This is also called chronic non-bacterial prostatitis or prostate pain syndrome. It is the most common type of prostatitis but it is the type that doctors know least about because there is no evidence of any bacterial infection.

There are several possible causes of CPPS, including backflow of urine into the prostate gland or a problem with the body's immune system. There is some evidence that CPPS may be linked with chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and raised levels of stress and anxiety. Nobody knows for certain what causes CPPS.

The symptoms of CPPS vary from man to man. There is no single test to diagnose it so your doctor will need to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms before making a diagnosis. There are several different medicines that may help improve symptoms of CPPS. Treatment will be tailored to you because each man will respond differently to different treatments. You may find it useful to record your symptoms on a regular basis to help you and your doctor find out which treatment suits you best.

Some men have found other treatments helpful, for example, pelvic floor exercises and acupuncture.

You can read more about the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of CPPS in our online booklet.

This is an inflammation of the prostate gland that causes symptoms to develop very quickly. It is not common. It can develop when certain types of bacteria get into your prostate, causing it to become infected.

Acute bacterial prostatitis is diagnosed with urine and blood tests. You may also a digital rectal examination (DRE) and your doctor may examine your stomach area (abdomen). It is treated with antibiotics. You can take these at home or you may need to have them in hospital if the infection is more severe.

You can read more about the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of acute bacterial prostatitis in our online booklet.

This is an inflammation of the prostate gland that can last for several weeks or months. It is thought to be caused by a bacterial infection. It can develop from acute bacterial prostatitis if antibiotics do not destroy all of the bacteria in the prostate gland. It can also be caused by the same bacteria that cause urinary tract infections.

The most common symptoms are similar to the symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis but usually less severe and they may come and go. Another common symptom is painful ejaculation.

To diagnose chronic bacterial prostatitis, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and test your urine for infection. They may also need to take a sample of prostate fluid.

Your doctor will give you antibiotics to treat the infection. You may also be offered tablets called alpha-blockers. If you are in a lot of discomfort, you may need to take pain-relieving drugs.

You can read more about the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis in our online booklet.

This is where you have prostatitis but do not show any of the symptoms. It is usually detected by chance when you are having tests for other conditions.

Asymptomatic prostatitis usually needs no treatment. However, if you have high levels of a protein called prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood or if you have high levels of white blood cells in your urine or semen, your doctor will usually give you a course of antibiotics. Your doctor will tell you how long you need to take the antibiotics for but it will usually be for around four to six weeks. In most cases, your PSA level will return to normal four to six weeks after a course of antibiotics.

You may find it frustrating living with prostatitis. If you are in discomfort, it can be difficult to carry out everyday tasks. You may worry about travelling long distances or sitting in meetings when you do not know when you will be able to reach a toilet. You may feel that other people do not understand your symptoms. There is still a lot we do not know about prostatitis and you may feel frustrated by this lack of knowledge.

Treatment of prostatitis aims to relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life, but you may find you need extra support. You may find it helpful to talk to your doctor about how you are feeling, or you can call our confidential Helpline. You may also find it helpful to talk to a partner, friend, or relative, or to a counsellor. You may be able to get a referral to a counsellor through your doctor, or you can get a list of private counsellors from the UK Council for Psychotherapy.

"Up to three in 20 men (15 per cent) may have prostatitis at some time in their lives."

This comes from:
Langer JE. Cornud F. Inflammatory disorders of the prostate and the distal genital tract. Radiologic Clinics of North America. 44(5):665-77, vii, 2006 Sep.