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What Are The Signs Of Prostate Infection

When To See A Healthcare Provider

Chronic Prostatitis (Prostate Inflammation) | Causes, Treatment & Symptoms

You should see your healthcare provider when you have symptoms of prostatitis. Sometimes these symptoms can signal other more serious conditions, including prostate cancer. Getting treatment for prostatitis can help prevent complications, including sexual dysfunction and infertility.

You should immediately seek medical help if you are completely unable to urinate, have problems or pain while urinating, have a fever and/or chills, see blood in your urine, or have a lot of pain and discomfort in your urinary tract or lower abdomen.

Pain During Sexual Intercourse

Every case of prostatitis can be different from each other. Some patients do not only experience pain during ejaculation. They may also experience pain during sexual intercourse. This may be due to the micro-ejaculations that take place all along the sexual act. In any case, we should make clear that sex does not worsen prostatitis, even if you feel pain. What it does is interfering with the enjoyment of sexual activity.

As mentioned above, every case of prostatitis can be different from others. Some patients may even report that sexual activity relieves their prostatitis symptoms. Thus, we shouldnt rule out prostatitis just because we dont have pain during intercourse.

Treatment Options For Bph

BPH is treated with medications that shrink the prostate and reduce urinary symptoms.

Drugs called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors block conversion of testosterone to a substance that contributes to the benign prostate growth, called dihydrotestosterone . These drugs include dutasteride and finasteride .

Drugs called alpha-blockers can help relax the prostate and bladder neck, and improve urine flow. These drugs include doxazosin , tamsulosin , and terazosin .

Your doctor may prescribe one of these drugs or a combination of them.

If medications dont help or your symptoms are severe, your urologist may recommend a less invasive procedure to destroy the extra prostate tissue and widen the urethra within the prostate. The procedure may use one of the following:

  • heat with radiofrequency ablation
  • high-intensity ultrasound waves
  • electric current vaporization

Surgery is a longer-term solution. During BPH surgery, the doctor uses a cutting wire loop or laser to cut away the excess prostate tissue.

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How Do Doctors Diagnose A Prostate Infection

The diagnosis of both acute and chronic prostate infections begins with the history of the symptoms described above, the physical exam, including the digital exam of the prostate and often confirmed by culture and identification of the infecting organism.

Acute bacterial prostatitis diagnosis

  • Usually an enlarged, firm, and tender prostate is enough to make a presumptive diagnosis and start treatment .
  • Because there is usually a low level of bacteria in urine, the doctor will perform a urinalysis to quantitate and identify infecting bacteria by urine culture.
  • If the person has symptoms suggesting the infection has spread outside the prostate , blood cultures and other blood tests are likely to be ordered.
  • If a spread of the infection is suspected, a doctor will often perform an ultrasound to help confirm the diagnosis and to rule out an abscess. If this ultrasound is not available, the doctor may perform a CT scan or MRI of the pelvis.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis diagnosis

One of two tests are sometimes performed to help with the diagnosis:

The classic test is a Meares-Stamey 3-glass test. Three separate urine samples are collected and examined during this test. The last sample is taken after prostatic massage.

Premassage and postmassage test

Men with recurrent urinary tract infections should have ultrasound imaging of their upper urinary tract and a plain abdominal X-ray or an intravenous urography to exclude a possible structural problem or a kidney stone.

Signs Of Chronic Bacterial Prostate Infection

To Know More About Prostatitis

In cases of Chronic Bacterial Prostate Infection, the symptoms wax and wane and are of much less intensity that the acute form of the infection. The patient will develop signs and symptoms gradually over time but they tend to last for more time than the acute form of infection.

The common signs and symptoms of Chronic Bacterial Prostate Infection include burning with urination along with increased urinary frequency and urgency. The patient will also experience pain around the groin region, low back and the abdominal regions. There may also be bladder pain or pain in the testes as a result of the infection.

The patient will also have a weak stream while urinating and will also find it difficult to start urination even though the bladder may be full and the patient will have an urge to urinate. In some cases, the patients with chronic bacterial prostate infection may experience pain between the scrotum and the anal area.

Additionally, the pain may be experienced around the lower abdomen and low back. The patient will also experience a painful ejaculation after a sexual intercourse as a result of a Chronic Bacterial Prostate Infection.

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What Causes Chronic Prostatitis/chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Chronic prostatitis/CPPS is a persistent discomfort or pain that you feel in your lower pelvic region â mainly at the base of your penis and around your anus. It is usually diagnosed if you have had pain for at least three months within the previous six months. The cause of this type of chronic prostatitis is not fully understood.

Cause Of Urinary Problems As Men Age

Many men experience urinary symptoms as they age, which may be caused by inflammation of the prostate gland . In older men, symptoms may be due to a blockage in the tubes due to a benign enlargement of the prostate gland . The most common symptom is difficulty emptying your bladder. Urinary symptoms may become bothersome enough that they require treatment. Not all urinary symptoms are due to changes to the prostate. Also, some men have enlarged prostates and yet experience few, if any, symptoms.

