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Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland, mostly due to bacterial infection. If left untreated, an inflamed or infected prostate can cause serious genitourinary problems.
Prostatitis affects approximately 50% of all men, and is the most common urological disorder in men over 50, and the third most common in men under 50.
There are four main types of prostatitis, involving bacterial infection or otherwise, each with its own symptoms. Common symptoms, however, include:
- urinary obstruction
- fever
- painful ejaculation
- pain of the lower back or the perineum (space between the testes and anus)
The type of prostatitis is found and diagnosed using a digital rectal exam, urine samples or a prostate massage. Once the type of disease is known, an appropriate course of treatment can be chosen. The most common treatments are:
- medication (for bacterial infection)
- surgery to remove part or all of the prostate gland depending on how severe the symptoms are. It can be performed via the urethra without having to make any incisions, or, if the whole prostate must be removed, by normal surgery.
There are also alternative treatments available, such as diet regulation, nutritional supplements and herbal medicine.
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