What are the symptoms of prostatitis?

Written by Chen Feng
Urology
Updated on November 13, 2024
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Prostatitis is generally divided into acute prostatitis and chronic prostatitis. Acute prostatitis mainly manifests as frequent urination, urgent urination, and painful urination. Patients will also experience pain and discomfort in the perineal area and the suprapubic area. Due to the swelling of the prostate gland in acute prostatitis patients, it compresses the urethra, causing difficulty urinating, thinning of the urine stream, and even an inability to urinate. Some patients may also experience fever. Chronic prostatitis has a longer course and also presents with symptoms of frequent urination, urgent urination, and painful urination. After urinating, patients may notice a white discharge from the urethral opening, and they may also experience pain and discomfort in the perineal area and the suprapubic area. Some patients may also experience sexual dysfunction, such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or frequent nocturnal emissions.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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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.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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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.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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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.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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What is the best treatment for prostatitis?

The treatment of prostatitis requires following the treatment plan and course prescribed by the diagnosing doctor, taking medications on time and in the correct dosage. Generally, it is necessary to first conduct a bacterial culture and drug sensitivity test on the prostatic fluid. Based on the results, the pathogenic bacteria and sensitive antibiotics are identified, and then sensitive antibiotics are selected for oral treatment. At the same time, patients should adopt a light diet, avoid spicy and stimulating food, avoid alcohol, avoid prolonged sitting, and avoid holding in urine. A warm water sitz bath can be taken daily.

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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.)