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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffDiagnosing prostatitis involves ruling out other conditions that may be causing your symptoms and determining what kind of prostatitis you have. Diagnosis may include the following:
- Questions from your doctor. Your doctor will want to know about your medical history and your symptoms. You may be asked to fill out a questionnaire that can help your doctor make a diagnosis and see whether treatment is working.
- Physical examination. Your doctor will examine your abdomen and genitals and will likely preform a digital rectal examination (DRE). During a digital rectal exam, your doctor will gently insert a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum. Your doctor will be able to feel the surface of the prostate and judge whether it is enlarged, tender or inflamed.
- Blood culture. This test is used to see whether there are signs of infection in your blood.
- Urine and semen test. Your doctor may want to examine samples of your urine or semen for signs of infection. In some cases, the doctor may take a series of samples before, during and after massaging your prostate with a lubricated, gloved finger.
- Examination with a viewing scope (cystoscopy). Your doctor may use an instrument called a cystoscope to examine the urethra and bladder. A cystoscope is a small tube with a light and magnifying lens or camera that's inserted through the urethra and into the bladder. This test is used to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms.
- Bladder tests (urodynamic tests). Your doctor may order one or more of these tests, which are used to check how well you can empty your bladder. This can help your doctor understand how much prostatitis is affecting your ability to urinate.
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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