Prostatitis
February 13, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
What is prostatitis?
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland, a walnut-sized gland that produces sperm. It has many causes, such as bacterial infections, viruses, stones, yeast, among others.
What are the symptoms?
- Fever
- Chills
- Pain in the lower back, groin, testicles
- Difficulty urinating
- Urgent need to urinate and/or frequency
- Pain on urination
- Bloody urine
- Painful ejaculation
What can be done?
Prostatitis is serious and should be treated as soon as possible. If the cause is a bacteria infection, it could spread into the blood.
Doctors may recommend analgesics to manage the pain and lower fever, as well as antibiotics for the infection. For chronic prostatitis, men may have to learn coping techniques for the pain and discomfort, such as relaxation exercises. A sitz bath, sitting in warm water, may relieve some discomfort. In severe cases, surgery may be an option.
For more in-depth information, here are some sites that have reliable and up-to-date information:
