A Condition That Affects
Half of All Adult Men
Prostate disease is one of the most common conditions that half of all adult men will experience at least once in their lifetime.
Without proper treatment, sexual function can decline and quality of life can deteriorate.
Definition
What Is the Prostate?
The prostate is a male-only organ — a soft tissue weighing approximately 20g, located just below the bladder.
The prostate is an accessory sex gland that produces about one-third of the liquid component of semen. It nourishes and liquefies sperm, enhancing sperm motility and fertility while also preventing bacterial infection.
Meanwhile, the urethra passes through the center of the prostate. When the prostate becomes enlarged or inflamed, it can cause abnormal urinary flow and pain during ejaculation, directly or indirectly leading to sexual dysfunction.
Prostatitis
What Is Prostatitis?
Prostatitis literally refers to inflammation of the prostate gland.
50% of all adult men will experience it at least once in their lifetime, and it is the most common condition among men under 50. Bacterial prostatitis accounts for only about 10% of all cases, and in most cases the causative organism cannot be identified.
Causes
Causes of Prostatitis
01
Abnormalities in pelvic nerves or muscles
02
Urine reflux into the prostate due to voiding disorders
03
Immune system abnormalities
04
Improper sexual practices
05
Excessive stress
06
Perineal trauma
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Prostatitis
Symptoms
Clinical Symptoms
Acute prostatitis presents with sudden high fever, chills, perineal pain, frequent urination, urinary urgency, dysuria, and difficulty voiding. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by perineal pain, pain at the tip of the penis, testicular pain, lower abdominal pain, dysuria, and pain during ejaculation.
Diagnosis
Examination
Diagnosis requires urinalysis, urine culture, prostatic fluid analysis, semen analysis, and ultrasound examination. STD testing may also be performed to rule out sexually transmitted infections.
Treatment
Treatment of Prostatitis
01
Antimicrobial Therapy
Quinolone-class antibiotics are administered for approximately 4 weeks. If there is no improvement in symptoms or inflammatory findings, the treatment is discontinued.
02
Alpha-Blockers & Anti-inflammatory Agents
Patients with chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome often experience lower urinary tract symptoms due to inadequate relaxation of the bladder neck during urination. Alpha-blockers can be administered to improve these symptoms, and anti-inflammatory agents may be prescribed to manage pain and inflammation.
03
Prostate Massage
Prostate massage may be performed once every 1–2 weeks during the treatment course to monitor inflammatory changes.
04
Adjunctive Therapy
For chronic prostatitis, adjunctive therapies such as warm sitz baths (heat therapy) and biofeedback may be utilized.