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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffA number of complications may result from prostatitis.
Acute bacterial prostatitis
Complications of acute bacterial prostatitis may include:
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis
- Bacterial infection of the blood (bacteremia)
- Inflammation of the coiled tube at the back of the testicle that stores and carries sperm (epididymitis)
- Pus-filled cavity in the prostate (prostatic abscess)
Chronic prostatitis
Complications due to chronic bacterial prostatitis and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain may include:
- Abnormalities in semen and infertility
- Generally poor quality of life
Prostatitis and PSA levels
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by both cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign) prostate tissue. Because cancerous cells produce more PSA than noncancerous cells do, levels of PSA in the blood may provide useful information for screening for prostate cancer.
However, other conditions, including prostatitis, can increase PSA levels. Prostatitis doesn't cause cancer or increase your risk of cancer. However, management of prostatitis can be important in helping your doctor interpret the results of PSA tests.
- Meyrier A, et al. Acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
- Pontari MA. Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
- Schaeffer AJ. Clinical practice. Chronic prostatitis and the chronic pelvic pain syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;355:1690-1698.
- Prostatitis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments. Linthicum, MD: American Urological Association Foundation; 2005.
- Nickel J. Inflammatory conditions of the male genitourinary tract: Prostatitis and related conditions, orchitis, and epididymitis. In: Wein A, et al., eds. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/117299121-3/794153691/1445/12.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-0798-6..50011-X--cesec1_747. Accessed Jan. 21, 2009.
- Pontari MA. Etiologic theories of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Current Urology Reports. 2007;8:307-312.
