Prostatitis

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate, which is an exclusively male organ that lies just below the bladder, and that hugs the urethra, the duct through which urine and sperm exit. The prostate is responsible for producing semen which is the liquid part of sperm.

The main cause of acute prostatitis is a bacterial infection that usually arises from an untreated urinary tract infection. When prostatitis is chronic, it has few signs and symptoms, and often the patient's chief complaint is prolonged pelvic pain.

We only know that we have prostatitis when the signs and symptoms start, so it is recommended that you have routine health checks to detect and treat urinary infections. Having healthy lifestyle habits such as drinking enough water, exercising, and eating a balanced diet also help to fight prostatitis.

Signs and symptoms of Prostatitis

The signs and symptoms are often similar to other pathologies that affect the prostate. The symptoms of acute prostatitis usually start suddenly and intensely and can lead to high fever, chills, joint pain, pain when urinating, needing to urinate more often and during the day, urge to urinate, and difficulty in emptying the urine completely.

Chronic prostatitis has milder symptoms and may appear after treatment for acute prostatitis. There is another type of prostatitis that is not bacterial, and the patient usually has a pain syndrome in the pelvic region for no apparent reason.

How to diagnose

The clinical diagnosis of prostatitis is made by the physician, and there is no specific exam. The doctor, in addition to collecting reports of the patient's symptoms, may ask to do some tests that help to be more certain of the diagnosis, such as examining the urine, blood, or prostatic fluid, and recommend tests such as flowmetry, rectal examination, and of PSA.

Prostatitis treatment

The most common treatment is with antibiotics that can be in pills or, in more severe cases, injectables. Because of the pain, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs may also be recommended. Treatment can be short-term or longer depending on severity. Your doctor may suggest surgery if an abscess develops to remove the abscess.

Does prostatitis affect the erection?

The nerve that allows the erection of the penis is not affected in cases of prostatitis or other diseases related to the prostate. Generally, fertility in men can be altered depending on the severity of the prostatitis, as it can reduce the amount of fluid in the sperm and consequently its quality.

Can prostatitis become cancer?

No. Prostatitis is inflammation, which is a benign, treatable disease of the prostate.