Today, we have Dr. Curtis Nickel, a urologist, joining us to talk about prostatitis, a pesky condition that affects the prostate. The focus of today's episode is on the way that this condition could affect you or your loved ones. Dr. Nickel will also be discussing the options that are available for treating this condition.

Dr. Nickel's research covers inflammatory, benign prostate, and pain diseases of the urinary tract. He has over 550 publications, he is on the editorial board of eight Urology journals, and he is the editor of the American Urological Association Update Series. He has presented in 45 countries and he is the Past-President of the Canadian Urological Association. Be sure to tune in today, to find out about prostatitis, how it could affect you or your loved ones, and what can be done to treat it.

Disclaimer: The Prostate Health Podcast is for informational purposes only. Nothing in this podcast should be construed as medical advice. By listening to the podcast, no physician-patient relationship has been formed. For more information and counseling, you must contact your personal physician or urologist with questions about your unique situation.

Show Highlights:

• Prostatitis is a relatively common condition. Dr. Nickel describes the symptoms. 
• As many as 20% of men may have suffered from the symptoms of prostatitis at some point in their life, usually very mild.
• Studies show that 9% of men can have symptoms of prostatitis but only 3% actually have something done about it.
• In Canada, almost 3% of the males coming to a urology practice will leave with the diagnosis of prostatitis. In the United States, it has been reported to be as high as 8% in a male, outpatient, general urology practice.
• Prostatitis does not cause prostate cancer.
• Prostatitis can elevate PSA tests. (PSA tests test for cancer.)
• The main risk factor for prostatitis is a bacterial infection of the lower urinary tract.
• The cause of prostatitis is not clear.
• The kinds of tests that men with prostatitis can expect to have to undergo.
• There are various categories of prostatitis.
• The majority of patients with prostatitis are in the category of chronic prostatitis, or chronic pain syndrome.
• Sometimes, what is called prostatitis might not be prostatitis at all.
• Dr, Nickel explains the process of making a diagnosis of prostatitis.
• The patient's history is important when making a diagnosis of prostatitis.
• Studies have shown that, as a young person, having prostatitis that does not get treated properly to start with, can become a lingering, chronic condition that can be as debilitating as having Type 1 Insulin-Dependant Diabetes.
• Every patient with prostatitis has to have a treatment plan designed specifically for him, based on what is known as the clinical picture.
• There are many different treatments available.
• There is a different prescription for every patient diagnosed with prostatitis. Often, doctors resort to using less toxic medications like phytotherapy or herbal medications.
• Sometimes doctors even recommend physiotherapy, for certain cases of prostatitis.
• When all else fails, doctors could resort to injection therapy.

Links and resources:

https://grandroundsinurology.com/author/jnickel/