I have been told I have Prostatitis. What is it and how treatable is it?

Prostatitis is an inflammation/infection of the prostate and can produce a number of symptoms. It can cause chills, fever, pain in the lower back, leg, genital area and penis, frequent, painful or burning urination, body aches or painful ejaculation. Occasionally the sufferer may be completely unable to pass urine. Prostatitis is often linked to a urinary infection, as evidenced by bacteria in the urine. There may also be discharge from the penis. Prostatitis can be a long-standing condition, but can sometimes occur as a more sudden infection.

Prostatitis is usually treatable. Your doctor may give you a digital rectal examination (DRE), using a gloved finger to check on your prostate, and may also undertake blood and urine tests to check on infection, as well as a semen sample. In some cases, they will undertake a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test to rule out the possibility of BPH or even prostate cancer. As there are different kinds of prostatitis the treatment can vary, but bacterial prostatitis can involve antibiotics to kill the infection. See prostatitis pages?