What is Prostatitis and what type of doctor should I see for it?

What is Prostatitis?

Prostatitis is the inflammation of the prostate gland. It can be divided into:

• Acute prostatitis
• Chronic prostatitis.

Acute Prostatitis

Usually, a patient with acute prostatitis would be quite ill. He/she may experience symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Urinary symptoms—difficulty in passing urine, painful urination
• Lower abdominal pain.

Most of the time, this patient would need to be admitted for antibiotics and monitoring.

Chronic Prostatitis

A patient with chronic prostatitis, on the other hand, would be less ill.

He would present symptoms such as

• Urinary symptoms
• Pain in the perineum.
• Painful ejaculation for some

There is a wide spectrum of presentation for chronic prostatitis and it is not uncommon that there is no bacterial cause for this condition and the symptoms waxes and wanes.

Which Doctor Should I See For Prostatitis?

Urologists are the specialists who treat prostatitis.

You may read this article for the ultimate guide to seeing a Urologist in Singapore.

What is Prostatitis?

Prostatitis is the swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland.

Symptoms of Prostatitis?

Prostatitis can cause painful or difficult urination. Other symptoms include pain in:

• The groin
• The lower part of the abdomen
• The perineum (the area between the scrotum and anus)
• The penis
• The scrotum

Who is at Risk of Prostatitis?

Prostatitis tends to affect younger men aged 50 or younger.

This is in comparison to other prostate conditions like enlarged prostate or prostate cancer which are more common in men older than 50.

How to Treat Prostatitis?

The treatment of prostatitis depends on the cause. Prostatitis has a number of causes. Sometimes the cause isn't identified.

If prostatitis is caused by a bacterial infection, it can usually be treated with antibiotics. Other treatments that may be useful include:

• Pain killers
• Anti-inflammation medication
• Prostate relaxants
• Physiotherapy
• Psychotherapy
• Shockwave therapy etc.

Depending on the cause, prostatitis can come on gradually or suddenly. Some types of prostatitis can persist for months or keep recurring. This is called chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).

Which Doctor Should I see For Prostatitis?

Men with prostatitis should be first seen by a urologist. The urologist is the specialist best able to diagnose the condition, exclude other conditions that may have similar symptoms, as well as treat prostatitis.