Archive for category: Prostatitis

What is Chronic Prostatitis Symptom & Treatment?

14th June 2019/in Men's Health, Prostatitis, STD & HIV /by Miri Yeo

What is Prostatitis?

Prostatitis refers to a group of conditions that usually cause inflammation of the prostate gland or surrounding structures in men, which results in pain or discomfort around the pelvis and a variety of urinary symptoms.
It can be classified into several categories which include:

Acute Prostatitis,
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis,
Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, and
Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.

Prostatitis is very common, with up to 2-10% of men affected at any time. The majority of these cases will fall under chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, also known now as chronic pelvic pain syndrome – these account for about 95% of prostatitis diagnoses.
Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) is due to inflammation of the prostate or inflammation in the organs and tissues in the pelvic region.

What are some of the Symptoms of Chronic Prostatitis?

Men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome can present with a number of symptoms, including pain at the perineum, testicles, penis, and lower back, pain while passing urine or after ejaculation, and urinary frequency or urgency.
They may also lead to erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation.
These symptoms can wax and wane, lasting for weeks to months. Many men can suffer for months at a time with these symptoms without getting the correct diagnosis or treatment.
The exact causes of chronic pelvic pain syndrome are not well known, but it may be triggered by combinations of stress, anxiety, hypersensitive nerves, increased muscle tension, previous infection, or even changes in diet or climate.

What are the Treatments for Chronic Prostatitis?

Treatment options for chronic prostatitis can vary depending on the underlying cause but may include a combination of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and neuromodulators. There is also evidence that some patients can respond well to Electroshockwave Therapy or ESWT for Prostate Inflammation.
If you need to speak to a doctor in regards to Chronic Prostatitis, please visit our clinics. Alternatively, you can email us hello@dtapclinic.com.sg or call us for an appointment.
Take care.

What is Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome?

3rd May 2019/in ESWT, Men's Health, Prostatitis /by Miri Yeo

Vague groin symptoms?

Do you have non-specific or vague groin symptoms like the following?

Difficulty starting or stopping urine
Frequent urination especially at night
Frequency of wetness in the urethra
Incomplete emptying of your bladder
Cloudy urine
Blood in urine or Blood in semen
Pelvic pain or discomfort
Pain around penis, testicles or perineum (the area between scrotum and anus)
Lower back pain
Pain while having sex
Painful ejaculation
Erectile Dysfunction
Premature ejaculation

Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

If you have any of the above symptoms but your tests results don’t show any infection, you might have Chronic Prostatitis or Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS). This is due to inflammation of the prostate or inflammation in the organs and tissues in the pelvic region. Read: Prostatitis Treatment

Causes Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome:

This condition may be triggered by sexual intercourse, periods of stress or even changes in weather or different types of food.
This is commonly under-diagnosed by many physicians. Most patients end up frustrated as they are told by their doctors that there is nothing wrong with them or there is no treatment suitable for their condition. Some have to suffer for many years before getting adequately treated.

How to Treat Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome:

Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome can be a challenging condition to treat and manage.
Conventionally, it is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDS and patients had to end up taking it for a long time.
Recently, a relatively form of treatment has shown great improvements in men with CPPS. This treatment is by using low-intensity shockwave. The treatment is called Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT).

This therapy has shown tremendous improvements in symptoms in men suffering from CPPS. Men have reported improvements from as early as from a single session. Typically one will require 4 sessions of ESWT for maximal benefit.
ESWT for CPPS/Prostatitis is available at our dedicated DTAP Clinic.

Do speak to any of our doctors to find out if ESWT is suitable for you. You can drop us an email at hello@dtapclinic.com.sg, or walk-in or call our clinics for an appointment.
Take Care

Related Read:

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Erectile Dysfunction Treatment with ElectroShock Wave Treatment
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10 Causes of Penile Pain
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What are the Causes of Foreskin Infection?

10 Causes of Penile Pain – Ouch! Pain in the Penis

21st January 2019/in Herpes, Men's Health, Paraphimosis, Prostatitis, STD & HIV /by Miri Yeo

For men, the penis is one of the most, if not the most important organ. So if there are any signs of pain or discomfort, it usually causes a lot of worry and anxiety. However, pain in the penis can be due to many different conditions. Some are harmless, others may need immediate treatment.
So I have listed below some of the common causes of penile pain so that you can know when you need to rush to see the doctor or only come in the following Monday.

