The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located below the bladder. As a part of the male reproductive system, the gland surrounds the urethra and secretes a liquid to mix with sperm and form semen. As men age, the prostate grows and may become inflamed and infected. This infection, referred to as prostatitis, may begin due to bacteria or from other causes such as a virus, chemical exposure or fungi. Nonbacterial prostatitis is the most common type, notes the American Urological Association Foundation, and can cause chronic pelvic pain. Treatments for nonbacterial prostatitis help manage the symptoms, but may not completely cure the condition.
Medications
Over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen may help relieve the pain and swelling associated with chronic prostatitis. If bowel movements become painful due to the infection, a stool softener may help ease discomfort. Alpha-adrenergic blocker medications such as doxazosin, tamsulosin and terazosin work to relax the muscles around the bladder where the prostate sits and within the prostate itself. This muscle relaxation may help decrease symptoms such as painful urination. Some men may experience symptom relief after antibiotic therapy. Although bacteria do not cause the condition, long term use of oral antibiotics may help alleviate the symptoms, according to The Merck Manuals.
Therapy
A physician may insert a finger into the rectum to perform a prostate massage. This procedure may help relieve the symptoms of nonbacterial prostatitis because it helps drain the ducts in the prostate. Sitting in a warm bath may help relieve the lower back and pelvic discomfort associated with the condition. Practicing relaxation techniques may help relieve painful muscle spasms in the pelvis. Modifying a man's diet--by avoiding certain specific foods and beverages such as spicy foods and caffeine--can help reduce the symptoms associated with prostatitis.
Suegery
If medical treatment methods fail, removing a portion of the prostate in an operation--called a transurethral resection of the prostate, or a TURP, may help treat nonbacterial prostatitis as a last resort. To perform this procedure, a urologist inserts an instrument into the urethra and trims tissue from the inside of the prostate gland. The procedure may require a one to two day hospital stay, explains the Mayo Clinic. Physicians may opt to destroy the prostate by using laser or microwave treatments instead of a transurethral resection of the prostate.
