Feeling a burning sensation when you urinate and pain during ejaculation are common signs of certain sexually transmitted diseases, so these symptoms are cause for concern. However, in some cases, these symptoms may indicate you have prostatitis. A urologist can diagnose and help you manage this condition.
Prostatitis Defined
You have a walnut-sized gland underneath your bladder, which produces semen to transport and nourish sperm. This gland may swell, which can affect your urinary tract. This is known as prostatitis. Men ages 50 and younger experience prostatitis most often; however, men of any age can develop it.
With chronic prostatitis, you may have symptoms that last for months or longer. Chronic prostatitis can also continually recur. The chronic form affects around five percent of men at some point during their lives. It accounts for nearly 25 percent of urology visits.
Symptoms
Typically, you’ll have swelling in your prostate. You might have pain above your penis, in your back or rectum, or below or in your scrotum. You could also have pain before or when you ejaculate.
Since your prostate is close to your urethra – the tube that transports urine out of your bladder – you may develop urinary tract symptoms, such as pain during urination or difficulty urinating. You might also have difficulty initiating urination or experience urgency when having to urinate. Sometimes, it’ll cause you to urinate more frequently than normal. You might also feel like you can’t fully empty your bladder.
The severity of symptoms varies from case to case, so you may have mild symptoms or one’s that are severe enough to disrupt your life.
Causes
Chronic bacterial prostatitis may occur from bacterial growth. The bacteria in your prostate cause it to become inflamed and swell. This isn’t a common cause of chronic prostatitis, though.
Non-bacterial prostatitis happens when you have the symptoms, but your doctor doesn’t find any bacteria present in your urine. One reason is because of a previous bacterial infection. It can stem from chemical irritants, urine flowing into the prostate, or a nerve problem within your urinary tract. Sometimes, the problem arises from a parasite, pelvic floor muscle problems, virus, or sexual abuse. However, in many cases, the cause of nonbacterial chronic prostatitis is unknown.
Prostadyia occurs when you have the symptoms of prostatitis but don’t have any inflammation or infection. Young men tend to develop this. The cause is unknown, but studies suggest it could be caused by irritation from a chemical or autoimmune process, pain from the nerves and muscles in the pelvis, or an unusual buildup of pressure in the urinary tract system.
How Our Urologist Can Help
Dr. Avila of Ironwood Urology can conduct testing if you have signs of chronic prostatitis – especially if you have swelling. He will ask you questions about your medical history and conduct a prostate examination.
You’ll also be asked to provide a urine specimen, so your doctor can test it for bacteria and analyze it for white blood cells. You might also need a blood test and possibly imaging tests. Generally, this is enough information to diagnose your condition.
If bacteria is found in your culture, your urologist will prescribe an antibiotic, possibly on a long-term basis. You might be given another medication to ease your pain and discomfort, as well as receive patient information about how you can reduce your symptoms.
Prostatitis Diagnosis and Treatment in Phoenix and Gilbert, Arizona
You don’t have to suffer from prostatitis, especially since it can interfere with your life and relationships. Dr. Desi Avila can help, will ease your mind, and get to the root of your chronic prostatitis. When you choose Dr. Avila, you are choosing a urologist with comprehensive knowledge and a true passion for helping men.
Schedule an appointment with today by calling (480) 961-2323 for the Phoenix office or (480) 664-0261 for the Gilbert office. You can also fill out our appointment scheduling form.
