You'll need to have a urine test so the doctor can check for bacteria and other signs of infection. You might also need a blood test. You might have a digital rectal examination to see if your prostate is inflamed and painful, and the doctor may examine your stomach area (abdomen) and penis.
This exam may include prostate massage to collect a sample of seminal fluid. Urinalysis: A urinalysis and urine culture check for bacteria and UTIs. Blood test: A blood test measures PSA, a protein made by the prostate gland. High levels may indicate prostatitis, BPH or prostate cancer.
The health care provider can diagnose the bacterial forms of prostatitis by examining the urine sample with a microscope. The health care provider may also send the sample to a lab to perform a culture.
pain when peeing, a frequent or urgent need to pee, particularly at night, or "stop-start" peeing. an enlarged or tender prostate on rectal examination. sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction, pain when ejaculating or pelvic pain after sex.
Symptoms of prostatitis may include urinating more often, burning or stinging during urination, pain during urination, and fever and chills. Your healthcare provider usually diagnoses prostatitis by your symptoms and by checking your urine and semen for signs of infection. Antibiotics are used to treat prostatitis.
To diagnose prostatitis, a urine sample may be collected to check for an infection. Unless the cause is clearly bacterial, prostatitis generally is diagnosed by feeling the prostate gland. To do this, your doctor inserts a gloved finger into your rectum and feels the outside wall of the gland.
Acute (Sudden) Bacterial Prostatitis (ABP)
Symptoms can come on quickly and include fever, chills, urinary changes, ejaculatory pain and pain in the pelvis or nearby zones. Treatment with antibiotics often leads to quick relief.
A prostate examination
A digital rectal examination (DRE) is carried out to feel for any changes in your prostate using a finger (digit) inside your bottom. Due to the location of the prostate, anyone wondering 'can you check our own prostate? ' should realise that this is simply not possible.
Acute bacterial prostatitis is treated with antibiotics. You might get antibiotic tablets to take at home. These should treat the infection quite quickly. You'll usually take antibiotics for up to four weeks.
Potential culprits include difficult-to-detect bacteria, inflammation, depression and stress, and mechanical or neuromuscular problems in the pelvic muscles that irritate the general area. This uncertainty is what can make the treatment of prostatitis so maddening.
Chronic prostatitis develops gradually and can last for months or even years. Doctors consider prostatitis to be chronic if symptoms continue for 3 months or more . It may not respond well to initial treatment. Acute prostatitis appears suddenly and is temporary.
In some cases, prostatitis can get better on its own, either because chronic prostate inflammation recedes or because the body is able to fight off a bacterial infection on its own. However, if you're experiencing symptoms of prostatitis, even milder symptoms, it's important that you see a doctor.
Transrectal prostate ultrasound is a key tool for diagnosing many prostatic diseases, such as prostate cancer, prostatitis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Besides traditional grayscale imaging, multiple additional technologies may aid in the diagnosis.
Most men with “chronic prostatitis” have chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), characterized by pelvic pain (i.e., perineal, suprapubic, testicular, penile) variable urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction (primarily pain associated with ejaculation).
Long-term (chronic) prostatitis lasts for 3 months or more. Ongoing irritation of the prostate that is not caused by bacteria is called chronic nonbacterial prostatitis. The male reproductive structures include the penis, the scrotum, the testes, the epididymis, the seminal vesicles, and the prostate.
Ignoring Your Symptoms Can Cause Complications
With time and no treatment, BPH can obstruct the bladder from emptying completely which can lead to your bladder not functioning properly. A failed bladder may result in you not being able to urinate at all. This is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment.
Four-Glass Test
This 4-glass test begins by asking the patient to provide the 10 mL of urine in one glass. Then, 10 mL of midstream urine is provided in the next glass. Next, prostatic massage is performed, and EPS is collected in a third glass.
It is important to note that masturbation does not appear to be a direct cause of prostatitis. However, it may contribute to an increased risk in individuals who engage in this activity excessively or without caution.
Treating infection
If you have acute or chronic bacterial prostatitis, you'll take antibiotics. Acute disease may require intravenous (IV) antibiotics in the hospital for a short period. The entire course of antibiotic treatment is usually 4 to 6 weeks — or longer in some cases.
If you have BPH or prostatitis, make an effort to reduce your caffeine intake by cutting back on coffee, soda or energy drinks. Avoiding caffeine can make a big difference in your urinary health. Another important drink for you prostate is water. Stay hydrated, and do not try to drink less to reduce your urine.
Although a bacterial infection is the most common cause of prostatitis, it is not uncommon that an individual suffering from prostatitis may have a negative urine culture.
Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis causes long-term pain and urinary symptoms. It involves the prostate gland or other parts of a man's lower urinary tract or genital area. This condition is not caused by an infection with bacteria.
While it can be extremely difficult to tell whether you have a UTI or prostatitis without professional diagnostic testing, there are a few signs and symptoms that may make prostatitis the more likely culprit. These include pain and pressure in the perineum, high fever, and an elevated PSA.