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Recurrent Prostate Cancer Symptoms

Prostate cancer that returns after treatment is considered recurrent. When it returns to the area around the prostate, the disease is classified as a local recurrence. If the cancer is found in another part of the body, the recurrent cancer is considered metastatic. If the cancer metastasizes outside the prostate, it most likely develops in bones first. Metastatic prostate cancer most often spreads to the liver, bones and lungs.

After initial treatment for prostate cancer, PSA levels are expected to drop dramatically. The first sign of recurrent prostate cancer may be a rise in the PSA level. Other symptoms of recurrent cancer may depend on whether and where the cancer has spread. Symptoms include:

  • Blood in the urine
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Jaundice

Patients should discuss any symptoms with their doctor and ask about scheduling regular PSA tests after treatment.

How Are Bacterial Forms Of Prostatitis Managed Or Treated

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Antibiotics can kill bacteria that cause bacterial types of prostatitis. Men with acute bacterial prostatitis may need 14 to 30 days of antibiotics, starting with IV antibiotics in the hospital. Rarely, men need surgery to drain an abscess on the prostate.

Treating chronic bacterial prostatitis is challenging. You may need up to three months of antibiotics to sterilize the prostate. If the prostate cant be sterilized, low-dose antibiotics can be used long term to prevent recurrences. Some men need surgery to remove prostate stones or scar tissue in the urethra. Rarely, surgeons remove part or all of the prostate gland .

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Questions You May Want To Consider Asking Your Doctor Include:

  • What type of prostate problem do I have?
  • Is more testing needed and what will it tell me?
  • If I decide on watchful waiting, what changes in my symptoms should I look for and how often should I be tested?
  • What type of treatment do you recommend for my prostate problem?
  • For men like me, has this treatment worked?
  • How soon would I need to start treatment and how long would it last?
  • Do I need medicine and how long would I need to take it before seeing improvement in my symptoms?
  • What are the side effects of the medicine?
  • Are there other medicines that could interfere with this medication?
  • If I need surgery, what are the benefits and risks?
  • Would I have any side effects from surgery that could affect my quality of life?
  • Are these side effects temporary or permanent?
  • How long is recovery time after surgery?
  • Will I be able to fully return to normal?
  • How will this affect my sex life?
  • How often should I visit the doctor to monitor my condition?
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Does Prostatitis Cause Cancer

Although prostatitis can cause you trouble, it does not cause cancer. There is a blood test some doctors use for prostate cancer called the prostate-specific antigen test . If you have prostatitis, your PSA level might go up. This does not mean you have cancer. Your doctor will treat your prostatitis and may check your PSA level again.

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Talking With Your Doctor

Different kinds of doctors and other health care professionals manage prostate health. They can help you find the best care, answer your questions, and address your concerns. These health care professionals include:

  • Family doctors and internists
  • Physician assistants and nurse practitioners
  • Urologists, who are experts in diseases of the urinary tract system and the male reproductive system
  • Urologic oncologists, who are experts in treating cancers of the urinary system and the male reproductive system
  • Radiation oncologists, who use radiation therapy to treat cancer
  • Medical oncologists, who treat cancer with medications such as hormone treatments and chemotherapy
  • Pathologists, who identify diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope

View these professionals as your partnersâexpert advisors and helpers in your health care. Talking openly with your doctors can help you learn more about your prostate changes and the tests to expect.

Treatments For Symptom Relief

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The preferred treatment regimen for chronic bacterial prostatitis is a combination of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .

Although NSAIDs can provide relief from the pain of prostatitis, theyre primarily used to reduce inflammation.

Other medications you may receive are:

Certain home remedies may be able to ease your symptoms too. Home remedies include:

  • warm baths

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So What Are The Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer

Unfortunately, there usually arent any early warning signs for prostate cancer. The growing tumor does not push against anything to cause pain, so for many years the disease may be silent. Thats why screening for prostate cancer is such an important topic for all men and their families.

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In rare cases, prostate cancer can cause symptoms. Contact your doctor for an evaluation if you experience any of the following:

  • A need to urinate frequently, especially at night, some- times urgently
  • Difficulty starting or holding back urination
  • Weak, dribbling, or interrupted flow of urine
  • Painful or burning urination
  • Difficulty in having an erection
  • A decrease in the amount of fluid ejaculated
  • Painful ejaculation
  • Blood in the urine or semen
  • Pressure or pain in the rectum
  • Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, pelvis, or thighs

Remember: urinary symptoms dont necessarily mean you have cancer. Prostatitis or BPH are benign diseases but can cause similar symptoms and are very common.

What about difficulty in having an erection? Again, this is most likely not caused by cancer but by other factors such as diabetes, smoking, cardiovascular disease, or just plain getting older.

That said: Symptoms are symptoms, and no matter whats most likely to be causing them, you should get them checked out by a doctor.

