Prostatitis

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition

Prostatitis is inflammation or infection of the prostate gland — an organ about the size and shape of a walnut, located just below the bladder in males. The prostate gland produces semen, the fluid that helps nourish and transport sperm. Prostatitis can cause a variety of symptoms, including a frequent and urgent need to urinate and pain or burning when urinating — often accompanied by pelvic, groin or low back pain.

Prostatitis has been classified by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) into four categories.

Category 1 is acute bacterial prostatitis.
Category 2 is chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Category 3 includes the conditions previously known as nonbacterial prostatitis, prostatodynia and chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Category 4 is asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.

Pain relievers and several weeks of treatment with antibiotic are typically needed for category 1 and 2 prostatitis, which are bacterial infections. A variety of treatments as well as self-care measures also can provide relief. Treatment for category 3 prostatitis (nonbacterial) is less clear and mainly involves relieving symptoms. Category 4 prostatitis is usually found during examination for another reason and often doesn't require treatment.

Symptoms