How to tell if you have prostatitis

Determining whether you have prostatitis can be initially identified through symptoms such as abnormal urination, local pain, and changes in sexual function. The diagnosis requires a combination of medical tests such as digital rectal examination and prostate fluid examination. Prostatitis may be caused by factors such as bacterial infection, prolonged sitting, holding in urine, spicy diet, or immune abnormalities.

1. Abnormal urination

Patients with prostatitis often experience symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, burning pain during urination, or thinning of the urine line. Urinating more than twice at night, or accompanied by a feeling of incomplete dripping after urination. These symptoms are related to prostate congestion compressing the urethra, and urinary system infection needs to be ruled out through routine urine examination.

2. Local pain

Persistent swelling and pain in the perineum, pubic area, or lumbosacral region may worsen during defecation. Acute bacterial prostatitis may be accompanied by fever and pain radiating to the head of the penis. Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis causes less severe but longer-lasting pain.

3. Changes in sexual function

Pain during ejaculation, hematospermia, or erectile dysfunction may occur. Changes in prostate sensitivity caused by inflammation can affect the quality of sexual life, but need to be differentiated from psychological erectile dysfunction. Routine examination of semen can reveal abnormalities in the number of white blood cells.

4. Systemic symptoms

Systemic reactions such as chills and high fever may occur during acute attacks, and chronic patients are prone to sub-health states such as fatigue and insomnia. These symptoms are related to the release of inflammatory factors. When the body temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, you need to be alert to purulent prostatitis.

5. Abnormal digital rectal examination

Doctors may detect prostate enlargement, tenderness, or uneven surface during palpation. In the secretions obtained after prostate massage, a white blood cell count of more than 10/high-power field can aid diagnosis. This examination must be performed by a professional physician.

Drinking more than 2000 ml of water every day will help flush the urethra and avoid riding or sitting for long periods of time. The diet should reduce the intake of irritating foods such as peppers and alcohol, and moderate levator exercises can improve local blood circulation. If symptoms persist for more than two weeks or hematuria, high fever, etc. occur, you must promptly go to the urology department for treatment. If necessary, prostate ultrasound or bacterial culture examination is required. Acute bacterial prostatitis requires standardized antibiotic treatment, and chronic patients can use physical therapy to relieve symptoms.