Download or order your free copy of the Prostate Cancer Patient Guide now with COVID-19 Appendix.

Symptoms Causes And Treatments Of Acute Prostatitis

Susie, Facty Staff

Doctors diagnose acute prostatitis when a man’s prostate becomes inflamed suddenly. The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland located just below the bladder in males. It is responsible for forming semen, the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Prostatitis typically makes urination difficult and causes pain. It can also cause flu-like symptoms. The condition usually affects men 50 years of age and younger, but can also develop in older men.

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Medication For Urinary Problems

Your doctor may suggest various medications to help ease your urinary problems, including:

  • medications to reduce the tone of the muscles of the urethra and prostate to minimise any constriction to urine flow caused when these muscles contract
  • medication to reduce the size of the prostate gland. These medications work by blocking the action of male hormones produced by the prostate gland
  • medications to relax the bladder, making unwanted contractions less likely and reducing the symptoms of urgency and frequency of urination
  • the over-the-counter preparation ‘saw palmetto’ is sometimes used. This may help some men, especially if frequent urination at night is a problem.

However, recent reviews of the evidence for using saw palmetto as a treatment for mild or moderate urinary symptoms did not show any improvement, compared to no treatment, in men with BPH.

Warning Symptoms Of Prostatitis

5 FACTS ON PROSTATITIS: Symptoms & Treatment | TIPS FOR MEN – Dr. Girish Nelivigi | Doctors’ Circle

Prostate cancer is one of the main concerns in older adult males.

The incidence of prostate problems increases as we age. But theres a prostate problem that appears in young and older patients.

Prostatitis can be widespread in adult males. It is actually more common in patients younger than 50 years old. But older patients with prostate problems may also develop prostatitis. For example, prostatitis can be a complication of a transrectal prostate biopsy.

Thats why males should know about prostatitis regardless of their age. In this article, we are going to review this prostate problem and its warning signs.

We are also giving you a few recommendations about what you can do if you have these symptoms.

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Tests Used To Check The Prostate

This first step lets your doctor hear and understand the “story” of your prostate concerns. You’ll be asked whether you have symptoms, how long you’ve had them, and how much they affect your lifestyle. Your personal medical history also includes any risk factors, pain, fever, or trouble passing urine. You may be asked to give a urine sample for testing.

Advanced Prostate Cancer Symptoms

Men with advanced prostate cancer may experience additional symptoms. Thats because the cancer has spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, such as the bones or lymph nodes.

Signs of metastatic prostate cancer may include:

  • Swelling in legs or pelvic area
  • Numbness or pain in the hips, legs or feet
  • Bone pain that persists or leads to fractures

A wide range of treatment options are available for managing advanced cancer. These treatments kill cancer cells, but they may also help patients manage pain.

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Symptoms Of Acute Bacterial Prostatitis

Prostatitis can be caused by a bacterial infection, often Klebsiella or Escherichia bacteria from the colon. Bacterial infections should be treated promptly to avoid serious complications.

In addition to the common urinary symptoms, signs of bacterial prostatitis include:

  • Fever

Your healthcare provider may find your prostate is swollen and tender upon exam.

Symptoms Of Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis

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Bacterial infections in the prostate can be very painful.

The symptoms begin slowly and last 3 months or longer. Seek medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms:

Serious complications can arise if an infection isnt properly treated. Complications include:

  • urinary retention, which is an inability to urinate
  • , which occurs when bacteria spread into the bloodstream
  • a prostate abscess, which is a collection of pus that causes inflammation

A bacterial infection causes chronic bacterial prostatitis. Even when the primary symptoms of infection have been treated, bacteria may continue to thrive in the prostate.

Causes of infection include:

Certain factors put people at risk for developing this condition, such as:

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Problems With Enlarged Prostate Gland

Benign enlargement of the prostate gland is more common as men get older. It can cause troublesome symptoms, although it doesnt always.

The urethra passes through the prostate gland, so men may have problems urinating if the enlarged gland restricts the flow of urine. If the flow stops completely, a catheter is required to empty the bladder. It is rare for this form of acute urinary retention to cause kidney damage.

An enlarged prostate doesn’t always cause urinary problems. Studies indicate that the size of a man’s prostate gland has little influence on the type or severity of his urination problems. BPH is just one possible cause of urinary symptoms.

Another cause of urinary symptoms can be changes to the muscular wall of the bladder, which may cause spasms of the bladder or weaken the bladder, causing problems passing urine.

Treatment Options For Prostatitis

Your treatment for prostatitis will depend on the cause. Antibiotics are often used to treat bacterial prostatitis. If you have a more severe infection, you may need to get antibiotics through your vein. You may have to take antibiotics for two weeks or longer until the infection clears up.

Other treatments you and your doctor may consider include:

  • alpha-blockers, which are medicines that relax the muscles around the prostate and help you urinate more easily
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen or aspirin , for pain relief
  • prostate massage

You can also soak in a warm bath or sit on a cushion to ease the pressure on your prostate.

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