What are prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia? Prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are different conditions affecting the prostate gland. Although both conditions affect the prostate, they have different causes, symptoms, treatments, and prognoses. The prostate is a small gland located below the bladder and in front of the rectum in men. Prostatitis refers to inflammation of the prostate gland that can affect any man at any age and is the most common urinary tract disease affecting men under the age of 50. There are several types of prostatitis: Acute prostatitis; Chronic (bacterial) prostatitis, which develops as a result of a bacterial infection; Chronic pelvic pain syndrome, which is chronic prostatitis for which there is no known exact cause; Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis that does not cause symptoms Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate gland and is a non-cancerous condition. BPH is the most common problem affecting the prostate in men over the age of 50. The exact cause of the condition has not been determined. What is the difference between prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia? Both prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can have overlapping symptoms, making a comprehensive evaluation necessary for an accurate diagnosis. Prostatitis often starts suddenly, with symptoms coming on quickly and intensely. BPH, on the other hand, tends to develop gradually over time, with symptoms gradually getting worse. Prostatitis Symptoms Some of the symptoms of prostatitis include: Pelvic pain or discomfort, ranging from mild to severe, that may be felt in the lower abdomen, lower back, groin, or perineal area; Pain or burning sensation during urination; Frequent urination, usually with an urgent need to urinate; Difficulty starting to urinate or a weak flow of urine; Pain or discomfort in the genital area or testicles; Blood in the urine or semen; Painful ejaculation; Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, and body aches Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Signs of BPH may include: Increased frequency of urination, especially at night; Difficulty starting to urinate; A weak stream of urine or a fluctuating, intermittent stream; Urgent urges to urinate; Dripping at the end of urination; A feeling that the bladder does not empty completely; Urinary tract infections due to incomplete bladder emptying The condition can vary and not all symptoms may be present in every case. Is there a link between prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia? Although there is still no evidence of a causal relationship between the two conditions, accumulating evidence suggeststhat inflammation of the prostate can contribute to the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract problems. Inflammatory infiltrates are frequently observed in prostate tissue samples from men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and the presence or degree of inflammation has been found to correlate with prostate volume and weight. Inflammatory damage can contribute to the production of cytokines by inflammatory cells, stimulating the production of local growth factor and angiogenesis (the process of forming new blood vessels) in the prostate tissue. This proinflammatory microenvironment is closely related to the stromal hyperproliferation of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and tissue remodeling with local hypoxia induced by increased oxygen demands of the proliferating cells. This maintains chronic inflammation as a source of oxidative stress leading to tissue damage. References: 1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Prostatitis: Inflammation of the Prostate 2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Prostate Enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) 3. PubMed. Correlation between benign prostatic hyperplasia and inflammation 4. Medical News Today. How to tell the difference between BPH and prostatitis