Prostatitis (Chronic Pelvic Pain) in Mountlake Terrace, Washington (WA)

Depending on the type of prostatitis you have and the severity of your symptoms, your doctor will select a treatment plan that's right for you. Antibiotic treatment is often indicted if you have bacterial prostatitis. Different treatments are indicated for non-bacterial prostatitis or asymptomatic prostatitis (no symptoms).

Treating Bacterial Prostatitis

Acute bacterial prostatitis is most commonly treated with antibiotics over the course of several weeks to several months. Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the most common culprit for bacterial prostatitis accounting for up to 80% of all cases. Your doctor will look out for severe symptoms such as blockage of the urethra, which may require hospitalization and an additional antibiotic regiment.

Sometimes antibiotics have a hard time getting into all parts of the prostate, and E.coli will linger in about 5% of bacterial prostatitis cases. If E.coli linger, or if the bacteria Corynebacterium is present, you may experience chronic bacterial prostatitis. With chronic prostatitis, you may experience urinary tract infections and your doctor may prescribe different types of antibiotics such as levofloxacin, ofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin over longer periods of time.

Very rarely surgery may be used to drain an abscess (a collection of pus) caused by bacterial prostatitis. In very extreme cases infected prostate tissue will be removed via laparoscopic prostatectomy, in which the infected prostate or a portion of the infected prostate is removed through small incisions in the abdomen with a laparoscope (tiny, hollow tube with a lighted tip). Laparoscopic procedures are minimally invasive and you may return from the hospital the next day with a catheter in place to help urine flow.

Treating Non-Bacterial or Asymptomatic Prostatitis

Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), is a condition in which the prostate is inflamed with no detectable infection. Pain associated with CPPS may be alleviated with over the counter medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen, or with medications which alleviate urgent or painful urination such as phenazopyridine (Pyridium), oxybutynin, or tolterodine. Soaking in a hot bath may also alleviate discomfort.

Men with asymptomatic prostatitis don't feel pain or discomfort, but an elevated PSA level in their bloodwork indicates an infection of the prostate. Doctors will sometimes give antibiotics to men with asymptomatic prostatitis. PSA levels should return to normal within 4-6 weeks of treatment.

Discuss treatment options for prostatitis with your doctor.