by Josef Firestone

Created on: November 14, 2008   Last Updated: November 26, 2008

It is easy enough to describe the different symptoms of prostatitis,

but even a prostate specialist is not always sure of which type of

prostatitis condition it may be, or the direct cause leading to this very common

sickness of the male prostate women do not have prostate.

The numbers are showing that the chance of suffering from some kind of prostatitis is one in three in men above 50 years old, and are becoming higher as men age to as much as one out of two in men above 70 years old.

Generally speaking prostatitis is a painful condition, inflammation or infection of the prostate gland.

There are three main types of prostatitis:

Acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP)

Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP)

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis

The various types of prostatitis have slightly different signs, causes and symptoms:

Acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP)

Symptoms are usually sudden and occurs primarily in men under 40

years of age, they include:

- Chills and fever

- An urge to urinate but passing small amounts of urine

- Incomplete emptying of the bladder

- Joint pain, lower back pain, pain in penis and or in the prostate gland

- Painful ejaculation

- Excessive urinating at night

The ABP condition can be serious and requires an immediate medical attention.

The cause of Acute (short term) bacterial prostatitis can be growth of bacteria not normally found in the prostatic fluid.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP)

Occurs mostly in men between the ages of 40 and 70.

Symptoms of CBP are much like ABP but less severe.

What causes a Chronic (long term) bacterial infection is not entirely clear.

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis

This is the most common condition, responsible for almost 90 percent

of the cases and complaints of prostatitis. And is the number one reason for doctor visits by men above 50 years old.

Symptoms are similar to CBP but without fever.

Labs tests can find out whether the bacteria is present in the urine or not.

Causes are:

- Heavy lifting when bladder is full

- Physical activity such as jogging and biking

- Interstitial cystitis

- Pelvic muscle spasm

If you develop and recognize any of the symptoms of the different types of prostatitis, especially if they are sudden, go and see your doctor without delay.

If not treated, prostatitis can evolve into a more complicated medical problem, and to move to other parts of the body.

Prevention measures can include (this is not conclusive or proven), eating less spicy food, drinking less caffeine, having sex on a regular basis and not doing heavy work with full bladder.

Furthermore, when having a regular check up ask your doctor if you need extra check for a prostate condition.

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