Prostatitis
Types of Prostatitis
- Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) – affects about 90% of men with prostatitis (Chronic Non-Bacterial Prostatitis)
- Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis – patients don’t have symptoms but their doctors find infection-fighting cells in the semen when checking for other problems such as prostate cancer or enlargement
- Acute bacterial prostatitis – the least common but easiest to treat
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis – also not common
Please note that an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) does not increase your risk of prostate cancer.
Symptoms

In chronic bacterial prostatitis, you experience less intense symptoms but for a longer period of time, and you may have frequent urinary tract infections.
Men with CPPS may have many of the same symptoms as bacterial prostatitis, but without fever. Ejaculation may be painful. CPPS is distinguished by pelvic pain that can last months without evidence of inflammation or bacterial infection. Bladder and rectal pressure or pain is common.
Causes
- Infections not found during standard tests
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Persistent bladder infections
- Pelvic muscle spasm
- Physical activity such as biking or heavy lifting when your bladder is full
Diagnosis
Your doctor also may test your urine and semen for infection. If you have an infection, you will get a culture to identify which bacteria is involved. Cystoscopy (viewing the urethra, bladder and prostate with a tiny telescope-like instrument) and urine flow studies also may be ordered.
CPPS is diagnosed after other probable causes have been eliminated and when the prostatitis has lasted for three or more months. Often, it is a diagnosis of exclusion.
Treatment
Treatments that may help relieve CPPS symptoms:
- Alpha blockers such as Flomax may improve urinary symptoms by relaxing bladder muscles.
- Muscle relaxants
- Pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen
- Herbal remedies such as Quercetin or bee pollen
- Physical therapy, including pelvic exercises or biofeedback
- Warm baths and relaxation techniques
- Dietary changes – discontinue caffeinated, spicy and acidic foods and beverages
- Experimental treatments with heat (microwave) therapy are being evaluated





