Prostate Infection

Prostatitis is usually caused by bacteria but a nonbacterial form of the disease also exists. Prostatitis is the most common genitourinary ailment in men younger than age 50 but the bacterial form occurs most often in men age 70 and older. If left untreated infection can spread to the testicles and epididymis (tubules in back of the testis) and in severe cases destroy the prostate gland.

Signs and Symptoms

• Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Frequent and urgent urination
• Difficult or painful urination
• Urinating at night
• Fever; chills
• Generalized sense of ill health
• Painful ejaculation
• Bloody semen
• Sexual dysfunction
• Pain in the lower back pelvis or perineum (lining of the pelvic area)

What Causes It?

Risk factors for prostatitis include the following.

• Recent urinary tract infection
• Prior sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia
• Smoking
• Excess alcohol consumption

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Your health care provider will do a physical examination of the prostate and use laboratory tests such as urine analysis or blood cultures.

Treatment Options

Treatment Plan

Antibiotics usually are given by mouth. In cases of sudden and severe prostatitis you may require an intravenous administration. Depending on the severity treatment last from foyr to six weeks. Stool softeners anti-inflammatory drugs and hot sitz baths may all help to relieve symptoms.

Drug Therapies

Prescription

• Antibiotics—such as ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are recommended for bacterial prostatitis; erythromycin is recommended for nonbacterial prostatitis; various side effects

Over the Counter

• Anti-inflammatory drugs—such as ibuprofen; for pain

Surgical Procedures

If fever and pain persist you may need surgery.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Nutrition

• Vitamin C (1 000 mg three to four times a day)
• Zinc (60 mg a day) has been shown to reduce the size of the prostate.
• Selenium (200 mcg a day) is an antioxidant concentrated in the prostate.
• Essential fatty acids (1 000 to 1 500 mg one to two times a day) are anti-inflammatory for optimum prostaglandin concentrations.
• Pumpkin seeds have been used historically for a healthy prostate.
• Avoid simple sugars alcohol (especially beer) and coffee; drink plenty of water (48 oz. a day).

Herbs

Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules powders teas) glycerites (glycerine extracts) or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per 1 cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers or 10 to 20 minutes for roots.

Studies show saw palmetto (Serenoa ripens) may be as effective as Proscar (a common prostate medication). Dose of 160 mg twice a day is difficult to achieve in tea or tincture; extract standardized for 85 to 95 percent of fatty acids and sterols is recommended.

Cernilton a flower pollen extract (500 to 1 000 mg two to three times a day) has been used extensively in Europe to treat prostatitis caused by inflammation or infection. It also has a contractile effect on the bladder and relaxes the urethra.

• Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi): diuretic urinary antiseptic
• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis): diuretic antiseptic antimicrobial
• Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): improves immune function
• Corn silk (Zea mays): diuretic soothing demulcent

Take a combination of the above herbs (1 cup tea or 60 drops tincture three times a day).

Homeopathy

Some of the most common remedies used for prostatitis are listed below. Usually the dose is 12X to 30C every one to four hours until your symptoms get better.

• Chimaphila umbellata for retention of urine with an enlarged prostate
• Pulsatilla for pain after urination especially involuntary urination
• Pareira for painful urination especially with painful urging
• Lycopodium for painful urination with reddish sediment in the urine especially with impotence
• Thuja specifically if there is a forked stream of urine

Physical Medicine

Kegel exercises increase pelvic circulation and improve muscle tone.

Contrast sitz baths: You will need two basins that you can comfortably sit in. Fill one basin with hot water one with cold water. Sit in hot water for three minutes then in cold water for one minute. Repeat this three times to complete one set. Do one to two sets a day three to four days a week.

Acupuncture

May improve urinary flow and decrease swelling and inflammation.

Massage

May help reduce symptoms. Focus may be on the lower abdominal area lower back and around the sacrum.

Following Up

Be sure you follow your health care provider's instructions for treatment and keep using the treatment as directed even if you start to feel better.

Special Considerations

Men should have a yearly prostate examination after age 40 even if they have no symptoms of prostate problems. In recurring cases you may need ongoing treatment with periodic checkups.

Supporting Research

Bartram T. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Dorset England: Grace Publishers; 1995:52 128 203.

Berkow R ed. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 16th ed. Rahway NJ: The Merck Publishing Group; 1992.

Blumenthal M ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Boston Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998:75 201.

Buck AC Rees RWM Ebeling L. Treatment of chronic prostatitis and prostadynia with pollen extract. Br J Urol. 1989;64:496–499.

Conn RB Borere WZ Snyder JW eds. Current Diagnosis 9. Philadelphia Pa: WB Saunders; 1996.

Driscoll CE Bope ET Smith CW JR Carter BL eds. The Family Practice Desk Reference. 3rd ed. St. Louis Mo: Mosby-Year Book; 1996.

Gruenwald J Brendler T et al eds. PDR for Herbal Medicines. Montvale NJ: Medical Economics Company; 1998:817 1 229.

Morrison R. Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms. Albany Calif: Hahnemann Clinic Publishing; 1993:119 228–231 341 388–389.

Murray MT Pizzorno JE. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Rocklin Calif: Prima Publishing; 1998:480–486.

Thierney Jr LM McPhee SJ Papadakis MA eds. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 1999. 38th ed. Stamford Conn: Appleton & Lange; 1999.

Werbach M. Nutritional Influences on Illness. New Canaan Conn: Keats Publishing; 1988:82–84.

Copyright © 2000 Integrative Medicine Communications

The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application use or misuse of any of the information contained herein including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability negligence or otherwise. No warranty expressed or implied is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor pharmacist nurse or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage precautions warnings interactions and contraindications before administering any drug herb or supplement discussed herein.