How to determine if you have prostatitis

Written by Chen Feng
Urology
Updated on October 21, 2024
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To determine whether one has prostatitis, it is necessary to make a comprehensive judgment based on symptoms and relevant examinations. Prostatitis is divided into acute prostatitis and chronic prostatitis. Acute prostatitis tends to be severe and is mainly characterized by frequent, urgent, and painful urination. Patients may also experience pain and discomfort in the pubic and perineal areas. Due to the swelling of the prostate compressing the urethra, most prostatitis patients will have difficulty urinating, a thinning urine stream, or even intermittent urine flow. Examination of the patient's urine generally shows an increase in white blood cells. Chronic prostatitis has a longer course and also presents symptoms of frequent, urgent, and painful urination, with a white discharge dripping from the urethral opening after urination. Examination of the patient's prostate fluid generally shows abnormal changes, such as an increase in white blood cells in the prostate fluid.

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The difference between prostate cancer and prostatitis

Prostatitis and prostate cancer have different causes. Prostatitis is caused by the invasion of pathogens into the prostate, whereas prostate cancer is mostly related to genetics, lifestyle and dietary habits, and genetic mutations. Their clinical manifestations are inconsistent; prostatitis mainly presents as pain or abnormal urination, while prostate cancer primarily shows symptoms of compression and metastasis. Of course, their treatment methods are also different.

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Written by Chen Feng
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How is prostatitis treated?

Prostatitis is divided into acute prostatitis and chronic prostatitis. Acute prostatitis is generally caused by bacterial infection of the prostate, so antibiotics are needed to control the infection. Additionally, patients with acute prostatitis often experience pain and fever, thus requiring antipyretic analgesics for symptomatic treatment. Chronic prostatitis has a longer duration and is divided into bacterial prostatitis and nonbacterial prostatitis. Bacterial prostatitis generally requires treatment with antibiotics, and those that can penetrate the prostate capsule are preferred. Patients with chronic prostatitis can also benefit from warm sitz baths and prostate massage as auxiliary treatments. During treatment, the diet should be light, avoiding spicy and stimulating foods, avoiding prolonged sitting, and abstaining from alcohol.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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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.)

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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How to treat prostatitis with frequent urination

Patients with prostatitis often experience symptoms such as frequent urination and incomplete bladder emptying. For these symptoms, it's important to visit a urology department at a hospital promptly. Through routine prostate fluid analysis, culture of prostate fluid, and susceptibility testing, the specific cause of prostatitis can be determined, allowing for targeted treatment. If the prostatitis is bacterial, antibiotic treatment is necessary. Commonly used antibiotics include quinolones and cephalosporins. At the same time, medications that improve urinary discomfort such as alpha-blockers or phytotherapeutic drugs can be used to alleviate symptoms like frequent urination by relaxing the urethral smooth muscle, improving symptoms of frequency and incomplete emptying. Physical treatments like warm sitz baths, microwave therapy, and shortwave therapy can also be employed. During treatment, it's crucial to eat a light diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, avoid sitting for long periods, and avoid holding in urine. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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How to check for prostatitis?

For the examination of prostatitis, the main methods currently used are color ultrasound, routine prostate fluid analysis, culture of prostate fluid, and susceptibility testing. After contracting prostatitis, a color ultrasound examination often reveals varying degrees of prostate swelling, routine prostate fluid analysis will indicate a decrease in lecithin bodies, accompanied by either an increase in white blood cells or normal white blood cell levels. If the lecithin bodies are decreased and there is an increase in white blood cells, bacterial prostatitis is a likely consideration. If the white blood cell count is normal, nonbacterial prostatitis may be considered. Regardless of the type of prostatitis, timely examination and treatment are necessary. If it is bacterial prostatitis, further culture and susceptibility testing of the prostate fluid should be performed, and treatment should be conducted using antibiotics that are sensitive to the results of the susceptibility test.