Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Pelvic pain syndrome, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome or chronic prostatitis, is a condition in men characterized by several months of pain or discomfort within the pelvic region of the body due to an infection of the prostate. With this particular syndrome, a man will generally suffer from a number of undesirable symptoms, most of which will relate to a pain. This pain will generally affect those glands, organs and functions housed in this area of the body.

The Symptom of Pain

• The most significant symptom of pelvic pain syndrome is a pain that persists for an extended period of time, meaning it lasts for longer than "normal," which would be over months and could continue on for years. Typically, it will be a pain at the base of the penis that wraps back to the anus and sometimes up to the lower back. In some men, this pain or discomfort may also begin to be felt somewhere within their scrotum or testicles. No matter the location, pelvic pain syndrome will always involve some level of pain.

The Impact of Pain

• As the chronic pelvic pain persists, the syndrome can actually start to affect natural functions of the body. For many men, it can bring on a sudden pain or stinging sensation during ejaculation as well as urination. For others, they may begin to notice a change in the process of urination, becoming either more urgent or less frequent than normal. It can even affect the amount of urine passed on a typical bathroom visit.

The Cause of Pain

• More often than not, the chronic pelvic pain is linked to prostatitis, which is an infection of the prostate. This infection is usually due to some sort of bacteria that has traveled through the urine into the prostate. However, this isn't the only reason a man will develop this condition. There is also the potential the chronic pelvic pain, according to the Mayo Clinic, could be a result of a traumatic injury, a disorder of either the immune system or the nervous system, a neighboring disease or even stress. It just depends on the man what has caused the pelvic pain to persist.

The Treatment of Pain

• When the chronic pelvic pain is a result of a bacterial infection, most treatments will target the infection itself through a course of antibiotics. From there, your doctor may try other methods to treat the pain, including alpha blockers that relax the bladder and make it easier for a man to urinate or pain relievers that reduce inflammation and lessen the accompanying pain. Some doctors may even decide to manually massage the prostate or employ the use of heat therapy to relieve the symptoms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

The Prevention of Pain

• While the causes and treatments of chronic pelvic pain syndrome will vary from man to man, there are some very specific things that men can do to lessen and even prevent the potential of symptoms recurring or worsening. For some men, simply soaking in a warm bath can alleviate the intensity of the pain. For others, avoiding foods and beverages that often exacerbate the condition, like spicy or acidic meals and alcoholic or caffeinated drinks, can go a long way to lessen the symptoms. Even investing in an inflatable pillow for seats and chairs can reduce pressure on this area of the body and diminish the pain.