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NHS Choices Condition

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Acute prostatitis

Your GP will be able to diagnose acute prostatitis by asking you about your symptoms, before taking a sample of your urine which will be checked for the presence of bacteria.

Your GP may also perform a digital rectal examination (DRE). During a DRE, your GP will insert a finger into your rectum (back passage). As the rectum is close to the prostate gland, your GP will be able to determine whether your prostate is inflamed and tender to the touch.

Chronic prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis is diagnosed by asking about your symptoms, and ruling out other conditions that could be the cause of your symptoms, such as bowel, or prostate, cancer.

In order to rule out these types of conditions, you may be given a DRE and blood tests. Instruments, such as a cytoscope and a colonoscope, can be used to look at your bladder and bowel. Both instruments are flexible tubes that have a light and a camera at the end.

A cytoscope is placed up into your urethra, and is used to look at your bladder. A colonscope is placed into your anus (back passage) and is used to look at your bowel.

A confident diagnosis can usually be made if:

  • you have symptoms of pain in your pelvis, genitals, and /or buttocks,
  • you experience pain when urinating,
  • you experience pain when ejaculating,
  • you are having problems with urinating, such as a frequent need to urinate, or a feeling that you have not emptied your bladder properly after urinating,
  • the symptoms have persisted for three months or more, and
  • other possible causes of your symptoms have been ruled out.

A urine test can be used to determine whether you have bacterial, or non-bacterial, chronic prostatitis.

Back to the Embarrassing Bodies Condition Guide or view information about Prostatitis on www.nhs.co.uk »

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