Prostatitis

Prostatitis is an inflamation of the prostate, the walnut-shaped gland that sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra in men. There are four categories of prostatitis: acute bacterial, chronic bacterial, chronic nonbacterial and chronic asymptomatic inflammatory prostatits.

Symptoms

Some common symptoms of prostatitis include:

• Urge to urinate often
• Stop-and-go urination
• Burning sensation with urination
• Pelvic, groin or low back pain
• Pain during or after ejaculation.

Treatment

Self-help measures

• Over-the-counter pain medication
• Drinking plenty of fluids.
• Sitz baths

Prescribed medication

• Antibiotics. Usually taken for several weeks up to a few months, if caused by an infection.
• Alpha blockers. Medication to relax the bladder neck and relieve urinary difficulty.
• Anti-inflammatories. Medication to reduce inflammation.