Chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome
The central feature can be pain or discomfort lasting three months or longer. Pain may be felt between the scrotum and anus, in the lower abdomen, penis, scrotum or lower back. Pain during or after ejaculation may occur. Urinary burning, frequency, urgency, weak flow or interrupted flow can also be reported.
Acute bacterial prostatitis
This pattern can start suddenly and be severe. Possible features include frequent or urgent urination, burning or painful urination, fever, chills, pain in the genital or groin area, lower abdomen or lower back, nausea, vomiting, body aches and urinary retention.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis
Symptoms can resemble acute bacterial prostatitis but are often less severe, develop more slowly, and may come and go. Recurrent urinary infection can be part of the history.
Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis
Some people have no symptoms; inflammation is identified during evaluation for another reason.
Why a clinician looks beyond the prostate
Urinary frequency, weak flow, pelvic discomfort and pain with urination are not unique to prostatitis. A clinician may consider bladder problems, urinary tract infection, benign prostate enlargement and other causes. This is why symptom duration, associated fever, previous infections and examination matter.
A useful description
| Instead of | Try noting |
|---|---|
| “It hurts sometimes.” | Location, intensity, whether it is linked to urination or ejaculation, and how long it has been present. |
| “I pee a lot.” | Frequency, urgency, night-time waking, stream strength and whether the bladder feels empty afterwards. |
| “I felt sick.” | Temperature if measured, chills, body aches, nausea/vomiting and when they began. |