|  | Family Health | Mens Health

Chronic Prostatitis Treatment

Chronic prostatitis is swelling of the prostate gland that develops slowly over time. There are a number of treatments for chronic prostatitis to relieve the pain, urinary hesitance and frequent urination common with the inflammation.

  1. Types of Prostatitis

    • Chronic bacterial prostatitis is caused by the presence of bacteria in the prostate. It is also possible for prostatitis to result from fungi, viruses, parasites, chemicals, nerve disorders and sexual abuse.

    Bacterial Prostatitis

    • To treat chronic bacterial prostatitis, doctors usually prescribe antibiotic medications to be taken for two to four weeks. In some cases, the treatment must be repeated due to a return of symptoms.

    Features

    • For chronic prostatitis that results from causes that are not bacterial, doctors utilize prescription alpha blockers like alfuzosin to relax your bladder and the muscles where your prostate meets your bladder. Additionally, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen are recommended to alleviate discomfort, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Risks

    • Antibiotics used to treat chronic bacterial prostatitis pose a risk for allergic reactions and pseudomembraneous colitis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of your colon. Alpha blockers have the potential to cause headaches and drops in blood pressure, while non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin can cause ulcers in your digestive system.

    Considerations

    • Some doctors utilize prostatic massage through a rectal exam or heat therapy using microwaves to treat chronic prostatitis that is not caused by bacteria. The effectiveness of these treatments for chronic prostatitis are widely debated and not clinically proven, cautions the Mayo Clinic.

Mens Health - Related Articles