Prostatitis: causes, symptoms, treatment

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate which affects approximately 8% of men at least once during their lifetime.

What can the symptoms be?

The most frequent symptoms of prostatitis are related to urination disorders and it is important to identify the symptoms early on before it can become a chronic disorder.

These include:

• perineal pain: in the testicles and/or anus
• internal thigh pain
• increased frequency of urination
• urgent need to urinate
• burning and/or pain during urination
• sense of incomplete emptying
• blood in semen

In addition to painful and urinary symptoms, prostatitis may also be accompanied by symptoms of the sexual and reproductive sphere.
The symptoms of the sexual sphere more frequent are sexual desire disorders, of the erection and premature ejaculation.
The reproductive symptoms, on the other hand, refer to fertility problems caused by bacterial infection. Alterations in the sperm's ability to move (asthenospermia), malformations or a decrease in the amount of seminal fluid produced (in the case of prostatitis caused by inflammation and narrowing of the ejaculatory ducts) can be observed.

What can be the causes of prostatitis?

The causes of prostatitis can be many and concomitant. They can range from intestinal disorders to eating habits, from urination habits to sexual practices. 

Prostatitis can be of four different types:

• acute of bacterial origin (type I),
• chronic of bacterial origin (types II),
• chronic non-bacterial (type III), further subdivided into:
  • chronic pelvic inflammatory pain syndrome (type IIIA),
  • chronic non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (type IIIB),
• asymptomatic (type IV).

HYGIENE AND PREVENTION

Male hygiene is important not only from a “cosmetic” point of view. 
The bacteria that cause prostatitis are normally present in the intestinal flora and when they pass into the seminal tract can cause infections. This is why during intimate hygiene it is important to first clean the genitals and then the anal area.

What can be the therapies?

The therapy for prostatitis depends on the triggering causes and the characteristics of the inflammatory process.
In general, the main therapeutic approaches for prostatitis with a bacterial origin are:

•  Antibiotics (bacterial)
•  Anti-inflammatories (bacterial and a bacterial)
•  Alpha-blockers. By relaxing the muscles of the bladder and prostate, they help alleviate urinary problems in many patients (chronic prostatitis with severe symptoms).

Medical advice in the presence of prostatitis

During the treatment of prostatitis, it is advisable:

• Drink plenty of water;
• Abstain from sexual practice (if bacterial, due to the risk of infecting the partner);
• Avoid using the bicycle;
• Always use a cushion when sitting for long periods of time;
• Avoiding the coffee consumption, spirits and spicy foods;

How is prostatitis diagnosed?

Symptoms of prostatitis should direct a man to consult a doctor both for the correct diagnosis and thus the most appropriate therapy, and to rule out causes that may favour infection.

By means of sperm culture (spermioculture) and urine culture (uriconoculture and urine examination), the diagnosis of inflammation and infection of the seminal or urinary tract is made, and the probable cause of the prostatitis.

The PSA is not a diagnostic parameter for prostatitis: if measured in the acute phase it can be very high, a consequence of inflammation, but has no clinical significance. To have clinical significance it must be measured three months after the resolution of symptoms.