Prostatitis

Prostatitis inflames the prostate and sometimes the area around it. While the condition is not associated with cancer, it can cause pain and hinder your quality of life. While diagnosing and treating prostatitis is often challenging, we work hard to find you relief.

Why choose Henry Ford VUI for prostatitis

Diagnosing and treating prostatitis requires special expertise, like the kind possessed by our doctors. That’s because it’s often challenging to determine the type of prostatitis present (if any) and provide effective treatment. Our doctors have a track record of successfully doing so.

Prostatitis types and symptoms

There are several types of prostatitis, all of which we treat:

• Acute Bacterial Prostatitis: This is the most common form and a type of urinary tract infection from bacteria. Symptoms include: fever and chills, painful urination, inability to empty the bladder and pain in the lower back, abdomen or pelvic area.
• Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis: It’s similar to acute bacterial prostatitis but develops gradually, with less severe symptoms and recurring urinary tract infections.
• Nonbacterial Prostatitis (Also Called Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome or Prostatodynia): It’s not caused by bacteria and the cause is unknown, though it’s the most common type of prostatitis. Symptoms include: Pain in the genitals and pelvic area, difficulty or pain urinating, and pain during or after ejaculation.
• Asymptomatic Inflammatory Prostatitis: It occurs when the prostate is inflamed but there are no other symptoms.

Diagnosing prostatitis

Properly diagnosing prostatitis is crucial, both to identify the proper type and course of treatment and to rule out other medical conditions. Our diagnosis can include:

• Patient History
• Digital Rectal Examination (DRE): The doctor uses a gloved, lubricated finger to go into the rectum and feel the prostate.
• Pelvic Floor and Perineum Exam: The doctor presses on muscles and ligaments to determine the degree of pain.
• Ultrasound
• Prostate Massage: This draws out expressed prostatic excretion (EPS), which is analyzed with urine for signs of inflammation and infection.
• Blood and Semen Samples
• Cystoscopy: A thin instrument is threaded into the urethra to examine the bladder and urinary tract.
• Urine Flow Studies: These tests measure the strength of your urine flow.
• Urine Analysis and cultures for specific pathogen

Prostatitis treatment

Prostatitis caused by bacteria is treated with antibiotics: up to 14 days for acute cases and 4 to 12 weeks for chronic ones. Treatment for other types of prostatitis includes:

• Medications to help relieve symptoms or reduce inflammation
• Prostate massages to drain fluid causing pressure
• Heat therapy such as baths
• Relaxation exercises
• Pillows or inflatable cushions for sitting
• Pelvic muscle therapy