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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffProstatitis symptoms vary depending on the cause. They may include:
- Pain or burning sensation when urinating (dysuria)
- Difficulty urinating, such as dribbling or hesitant urination
- Frequent urination, particularly at night (nocturia)
- Urgent need to urinate
- Pain in the abdomen, groin or lower back
- Pain in the area between the scrotum and rectum (perineum)
- Pain or discomfort of the penis or testicles
- Painful orgasms (ejaculations)
- Flu-like symptoms (with bacterial prostatitis)
Based on your symptoms and laboratory tests, your doctor may conclude that you have one of the following types of prostatitis:
- Acute bacterial prostatitis. This type of prostatitis may cause flu-like symptoms associated with the sudden onset of infection, such as fever, chills, nausea and vomiting. It can usually be treated with antibiotics.
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis. This is bacterial prostatitis that lasts for at least three months due to recurring or difficult-to-treat infections. Urinary tract infections are common with this type of prostatitis. Between bouts of infection, chronic bacterial prostatitis may not cause symptoms or may cause minor symptoms that become severe when infection flares up.
- Chronic prostatitis not caused by bacteria. This condition is often referred to as chronic abacterial prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It lasts for at least three months. Most cases of prostatitis fall into this category. For some men, symptoms remain about the same over time. For others, the symptoms go through cycles of being more and less severe. Symptoms sometimes improve over time without treatment.
- Prostatitis that doesn't cause symptoms. This type of prostatitis is called asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, and it doesn't cause any symptoms that you notice. It's found only by chance when you're undergoing tests for other conditions. It doesn't require treatment.
When to see a doctor
If you experience pelvic pain, difficult or painful urination, or painful orgasms (ejaculations), see your doctor. If left untreated, some types of prostatitis can cause worsening infection or other health problems.
References
- Meyrier A, et al. Acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
- Pontari M. Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 22, 2011.
- Nickel JC. Inflammatory conditions of the male genitourinary tract: Prostatitis and related conditions, orchitis, and epididymitis. In: Wein AJ, et al. 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, 2011.
- Murphy AB, et al. Pharmacotherapy strategies in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome management. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2010;11:1255.
- Ramakrishnan K, et al. Prostatitis: Acute and chronic. Primary Care. 2010;37:547.
- Drezner JA, et al. Sports medicine. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/217852368-11/0/1481/488.html?tocnode=53394295&fromURL=488.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50043-9--cesec49_2509. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
- Castle EC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Ariz. Feb. 14, 2011.
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