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Prostatitis

Cause

Most men with prostatitis have chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome, inflammatory or noninflammatory. The cause of this type of prostatitis is not known.

About 1 out of 10 men have prostatitis caused by bacteria.

Acute prostatitis and chronic bacterial prostatitis

Bacteria infecting the prostate cause Reference acute prostatitis and Reference chronic bacterial prostatitis. Bacteria most likely enter the prostate by:

Traveling through the Reference urethra Opens New Window.
Being present in the urine because of a bladder infection.
Being introduced through the use of a urinary Reference catheter Opens New Window.

Chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome, inflammatory (nonbacterial prostatitis)

The specific cause of Reference chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome, inflammatory, is usually not known. But doctors believe the possible causes include:

Blocked urine flow.
Abnormal movement of urine and prostate secretions into the prostate.
Microorganisms that may infect the prostate. If they are present, they usually are not detectable in the urine.
The immune system attacking the prostate (Reference autoimmune disease Opens New Window).
Chemicals normally found in the urine, such as uric acid, which may get into the prostate and cause irritation.
Abnormal nerve or muscle function.

Chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome, noninflammatory (prostatodynia)

The causes of Reference chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome, noninflammatory, may be the same as those for chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome, inflammatory. Some doctors think that a combination of things—including nervous system problems and strained pelvic floor muscles—causes the pain. Emotional problems and anxiety can make the pain worse.

By:	Reference Healthwise Staff	Last Revised: Reference December 3, 2011
Medical Review:	Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Reference J. Curtis Nickel, MD, FRCSC - Urology