Prostatitis is the inflammation of the prostate gland; its cause can be infectious or not. The most common symptoms are pain while urinating, frequency, painful ejaculation, and pain in the groin, pelvis, or genitalia.
The prostate is about the size of a walnut and lies below the bladder surrounding a tubular structure that transports urine from the bladder called the urethra. The prostate is a gland that secretes a fluid that forms part of the semen.
Prostatitis can be divided into two main categories: acute, which usually presents with more abrupt and bothersome symptoms. On the other hand, chronic prostatitis has a more indolent presentation, and the symptoms last for over three months.
It is essential to see your doctor if you present urinary retention, painful urination with fever, severe pelvic, perineal, or genital pain, and blood in the urine.
To diagnose prostatitis, the physician will perform a digital rectal exam that will demonstrate the presence of a boggy and painful gland. Additionally, a complete blood count, a urinalysis, and a urine culture can show the presence of a bacterial infection in cases where the etiology is infectious in nature.
Your physician will determine the treatment, and it will consist of antibiotics or anti-inflammatories for a specific period of time, depending on the cause of prostatitis. It is crucial to complete the therapy set by your doctor as this condition can recur if not treated correctly.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostatitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355766
