Prostate Pain

27th November 2006 at 11:29 GMT by Dr.C.A.Jenner MB BS, FRCA. Permalink.

Article on the clinical features and treatment of Prostate Pain

Introduction

The prostate is a muscular, walnut-sized gland in the male body that surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that transports urine and sperm out of the body. The prostrate gland produces the liquid in which sperm are expelled from the penis during ejaculation. It is located directly underneath the bladder and in front of the rectum.

In newborn boys, the size of the prostate is about the size of a pea and grows very slowly until puberty, after which its sizes increases dramatically. When man is in his 40s, it begins to increase in size again. Various hormones control its growth and function, the most important being the male sex hormone, testosterone.

Prostrate Pain

Prostrate pain can generally imply a vast range of prostate-related disorders. Immediate medical help should be taken if the prostate pain is severe enough to stop an individual from any form of sexual contact or if he experiences trouble during urinating.

The most common sign of a prostate problem is difficulty in passing urine. Changes in prostate narrow the urethra, which is that tube that carries urine from the bladder.

Conditions and Causes

The most common cause of all prostate problems is the enlargement of the prostate, which can occur normally with age. As this enlargement occurs, it can press on the urethra, causing problems with urination. Here we briefly discuss each of the conditions giving rise to prostate pain.

Prostatitis

This term primarily encompasses four main disorders, including:

1. Acute bacterial prostatitis: This disorder is characterized by chills, fever, pain in the lower back and genital area, urinary frequency and urgency, especially at night, burning or painful urination and body aches.
2. Chronic bacterial prostatitis: This condition is associated with the underlying defect in the prostate, which eventually becomes a focal point for bacterial persistence in the urinary tract.
3. Chronic prostatitis: This condition, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome is characterized by a sensation of chronic discomfort or pain felt in the lower pelvic region, mainly at the base of the penis and around the anus.
4. Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis: This is a condition where the patient does not complain of pain or discomfort, but has infection-fighting cells in his semen.

Prostatodynia

Prostatodynia is characterized by pain and symptoms of prostate problems, but without any evidence of inflammation or infection in the gland.

The main symptoms include pain on erection or ejaculation, low sex drive, low semen volume and impotence.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

BPH is characterized by a benign or a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. The most common sign of BPH is the difficulty to pass urine. It is a very common disorder in men over the age of 50. About half of the men are likely to suffer from BPH by the age of 60.

Treatment

The treatment plan for prostate pain normally comprises of evaluating the symptoms, prescribing drugs and self-care measures, followed by surgery in severe cases.