Patient's question:
How is chronic prostatitis formed, and what is the cost of treating non-bacterial prostatitis?Doctor's answer:
Prostatitis is divided into two types: acute and chronic. Acute prostatitis is an acute inflammation caused by bacterial invasion of the prostate. Patients experience chills, fever, elevated body temperature, and pain in the genital area. During sexual activity, there may be pain during ejaculation. Symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, dysuria, or hematuria may appear when urinating. If acute prostatitis is not treated promptly, it may become chronic or develop into a prostatic abscess. The treatment for acute prostatitis is not complicated; appropriately using antimicrobial drugs can control the condition. The key is to persist in treatment to ensure a complete recovery and avoid leaving any lingering issues.Chronic prostatitis is further divided into bacterial and non-bacterial types. Chronic bacterial prostatitis has the same cause as acute prostatitis, mostly because it was not fully treated during the acute phase and developed into a chronic condition. Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is mainly caused by improper sexual activity. The contributing factors or causes include:
1. Celibacy or prolonged abstinence, leading to a large accumulation of prostatic secretions. Over time, this can result in excessive edema and congestion of the prostate.
2. Frequently interrupting sexual intercourse or forcibly suppressing ejaculation, causing the accumulation of secretions and congestion.
3. Excessive sexual activity, frequent masturbation, or prolonged states of sexual excitement, making it difficult for the prostate to return to normal congestion.
4. Excessive alcohol consumption and eating spicy or acidic foods, which can cause congestion in the pelvic and prostate areas.
5. Exposure to dampness, cold, prolonged sitting, or colds can all lead to prostate congestion.
The symptoms of chronic prostatitis include the following:
1. Persistent chronic inflammation, such as tenderness and a sense of fullness or pressure in the perineum, anus, or scrotum.
2. Frequent urination, urgency, dysuria, difficulty urinating, or weak urine flow (thin stream, short range, prolonged duration) in severe cases.
3. Leaking cloudy, milky fluid from the urethral opening at the end of urination or in the morning.
4. Impaired sexual function, such as impotence, premature ejaculation, nocturnal emissions, painful ejaculation, or anejaculation.
5. Frequent symptoms of neurosis, such as blurred vision, dizziness, and insomnia.
Non-bacterial prostatitis does not require antimicrobial treatment and can be managed with massage, hot Sitz baths, physical therapy, or traditional Chinese medicine. However, the treatment duration is long, and the results may not be ideal. Therefore, it is recommended to seek early examination and diagnosis at a urological specialty hospital for targeted treatment.