Top 10 Causes of Pain in the Penis:

Penile Infections

1) Balanitis

Balanitis refers to inflammation of the foreskin which can be caused by fungal or bacterial infections, and irritants such as soaps, powders or creams that are applied over the foreskin. People that have diseases which compromise the immune system, such as Diabetes and HIV, may be more prone to this condition.
The pain caused by the inflammation is usually not severe but it can be throbbing, itchy and rather uncomfortable. This can be easily treated by treating the cause or avoiding the irritant.
See: Treatment for Penile Infection

2) Herpes

Herpes is one of the most common Sexually Transmitted Diseases STDs. This infection is transmitted through skin to skin contact and is usually caused by 2 different viruses called HSV 1 and HSV 2, which are usually known to cause lesions in the mouth and genital areas respectively. However, during oral sex, the virus can be passed on from the mouth to the penis causing genital herpes.
They usually present with painful blisters or ulcers over the skin and can be painful or at least very sensitive to touch. It can be treated with anti-viral tablets although it will keep recurring throughout a person’s life.
See: Everything You Need to Know about Herpes Simplex Virus

3) Chancroid

Chancroid is caused by a bacteria called Haemophilus Ducreyi and is transmitted through sexual intercourse. It commonly presents with a single large painful ulcer on the penis along with enlarged and tender lymph nodes in the groin region.
Chancroid is an infection that is usually caught via sexual contact. This can be treated with antibiotics once the diagnosis is established by your doctor.
See: The causes of Genital Blister and Ulcers

4) Urethritis

This is an infection of the urinary tract along the penis, through which the urine is passed out from the bladder. When an infection occurs along this tract it results in pain when urinating or discharges from the tip of the penis. Sometimes even when not urinating, one can feel the pain along the urethra itself.
Urethritis can be caused by Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, NSU or Herpes which are very common infections that can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. A simple urine test and sometimes a urethral swab can be performed to found out the exact cause and in most cases, it is easily cured with antibiotics.
See: What are the causes of Abnormal Penile Discharge

5) Prostate Infections

When the prostate is involved during a urinary tract infection it can cause severe pain during urination and sometimes fever and shivering. This sometimes is difficult to diagnose and may involve the doctor placing a finger up the anus to feel for any tenderness in the prostate gland. Moreover, it usually requires a longer course of antibiotics.
See: The Causes, Testing and Treatment of Prostatitis (Prostate Inflammation)

Trauma to the Penis

6) Penis Fracture

The penis is made out of erectile tissues and blood vessels. Although there is no bone in the penis, during an erection it can be as hard as bone. The term penis fracture is used when there is an injury to the erectile tissue inside the penis. It usually happens during sexual intercourse when the penis accidentally fully or partially slips out of the partner and the partner sits back down on the penis which injures it.
This will result in a sudden onset of pain and in certain cause you may even hear a snapping sound. When this occurs you should go to the emergency department immediately because it is a medical emergency.

7) Torn Frenulum

The frenulum is a thin strip of skin connecting the head of the penis to the foreskin. This can break during intercourse, especially when it’s rough, and result in pain and a lot of bleeding. The pain can last up to a few days as the frenulum heals. The healing time varies and it may get repeatedly injured during subsequent intercourse. When it started to occur more frequently, a simple surgical procedure may be done to fix the frenulum.
Frenulum breve, or short frenulum, is a condition in which the frenulum of the penis is too short and thus restricts the movement of the foreskin.
See: Frenulum Breve Treatment or Penile Frenulectomy

Others Medical Condiction that Causes of Penile Pain

8) Peyronie’s Disease

Is your penis bent during an erection? At the point where it is bent, can you feel a painful lump?
If it is yes to both questions, you may have Peyronie’s Disease. This happens when a spot along the penis shaft becomes inflamed and as it heals, it leads to contraction of one side of the penis causing it to bend. The pain may arise from the area of inflammation or in certain cases when the curvature is so severe, it causes pain during sexual intercourse.
Please see a doctor if you think you have Peyronie’s disease, and once the diagnosis is established the doctor may suggest several treatment options ranging from shock wave therapy to surgery.

9) Paraphimosis

This is a condition where the foreskin is completely retracted to expose the head of the penis and cannot be pulled forward to cover the head of the penis again. When the foreskin get inflamed and forms a band around the penis, it may affect the blood flow to the tip of the penis and usually causes severe pain.
This is a medical emergency and patients with this issue should see a doctor immediately. Most of the time, the doctor can use special techniques to pull the foreskin back into place.
Learn more about Paraphimosis.

10) Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

This is a condition where there are non-specific symptoms in the groin area including pain in the penis, testicles or even lower back pain. This is due to inflammation either in the prostate or any of the organs in the groin area.
Read more about CPPS here.
Next time you feel pain or discomfort, do consider the possible.
If you wish to speak to our doctor about penile pain, please visit our DTAP Clinics or you can call us, or email us for an appointment at hello@dtapclinic.com.sg.
Take Care!

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