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Prostatitis
How does a urine test determine prostatitis?
A routine urinalysis cannot determine prostatitis. It can, however, rule out other urinary system infections such as urethritis or cystitis through routine urinalysis. If the urinalysis is normal but the patient still exhibits symptoms like frequent urination, urgency, and incomplete emptying of the bladder, this may indirectly suggest the possibility of prostatitis. In cases of acute bacterial prostatitis, the urinalysis may show varying degrees of increased white blood cells. To confirm prostatitis, it is best to examine the prostate fluid for lecithin corpuscles and white blood cells.
Does prostatitis affect sexual life?
After suffering from prostatitis, it will indeed impact male sexual function. Patients with prostatitis need to undergo routine prostate fluid examinations to confirm the diagnosis. If there is a significant decrease in lecithin bodies, most patients will experience premature ejaculation or even erectile dysfunction. Therefore, timely treatment is necessary if diagnosed with prostatitis. Patients with prostatitis should not have sex too frequently; it is suggested to have sexual activities about once every three days. Having sex too frequently can easily exacerbate the symptoms of prostatitis. During the treatment period for prostatitis, it is also important to maintain a light diet and avoid spicy and stimulating foods.
What are the symptoms of prostatitis?
Prostatitis is commonly found in young males, with main clinical symptoms including frequent urination, urgent urination, and a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. Some patients may also experience discomfort and pain in the perineal, anal, and lower abdominal areas. If it is chronic prostatitis which has not healed for a long time, some patients may also experience irritability, depression, insomnia, and other negative emotions. After being diagnosed with prostatitis, it is necessary to go to the hospital's urology department for a thorough examination to identify the specific causes and pathogenic bacteria of prostatitis. Treatment should be conducted with appropriate antibiotics based on the sensitivity test results, generally for a duration of 3 to 4 weeks. Additionally, it is important to maintain a light diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and abstain from smoking and drinking. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
What causes prostatitis?
Prostatitis is commonly found in young males, with the main clinical symptoms being frequent urination, urgent urination, and a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying. Prostatitis is primarily divided into bacterial prostatitis and non-bacterial prostatitis. Bacterial prostatitis is mainly caused by local infections, such as in patients with urethritis or epididymitis who have not received timely treatment, leading to the development of bacterial prostatitis. Some cases are due to prostate biopsies or the use of liquid catheters. Non-bacterial prostatitis, on the other hand, is largely associated with poor lifestyle habits, such as prolonged sitting, withholding urine, long-term alcohol consumption, frequent sexual activity, and extended periods of cycling or driving, which can lead to the onset of non-bacterial prostatitis.
What causes prostatitis?
Prostatitis commonly occurs in young males, with various causes, the most common being bacterial infection. If it is bacterial prostatitis caused by bacterial infection, it is often seen in patients who previously suffered from urethritis, seminal vesiculitis, etc., and did not receive timely treatment. The bacteria spread along the reproductive tract to the prostate, causing prostatitis. Additionally, patients with long-term indwelling catheters are also prone to acute prostatitis. Furthermore, prostatic needle biopsies can lead to the condition. Nonbacterial prostatitis is mostly caused by poor lifestyle habits, such as prolonged alcohol consumption, sitting for long periods, holding urine, long-term driving, long-term cycling, and staying up late, all of which can lead to nonbacterial prostatitis.
Is frequent and urgent urination a symptom of prostatitis?
Frequent urination and urinary urgency are both symptoms of urinary irritation. There are many reasons that can cause frequent urination and urgency, and these symptoms alone cannot diagnose prostatitis. Initially, it is crucial to conduct routine urine tests and ultrasounds to preliminarily determine the specific causes of frequent urination and urgency. Besides prostate diseases, common causes include urethritis, urethral stones, urethral tumors, urethral stricture, bladder stones, or even stones in the ureter, all of which can lead to frequent urination and urgency. Therefore, if symptoms of frequent urination and urgency occur, it is necessary to visit the hospital's urology department promptly for relevant examinations to determine the specific causes.
Is urinary retention prostatitis?
Urinary hesitation is just a symptom, with various underlying causes. It cannot be determined whether it is due to prostatitis solely based on the symptom of urinary hesitation. In addition to prostatitis, prostate enlargement, prostate cancer, bladder diseases, or dysfunction of the detrusor muscle can also lead to urinary hesitation. Upon experiencing urinary hesitation, it is advisable to promptly visit the urology department of a hospital for diagnosis through ultrasonography, CT scans, routine prostate fluid analysis, and even urodynamic testing to determine the specific cause of the urinary hesitation. If it is caused by prostatitis, the routine analysis of prostate fluid often indicates a reduction in lecithin bodies. If it is bacterial prostatitis, there will also be an increase in white blood cells.
Symptoms of prostatitis pain
Patients with prostatitis, in addition to experiencing urinary discomfort symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and incomplete emptying, also experience pain symptoms, primarily manifested as pelvic pain. The pain is mainly located in the perineum, anal area, lower abdomen, and some patients may also experience pain in the sacral and even testicular areas. The pain is generally a persistent discomfort similar to gastrointestinal bloating and is usually not severe. However, in cases of acute bacterial prostatitis, the pain can be intense. If these symptoms occur, prostatitis should be strongly considered, and it is advisable to visit a hospital's urology department for preliminary assessment through ultrasound, routine prostate fluid analysis, and rectal examinations, followed by targeted treatment.
Location of prostatitis pain
Prostate disease is a relatively common condition in the department of urology, and it is divided into acute and chronic phases. Generally, when pain occurs, it can cause edema around the prostate, which may lead to some painful symptoms of expansion. The main areas that may cause pain are the lower abdomen, bilateral groin, inner thighs, or scrotum and testicles. In severe cases, there might be a sensation of heaviness and pain in the lumbosacral area, or even around the anus. Therefore, when these symptoms appear, the first step should be to determine whether they are related to prostatitis, through diagnostic tests such as color ultrasound or analysis of prostate fluid. This can confirm whether the pain is caused by prostatitis. It is also important to improve pain management and treat the condition promptly to help prevent recurrent attacks and the development of a chronic disease.
Can prostatitis heal itself?
Prostatitis can have a certain degree of self-healing capability. Generally, mild prostatitis can be managed by improving lifestyle habits, such as by increasing water intake, enhancing overall lifestyle habits, engaging in regular exercise, and maintaining controlled sexual activity, among others, which can all benefit the self-healing of the prostate. Additionally, when prostatitis occurs, it may be observed initially before considering medication. In cases of nonbacterial prostatitis, oral medication is generally not necessary; rather, treatments such as sitz baths can be used to achieve therapeutic goals. For bacterial prostatitis, it can generally be treated with anti-inflammatory medications to achieve some improvement. Of course, the best way to facilitate self-healing of prostatitis is by improving daily lifestyle habits. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)