Prostatitis, an inflammation of the prostate gland in men, makes up almost 10% of all visits to urologists in the U.S. according to the Journal of Urology. Typical symptoms include pain around the mid-section, as well as a host of other symptoms or even no symptoms at all. The postatitis cure that is most effective will depend on the type of disease, of which there are four recognized sub-types: acute bacterial, chronic bacterial, non-bacterial, and asymptomatic bacterial.

By far, the most common type of prostatitis is non-bacterial, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, which accounts for up to 95% of all prostatitis diagnoses. This type is most likely caused by a combination of stress, muscle tension, and hormonal problems, rather than a bacterial infection. The cure for it thus involves a wide host of treatments, different for every individual, but generally involving a combination of stretching, pressure point therapy, relaxation therapy, psychotherapy, anxiety treatment, and possibly antidepressants. As an elusive disease, the causes of which are still not completely understood, the cure can be difficult to hammer down as well, although prognoses have been improving over recent years.

Acute bacterial prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland caused by a bacterial infection. Usually, this comes about from frequent urinary tract infections or other urinary problems, which can cause bacteria to enter the prostate. The typical cure for this disease involves a course of treatment with antibiotics, generally tetracycline. Some severe acute cases require hospitalization. This version of prostatitis is generally straightforward to treat, and clears up after the antibiotics.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis, a persistent and ongoing bacterial inflammation of the prostate, is one of the rarest forms of prostatitis. Usually caused by inefficient urination, this too can be treated with a course of antibiotics, usually of a kind that has better penetration into the prostate, such as quinolone. Anti-inflammatories called “alpha blockers” are also effective at helping relax the muscles and blood vessels around the prostate, ensuring better flow. There is also some recent evidence that cranberry juice and E. Coli extract can help relive symptoms of chronic prostatitis, by reducing urinary tract infections with can exacerbate it.

Finally, asymptomatic prostatitis is inflammation without symptoms. Generally, it is discovered through semen tests that discover an elevated white blood cell count. Sometimes, this can be associated with prostate cancer and so a urologist will decide what to do next. The condition itself, however, requires no treatment.