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Prostatitis & Stress

Prostatitis is a group of disorders with related symptoms which affect the prostate gland. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease reports there are four types of prostatitis: acute bacterial, chronic bacterial, chronic/chronic pelvic pain and asymptomatic inflammatory. Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is the most common prostate disorder, but it is also the least understood.

  1. CP/CPPS

    • CP/CPPS is considered a chronic disorder if the symptoms last for at least three months. Over time, the symptoms can remain about the same, go through various cycles of severity, be inflammatory or non-inflammatory, and may improve with treatment. There is no single aspect for the cause of this disorder; however, psychological stress, a nervous system disorder or irregular sexual activity may be factors.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of CP/CPPS may include a frequent urge to urinate, a burning sensation when urinating, excessive urinating at night, feeling the bladder is not completely empty, pain or vague discomfort during or after ejaculation or pain in the tip of the penis. Symptoms may come and go and appear suddenly or gradually over a period of time.

    Diagnosis

    • For this condition, the doctor must rule out all possible causes of urinary symptoms including kidney stones, bladder disorders and infections. If all other possible reasons for a patient's symptoms are ruled out, the doctor may then diagnose the disorder as CP/CPPS.

    Stress

    • ChronicProstatitis.com reports research performed at North Carolina State University found a possible link between stress and CP/CPPS. Stress increases the production of prolactin, a hormone found to cause prostate inflammation in laboratory animals. If a connection is confirmed in humans, stress management may play a pivotal role in helping relieve the symptoms of CP/CPPS.

      The National Institute of Health also indicates there is evidence that chronic non-bacterial prostatitis may be stress-related. Discomfort or pain associated with this condition plus its impact on sexual activity may make the primary stress worse, possibly resulting in the onset of anxiety and depression.

    Treatment

    • The primary purpose of treatment for CP/CPPS is to relieve the symptoms. Since there is no single remedy for this condition, the individual will need to work with the medical professional to find an effective treatment. The doctor may prescribe alpha blockers such as flomax or uroxatral to relax the muscle tissue in the prostate. Other remedies may include muscle relaxants, hot baths, drinking extra fluids and learning to relax when urinating.

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