Prostatitis refers to inflammation or infection of the prostate gland, and it is the most common prostate condition in men over 50. There are four main types of the condition, and each requires care by a urologist . If you have been diagnosed with prostatitis or believe you could have the condition, here is what you need to know.

What are the types of prostatitis?

The most common type of prostatitis is chronic pelvic pain syndrome, or CPPS, which represents about 90% of prostatitis cases. CPPS causes painful ejaculation, pelvic pain, and rectal pain. A second type, asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, does not cause any symptoms and is only diagnosed when your urologist is examining the semen looking for another prostate condition. Acute bacterial prostatitis is an easy-to-treat infection, but it occurs rarely. It causes a sudden onset of pelvic pain, burning during urination, inability to empty the bladder, and fever. The fourth type, chronic bacterial prostatitis, is also rare. It causes symptoms similar to acute bacterial prostatitis but less severe and longer lasting.

What are the causes?

There are several different potential causes of prostatitis. Acute and chronic prostatitis occurs when bacteria from urine backs up into the prostate, usually as the result of a bladder infection, recent catheterization, or injury to the prostate. Other forms of prostatitis can be caused by infections, STDs, pelvic muscle spasms, or doing physical activity while your bladder is full.

How is prostatitis treated?

Treatment for prostatitis depends on the type. Prostatitis caused by bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. In some cases, it may be necessary to take the medication for several months. CPPS can be more challenging to treat. Your urologist may try multiple treatments, including muscle relaxants, and alpha blockers. Warm baths, physical therapy, and dietary changes, including avoiding spicy or acidic foods, may also help.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of prostatitis or another urological condition, make an appointment with Urology Associates, PC. We provide comprehensive urology services, from erectile dysfunction care to treatment for incontinence in Tennessee. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call (855) 901-1338.

Vasectomy is a fairly minor procedure that men can have as a form of permanent birth control. During this procedure, the vas deferens is sealed so that sperm will no longer be present in your semen. The recovery time for vasectomy is short, but there are certain steps you can take to ensure that everything goes well.

Support and Treatment

Your doctor will give you specific instructions for recovery, but there are some general tips to follow. It is normal to have some bruising, swelling, and pain, but if these symptoms worsen or don’t get better after a few days, be sure to call your doctor. For the first 48 hours after surgery, support your scrotum with a bandage and tightfitting underwear. Apply ice packs to the area for the first two days.

Limit Physical Activity

Following vasectomy, you will need to rest completely for at least 24 hours. After two to three days you can do light activity if you feel well enough, but you need to avoid sports and heavy lifting for at least a week. It is also important to abstain from sexual activity for at least a week, as ejaculation can cause pain and bleeding. When you do resume sexual intercourse, be sure to use another form of birth control until a doctor confirms that there is no sperm in your semen.

If you are considering vasectomy or any other urological procedure, our highly skilled team at Urology Associates, P.C. can provide you with any information you need. Visit us online or call to schedule an appointment at (877) 317-8639. We provide excellent urologic care to both men and women in the Nashville area.

Overactive bladder—sometimes called OAB—is a common condition that causes the overwhelming need to urinate and the inability to stop the flow of urine. The intrusive condition can be controlled with the help of your urologist, so see your doctor if it happens to you.

There are four symptoms of OAB. One is urgency, or the need to urinate right away with little ability to control it. Frequency is another symptom. People with OAB urinate more than eight times per day, rather than the typical four to six times per day. Urge incontinence, the loss of urinary control after experiencing an urge, is also a symptom, as is nocturia, or waking two or more times per night to urinate.

You don’t have to live with the stress and embarrassment of OAB. Make an appointment at Urology Associates, P.C. We provide comprehensive urology and sexual health care, from UTIs to ED and bladder cancer. Make an appointment with a urologist in Tennessee today by calling (855) 901-1338.