The prostate gland is walnut-shaped and located below the bladder, in front of the rectum. It surrounds the urethra. The prostate is very important for reproduction. The most important function of the prostate is production of the semen (alkaline fluid, pH 6) that nourishes and transports sperm. That fluid contains enzymes, which are used to dilute the sperm and help to reach the egg during intercourse. The muscles of the prostate are strongly push the sperm into the urethra and then expelled outwards during ejaculation.
Prostatitis is a spectrum of disorders ranging from infection to noninfectious inflammation, and acute to chronic pain syndromes.
There are four main types of prostatitis:
1. Acute bacterial prostatitis
2. Chronic bacterial
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Also, can be caused by:
- Functional or structural bladder pathology
- Ejaculatory duct obstruction
• Nonbacterial prostatitis. Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis causes long-term pain and urinary symptoms.
• Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis is usually caused by diagnosed incidentally, during the diagnosis of infertility or prostate cancer. Men of all ages can be affected by prostatitis. However, it is more common at young and middle-aged men. Risk factors for prostatitis include:
• History of prostatitis
• Recent urinary tract infection
• Being a young or middle-aged
• Regular exercise (pelvic trauma: injury from bicycling)
• Urinary catheter
• Dehydration
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Having HIV/AIDS
• History of STDs
Pathophysiological processes
Acute bacterial prostatitis causes a tender, swollen gland; soft on palpation. This process is may or may not cause pain. The urine and prostatic secretions contain large quantities of microorganisms, pus, and leukocytes. The infection is caused by gram-negative bacteria that usually produce urinary tract infections (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Proteus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus faecalis.) The bacteria reach the urinary tract through the bloodstream and lymph system, or may be sexually transmitted (Neisseria