Male Pelvic Pain Syndrome and Prostatitis

---

Male pelvic pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis, like its female counterpart, is not completely understood.  The symptoms vary widely and include burning when urinating, the sensation of not completely emptying your bladder, urinary urgency and frequency and pain in the groin, testicles, rectum or penis.  An infectious cause should always be considered and therefore a thorough set of cultures should be obtained.  Additionally, with the specimens obtained for cultures, a microscopic evaluation can demonstrate if an inflammatory component is seen.  Regardless, if infection and inflammation have been excluded the condition can still be readily treated.