scrotum and anus, in the central lower abdomen, penis, scrotum or lower back. Other symptoms may include:

Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostatitis

Your doctor will likely do a physical exam to look for swollen lymph nodes in your groin, and perform a digital rectal exam, or DRE, to feel the size of your prostate.

Additional testing of your blood and urine may be necessary, along with ultrasound imaging to take a closer look at the size and shape of your prostate.

Prostatitis is treated with medication. There are also things you can do at home to help make yourself more comfortable, like a warm bath, heat therapy with a heating pad, relaxation exercises and Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic region muscles.

We understand that urinary tract conditions such prostatitis can be painful and disruptive to everyday life. So talk to your doctor about medications and therapies to relieve your discomfort and get you back to living life on your terms.