Prostatitis

Prostate is a male reproductive organ located between the root of penis and anus.  The function is to produce a clear fluid which mixes with semen before expelling from the penis during ejaculation.  This fluid has a major role in reproduction as it nourishes and protects the sperm in the semen.

There is a lack of awareness and understanding on prostate-related conditions.  The prostate is one of the most important organs in male body and also one of the most neglected parts.   There are three categories of prostate related conditions, namely Prostate Cancer, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Prostatitis.

Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland.  It’s often causes painful or difficult urination.  Other symptoms include pain in the groin, pelvic area or genitals.  Prostatitis can be caused by a number of different things.  If it is caused by bacterial infection, it can be treated successfully.  Sometimes, the cause is never identified.

The symptoms of acute prostatitis (which mean develop rapidly over a very short period of time) commonly include fever, pain in the perineum (area deep in the pelvis), difficulty in passing urine and painful urination.  In chronic prostatitis (which means persist over a long period of time), the patient complains discomfort or pain in the perineum, testes, penis or lower abdominal region.  There may be urinary symptoms such as difficult in urination, painful urination or frequent urination.  In contrast to acute prostatitis, these patients do not have a fever.

Confirmation of the diagnosis would require a physical examination and include tests including urine, blood pressure, prostatic fluid and x-rays.  In acute prostatitis, the patient would have a painful prostate on examination and the blood tests would demonstrate signs of infection (which is raised white cell count and raised serum prostate specific antigen (PSA)).  The urine test would also show signs of pus cells and the presence of bacteria.  Ultrasound scans or other x-rays may be used in identified cases where they may be pus collecting in the prostate gland.

Chronic prostatitis is mainly diagnosed through the symptoms given by the patient.  Physical examination may detect mild tenderness in the prostate or pelvic floor may be elicited.  Urine or prostatic fluid tests may demonstrate presence of pus cells.  The PSA may be raised and some patients may undergo prostate gland biopsies for evaluation of possible prostate cancer.  Ultrasound scans or x-rays may not be useful but may be helpful for evaluation.

Acute prostatitis requires early and aggressive treatment with antibiotics.  Patients are also monitored for urinary difficulty and occasionally, they may require a urine catheter (tube) to be placed temporarily for temporary drainage.   Surgery may be required for collection of pus in the prostate gland if the case is not responsive to antibiotic therapy.

Chronic prostatitis can be challenging to manage as there are no good treatment options available currently.  The mainstay of therapy would be treatment to reduce inflammation in the prostate gland, manage pain in the pelvis and to alleviate urinary symptoms.

In conclusion, every single man had the risk of developing prostatitis and prevention is the best course of action.  Research has shown that getting adequate amounts of natural vitamins and minerals can helps to promote prostate health.  Good supplements combine different ingredients proven to support good prostate health.  Not only the supplements are used for good preventative measure, it is also effective for men who had already experiencing prostate problems.

For more information on the supplements, please head down to My Health Store.

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