What are the Causes of Prostatitis?

However odd this may sound, nobody actually knows exactly what causes prostatitis. Only in one case and that is when there is a bacterial infection can the cause be identified. In most of the cases of prostatitis the cause is never identified and treatment started even without knowing why the person got prostatitis in the first place. 

In the case of bacterial prostatitis the prostate gland gets infected by bacteria commonly found in urine. When this urine leaks into the prostate it will lead to infections. Many times this will lead to recurring bacterial prostatitis because the bacteria that is causing the infection is “hiding” inside the prostate and is never fully flushed out by the antibiotics that are the first line of treatment. 

Mostly this happens due to an injury to the prostate or pelvic region that causes the leakage of urine into the prostate as this does not happen normally. 

Although the other prostatitis causes are not known, doctors have a list of risk factors that are associated with prostatitis. They are given below: 

• Already had one attack of prostatitis
• If you are middle aged or past middle age
• Any kind of injury or trauma to the pelvic region, specifically the genitalia and/or the region that has the prostate gland. 
• The use of a catheter or any other tube to drain the urine directly from the bladder through the urethra
• There is even a belief that there are certain people who are genetically predisposed to getting prostate problems
• Diseases like HIV/AIDS sometimes causes prostatitis If left untreated there are a number of complications that can result from prostatitis. 

One of the most common complaints is infertility and abnormalities in the semen. Other problems like kidney problems can also result due to the tremendous back pressure exerted by the swollen prostate preventing urine from flowing outside. Sometimes, although not every time, even infections of the blood can result as will an inflammation of the epididymitis, the coiled tube at the back of the testicle. 

Because the underlying causes for most cases of prostatitis is not known, it is better to be safe rather than sorry. This is because although prostatitis is not very dangerous if identified in the initial stages, and is easily treatable too, the symptoms of prostate cancer which is a much more severe problem is much the same as prostatitis. Checking with a doctor if there is any pain in the pelvic region is the wisest thing to do.