Prostatitis

Inflammation / Infection of the Prostate Gland

Prostatitis is thought to be caused by either an inflammation or an infection in the prostate gland. Prostatitis has a whole range of symptoms.

Prostatitis is most common in 30- to 50-year-old men.

The symptoms of prostate infection/inflammation vary from man to man, but the most common ones include difficulties in passing urine, and discomfort or pain in your lower abdomen, back passage or around your testicles.

Men’s health and prostatitis: Your IPSA prostatitis consultation

All IPSA consultations take place in our confidential clinic, where the atmosphere is conducive when undergoing this kind of examination. Your IPSA physician is experienced at dealing with these types of prostate issues, and they will take the time to determine your risk factors, run through any relevant family history with you, and discuss your symptoms fully with you.

If you do have symptoms that are consistent with a prostate infection, your IPSA physician can start treatment immediately to prevent any worsening of the condition. Your IPSA doctor will also give you additional prostate medication to help improve your urinary flow and reduce pain. You will be referred to urology immediately by your IPSA physician if there is any suspicion of any prostate malignancy, and any referrals will be in the local area.

IPSA appointments are always booked to match with your schedule.

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS)

The most common type of prostatitis is called chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). Chronic implies that the pain is long-lasting, with the symptoms varying, but usually causing pain in the area below your stomach (the pelvic area).

Acute bacterial prostatitis

When the prostate gland infection is cause by bacteria (acute bacterial prostatitis), the symptoms develop rapidly and can be serious, causing sweating and a high temperature. It is not a very common form of prostatitis.

This type of acute bacterial prostatitis is treated with a course of antibiotics that can usually be taken at home.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis

Chronic bacterial prostatitis lasts for at least three months, and so it is a long-lasting infection. This type of infection comes and goes, with intermittent flare-ups or episodes. It is also not a very common form of prostatitis.

Tending to affect men who have previously had urethritis (an inflammation of the urethra) or a urine infection, it is a bacterial infection that may develop when the antibiotics used to treat acute bacterial prostatitis have not killed all of the bacteria.

Asymptomatic prostatitis

Some men have prostatitis but do not experience any symptoms (the prostatitis is asymptomatic). This condition usually becomes apparent by chance when undergoing tests for things such as prostate cancer or infertility.

Medicines for prostatitis

The following medicines are often given by your IPSA doctor to treat prostatitis:

At least a four- to six-week course of antibiotics
If required, you will also be given pain-relieving drugs

Additional medicines may also be offered to you by your IPSA treating physician to improve symptoms (such as urinary problems and pain). These include: