Prostatitis refers to an inflammation or enlargement of the Prostate gland in men. This condition can occur chronically or it can be developed very quickly. It can also be infectious or non-infectious.

Prostatitis commonly causes constant pain in the genital, groin and/or rectal areas, including the scrotum, testes and lower back area. The pain level differs according to the degree of inflammation, and it can also lead to urination, defecation or ejaculation complications. There are cases in which this condition can also lead to a thin mucus discharge from the penis, which most commonly occurs in the morning.

The causes of prostatitis are still highly debated amongst the medical community, including the most regarded experts. One of the main issues is that the symptoms described above can be associated to several diseasse, such as urethritis. Also, patients can have more than one underlying cause leading to prostatitis at one given time. The main causes seem to be bacterial infections, physical injury, tension, allergies and immune responses. Other causes might include prostate cancer, the presence of a virus or yeast infection, benign prostatic hyperplasia and uric acid disorder.

Bacterial infections can be detected by performing a urine or semen culture. Infections can be treated with antibiotics, and they usually lead to pain relief due to their anti-inflammatory actions. Drainage is sometimes also an option if the infection has expanded significantly and this technique helps remove the pressure caused by extra fluids.

When prostatitis is caused by physical injury or tension, there are several therapies available, such as muscle-strengthening in order to help the pelvic floor muscles. There are also relaxation and prostate massage techniques available.

In the cases where allergies or immune responses cause the inflammation of the prostate, potent anti-inflammatories can lead to fast relief.

The best treatment option(s) differ according to the individual causes of prostatitis in different patients. Also, the symptoms that dictate a prostatitis could in fact be caused by a different condition. Your doctor should be able to perform different tests in order to diagnose this condition and suggest appropriate treatment methods.