Prostatitis is a general term that refers to inflammation (swelling) or infection of the prostate gland. It can be very painful and you'll need to see your GP.
The prostate is a small gland found only in men, which lies between the penis and the bladder (see box, left, for more information about the prostate gland).
Symptoms of prostatitis include:
- pain when urinating
- pain when ejaculating semen
- problems urinating
- discomfort around the scrotum and at the tip of the penis
These symptoms usually come and go over a period of months, but can sometimes start suddenly and be a medical emergency (see below).
See Prostatitis - symptoms for more information.
Prostatitis can develop in men of all ages, unlike other types of prostate disease (such as prostate cancer or prostate enlargement), which usually affect older men.
Acute vs chronic prostatitis
There are two main types of prostatitis:
- Chronic prostatitis, the most common type. Symptoms will have lasted for at least three months, although they may come and go and vary in severity. The cause isn't always clear.
- Acute prostatitis – symptoms are severe and develop rapidly. This is caused by a bacterial infection of the prostate gland. It's a medical emergency, as without prompt treatment with antibiotics, the prostate and surrounding areas can become damaged. An estimated 1 in every 10,000 men will develop acute prostatitis.
See the sections on Causes and Treatment for more information on these types of prostatitis.
Outlook
Chronic prostatitis can be challenging to treat, as little is known about the cause of the condition. In most cases, there isn't any bacterial infection.
Prostatitis caused by a bacterial infection will usually be successfully treated with antibiotics. Most men will make a full recovery within two weeks. Some men may find that symptoms return in the future, which will require further treatment.
For more information, see Prostatitis - treatment.
