Understanding Prostatitis

The prostate gland sits below a man’s bladder and surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from a man’s bladder out of his body. 

There are two main forms of prostatitis: bacterial and nonbacterial. Bacterial prostatitis is caused by an infection in the prostate. Antibiotics are the main course of treatment. 

Nonbacterial prostatitis has no signs of bacteria in the urine when tests are run. While the cause is often unknown, nonbacterial prostatitis may be linked to stress, nerve damage, injuries or prior urinary tract infections. 

General signs of prostatitis may include painful or frequent urination, lower back pain, pain in the bladder and painful ejaculations. If you have any of these, see a health care provider who will do an exam and take a urine sample. 

Men with prostatitis should drink plenty of water and stay away from drinks such as coffee and alcohol which could make urinary symptoms worse. For pain management, medications like ibuprofen and hot baths may help. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

For more facts about prostatitis, visit: www.UrologyHealth.org ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​