Recommended Treatment Time for Treating Prostatitis

Prostatitis can affect everyday life and if left untreated can affect fertility. Understanding the duration times of the various treatments for prostatitis can help you be patient and complete what your physician has asked you to do.

Determining the Type

• Prostatitis is defined by the Mayo Clinic as a disease of the prostrate gland that can cause several symptoms including groin pain, difficulty or pain during urination, low grade fever and general malaise. The prostrate gland is situated directly below the bladder and is about the size and shape of a walnut.
  Prostatitis cases are classified and treated by type. The categories assigned to the disease are bacterial, chronic bacterial, chronic prostatitis with pelvic pain and asymptomatic prostatitis. Bacterial prostatitis is caused by a bacteria that is carried in urine that leaks back into the prostrate through the urethra. Chronic bacterial prostatitis is caused by a small amount of bacteria that was not eliminated through previous treatment for bacterial prostatitis. The medical community has been unable to determine the cause of asymptomatic prostatitis or chronic prostatitis with pelvic pain but it there is some thought that it could be tied to immune disorders, nervous system disorders, traumatic injury, infection or psychological stress. Your physician will determine which type of prostatitis you have using a variety of methods, including a patient questionnaire, scopes and a digital rectal exam. It is important to determine the type of prostatitis so that proper treatment can be given.

Treatment Time Spans

• The treatment duration for prostatitis is dependent on the type of disease that you have and your general overall health. A course of antibiotics will be prescribed for acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis. If symptoms are severe, you may be hospitalized to allow the antibiotics to be delivered through an IV. Once your condition begins to improve, you will be discharged and prescribed oral antibiotics. Whether or not you are initially hospitalized, your oral antibiotic course will continue for two to four weeks.
  Chronic bacterial prostatitis is treated with oral antibiotics, but the duration is between four and eight weeks long. Be sure to read the information the pharmacy provides with the antibiotics to achieve optimum benefit and avoid any cross medication issues.

  Chronic prostatitis has several possible treatments, including a prescription of alpha blockers that will relax the neck of the bladder and help allow urine to flow more easily. These medications will be taken for months or years. In addition, your physician may recommend the use of pain relievers such as aspirin or over the counter anti-inflammatory medications.

Home Treatment Length

• In addition to the medically prescribed treatments, the Mayo Clinic recognizes several lifestyle changes that can be successful in the reduction of prostatitis symptoms. Reducing the amount of spicy food that you eat and eliminating caffeinated beverages from your diet can help reduce prostatitis symptoms. Limiting the amount of alcohol you consume for as long as symptoms continue can help reduce the problems caused by prostatitis. Sitting on an inflatable pillow or cushion for the duration of the symptoms can also help speed recovery.