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Prostatitis is referred to as prostate inflammation. And chronic prostatitis is an inflammation that lasts more than three months.
The prostate is a small gland located just below the bladder in men. It surrounds the urethra to help control urinary flow, produces seminal fluid, and helps maintain semen’s pH balance. Chronic prostatitis tends to disrupt these functions.
In some cases, chronic prostatitis is caused by bacterial infection. However, in many cases, the cause of this condition is unknown.
In case of chronic prostatitis caused by bacterial infection, the practitioners recommend antibiotics to treat the condition. On the other hand, prostatitis caused by unknown reasons may be relieved by treating symptoms.
Table of Contents
What are the Types of Chronic Prostatitis?
There are two types of chronic prostatitis: chronic bacterial prostatitis and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Both these types differ based on their root causes. Here is a quick overview of these types.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis
This type of chronic prostatitis is caused by bacterial infection of the prostate. While this condition can affect men of any age, it is more prevalent in younger and middle-aged men.
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS)
The symptoms of both CP/CPPS and chronic bacterial prostatitis are almost the same. However, the significant difference between both types is that the root causes for CP/CPPS are unknown. Moreover, this type of prostatitis is more common than chronic bacterial prostatitis. According to a study, CP/CPPS constitutes about 90% of the cases of chronic prostatitis.
What are the Symptoms of Chronic Prostatitis?
Both chronic bacterial prostatitis and CP/CPPS show similar symptoms. And both these types remain mild during their initial stages but gain intensity with time.
Here are the common symptoms associated with chronic prostatitis:
- Pain with burning sensation when urinating
- Constant urge to urinate
- Difficulty urinating with an uneven flow of urine
- The feeling of an unemptied bladder after urination
- Pain when ejaculating
- Pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, between the anus and testicles, and above the public area
- Blood in urine
Additionally, bacterial prostatitis may cause chills and fever.
Remember, all these symptoms are also caused by other health conditions, such as urinary retention, prostate cancer, and bladder stones. Therefore, you must schedule a consultation at a reputable medical facility when you notice these symptoms. You can book an appointment at Euromed Clinic Dubai, where our highly experienced doctors will rule out severe health conditions and recommend a suitable treatment plan.
What causes Chronic Prostatitis?
Both chronic bacterial prostatitis and CP/CPPS are caused by different factors.
Causes of Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis
This prostatitis develops when bacteria get to the prostate through the urethra and cause infection. The bacteria may come from an infectious bladder or an unhygienic urinary catheter – a thin, flexible tube that draws urine from the bladder into a bag.
Prostate stones that are not passed out for a long time with urination are also a reason for chronic bacterial prostatitis. These prostate stones usually develop as a result of bacterial infections. These stones can also cause recurring urinary tract infections, complicating chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Causes of CP/CPPS
While the causes of CP/CPPS are usually unknown, experts suspect the following factors to be more probable reasons for this prostatitis type:
- Blocked urinary flow
- Microorganisms from sexually transmitted infections affect the prostate
- Prostate getting attacked by the immune system
- Prostate irritation caused by uric acid
- Muscles or nerves lacking their functions
How is Chronic Prostatitis Diagnosed?
Our doctors at Euromed Clinic in Dubai will thoroughly analyze the symptoms. First, they will perform a digital rectal exam (DRE) to see whether you have chronic prostatitis. They will then choose from different diagnostic procedures to determine the type of chronic prostatitis.
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
The doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the patient’s anus to assess the prostate during this test. This assessment allows them to determine if the prostate is enlarged or tender. You will feel some pain during DRE if you have chronic prostatitis.
MRI
A pelvic MRI is another diagnostic procedure used to check prostatitis. This MRI test helps your doctor:
- Have a good look at your pelvic anatomy
- Rule out prostate cancer
- Check for inflamed areas on the prostate
Other Diagnostic Procedures
Once the initial procedures confirm that you have chronic prostatitis, your doctor will perform other tests to determine the reason and type of the condition.
For instance, they will perform a urine test to check whether you have chronic bacterial prostatitis. This test involves checking the presence of bacteria in your urine. Having that said, the absence of bacteria in this test indicates that you have CP/CPPS.
Other tests your doctor will perform include:
- An assessment of fluid excreted by your prostate
- Cystoscopy involves the insertion of a camera into the urethra to examine the prostate, bladder, and urethra
- A blood test
Treatment Options for Chronic Prostatitis
The treatment you get for chronic prostatitis will depend on the type of infection diagnosed. Here is a brief overview of treatment options available for chronic prostatitis.
Intravenous Antibiotics
The doctor may prescribe intravenous antibiotics if you are diagnosed with chronic bacterial prostatitis. The medication used in this treatment is usually cephalosporins. After that, the doctor may prescribe oral antibiotic medications such as quinolones or co-trimoxazole.
Muscle Relaxants and NSAIDs
Muscle relaxants and NSAIDs are helpful for CP/CPPS, the non-bacterial chronic prostatitis. However, these medications only relieve symptoms instead of treating the root cause.
- NSAIDs that help overcome chronic prostatitis symptoms include aspirin, ibuprofen, and other medicines. These drugs mainly reduce inflammation to relieve pain.
- Muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine or diazepam help reduce pelvic floor spasms.
Alpha-blockers
Sometimes, the main symptom of chronic prostatitis is difficulty urinating. In such a case, using alpha-blockers may ease the flow of urine. These medications relax the muscles at the neck of the bladder, allowing convenient emptying of the bladder.
Surgery
Surgery is recommended for patients whose chronic prostatitis shows improvement with antibiotic treatment or other methods but recurs after some time. The surgical option used in this regard is usually transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). This treatment involves the insertion of an instrument called a resectoscope into the urethra to trim away the problematic tissues of the prostate.
Although TURP causes some discomfort in the post-op recovery phase, it is more likely to deliver positive results than many other treatment techniques.
Schedule a Consultation
Getting an appointment with a skilled practitioner is vital if you have chronic prostatitis and want relief from it. You can schedule a consultation at Euromed Clinic Dubai, where highly skilled urologists can help you with all your urological and andrological issues.
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