|  | Conditions Treatments | Urinary Disorders

Prostatitis Pain

Prostatitis (also called a prostate infection) is the inflammation of the prostate gland. It is often accompanied by painful symptoms, which is often the only reason that men seek treatment and receive proper diagnoses. Prostatitis pain can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription drugs, depending on the severity.

  1. Prostatitis

    • The prostate is a small gland shaped like a walnut and positioned so that it wraps around the head of the urethra in a man. The urethra is the tube that stretches from a man's bladder to the tip of his penis. During ejaculation, the prostate releases nutrients to help the semen survive longer in the vagina. Prostatitis is the inflammation and subsequent swelling of the prostate gland. There can be any number of causes, including bacteria colonization, viral infection or physical damage.

    Painful Symptoms

    • There are many symptoms of a prostate infection, and many of them involve pain. This is a good thing, because as a man cannot see his prostate, he probably would never otherwise know about this condition. The most common include sharp pains when you urinate or ejaculate. In some cases you may also experience burning during urination and ejaculation, as well as pain in your testes, in your lower back or during bowel movements.

    Chronic Pelvic Pain

    • Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (sometimes called urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome) is a condition that mimics all of the painful symptoms of a prostate infection but does not display any evidence of infection, such as the presence of bacteria or viruses. The main difference between normal prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome is that the latter can last up to three months, even with treatments. There are many theories of how chronic pelvic pain syndrome is caused but no certain diagnosis. There is also no proven cure, so treatment of this condition focuses on treating the symptoms.

    Treating Prostatitis Pain

    • Depending on the cause of your infection, your health care provider will prescribe antibiotic or antiviral medication. As your immune system and prescription medication fight the infection, your health care provider will also suggest ways to immediately treat the pain associated with it. For mild cases, over-the-counter medications such as Advil or Motrin may provide relief. For more intense pain, your doctor may prescribe you a prescription painkiller such as Percocet. As your infection heals, pain should gradually decrease, as well.

    Prevention

    • Preventing pain from prostatitis means preventing prostate infections in the first place. Keep good hygiene habits. Keep your genitals clean and dry. Wash them daily and after sexual intercourse with a mild soap and warm water. If you are uncircumcised, be sure to pull back your foreskin and clean underneath regularly. Always go the restroom as soon as you feel the urge to urinate. Also, practice safe sex to prevent developing prostatitis from sexually transmitted diseases.

Urinary Disorders - Related Articles