Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate that can result from bacterial infection, stress, or other health conditions. There are four main varieties: acute bacterial, chronic bacterial, non-bacterial, and asymptomatic. Each of these has its own set of symptoms, although there is some overlap.

The most common version of prostatitis by far is chronic pelvic pain syndrome, which consists of up to 95% of all prostatitis diagnoses. The symptoms of CPPS involves pain in the pelvis and perineum, mild to debilitating, and sometimes reaching back to the rear. This pain will be long-lasting, up to several months. Another hallmark of CPPS is post-ejaculatory pain, which is unique primarily to CPPS as opposed to other forms of prostatitis. The causes of chronic pelvic pain syndrome are unknown, although stress and anxiety may play a role.

The next most common type is acute bacterial prostatitis. This form of prostatitis results in the usual symptoms of a bacterial infection: chills, fever, aches, etc. In addition, there will usually be pain in the genitals and lower back, and frequent nighttime urination. Urinary infections are associated with this form, and antibiotics are the key to clearing it up.

The rarest form of prostatitis is chronic bacterial. This too is inflammation caused by an infection, and usually results from poor urinary efficiency, which can result in recurrent bacterial infections. Symptoms are usually absent aside from recurrent urinary infections, which are similar to acute bacterial prostatitis. Treatment involves extended courses of antibiotics.

And finally, without much to say about it, is asymptomatic prostatitis. Obviously, this form has no symptoms and is usually discovered via an elevated white blood cell count from other tests. No treatment is usually required for it.