Health Topic

Prostate Diseases

A man's prostate grows as he gets older, increasing the risk of problems. Learn about the different types of prostate problems, including prostatitis.

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Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.

About Prostate Diseases

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It lies just below the bladder. It makes fluid that is part of semen.

There are many types of prostate diseases:

  • Prostatitis is inflammation (swelling and pain) in the prostate gland. It's the most common type of prostate problem in people under than age 50. There are different types: Chronic prostatitis is also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome. It's the most common type of prostatitis.
  • Acute bacterial prostatitis starts suddenly from a bacterial infection and is treated with antibiotics. It is not common.
  • Chronic bacterial prostatitis happens when a bacterial infection keeps coming back. The symptoms usually start slowly. It may take longer to treat than acute bacterial prostatitis.
  • Asymptomatic prostatitis has no symptoms and usually doesn't need treatment. You may learn you have it after having tests for other health problems.

Anyone with a prostate can develop prostate problems. But some people are at higher risk.

You may be more likely to develop prostatitis if you have:

  • A lower urinary tract infection, also called a UTI. An infection in your lower urinary tract (bladder and urethra) may lead to acute or chronic bacterial prostatitis.
  • Nerve damage in your lower urinary tract from surgery or an injury. This may lead to chronic prostatitis.
  • Emotional stress, which can lead to chronic prostatitis.

You may be more likely to develop an enlarged prostate (BPH) if you:

  • Are age 40 or older.
  • Have family members who have had BPH.
  • Have certain health conditions such as: Obesity.
  • Heart disease and problems with blood circulation.
  • Type 2 diabetes.

You may be more likely to develop prostate cancer if you:

  • Are older than age 50.
  • Have a parent, sibling, or child who has or had prostate cancer.
  • Are African American.

The symptoms of prostate problems include:

  • Needing to urinate a lot.
  • Needing to rush to the bathroom, but not being able to urinate or only going a little.
  • Leaking or dribbling urine.
  • Having a weak urine stream.

Other symptoms depend on the type of prostate problem you have and may include:

  • Not being able to urinate at all. This is a medical emergency.
  • Any problems, starting or controlling urine flow.
  • Waking up often to urinate.
  • Blood in your urine or urine that has an unusual smell or color.
  • Fever, chills, or body aches.
  • Great discomfort or pain: While urinating or after ejaculation.
  • In your abdomen (belly), between your scrotum and anus, or in your scrotum or penis.

Contact your provider if you have any of these symptoms.

To find out if you have a prostate problem, your provider will:

  • Ask about your medical history and symptoms.
  • Ask about your family health history.
  • Do a physical exam. The exam may include a digital rectal exam (DRE) of your prostate. In a DRE, your provider inserts a gloved finger into your rectum to feel the general size and condition of your prostate.
  • Order tests, if needed. Tests may include: Blood and urine tests to look for infection.
  • Urodynamic testing to see how well you can hold and release urine.
  • Cystoscopy to look inside your urethra and bladder.
  • Ultrasound pictures of your prostate and urinary tract.
  • A PSA blood test (prostate-specific antigen test).
  • Prostate biopsy to diagnose or rule out cancer.

Treatment depends on what prostate disease you have and which symptoms bother you most.

It sits within Older Adults, Men and Male Reproductive System.

The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.

Research on Prostate Diseases

7,548 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.

What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.

Research currently under way

Research already completed

Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.

Where to read more

Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.

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Diagnosis and Tests

Clinical Trials

Medical subject headings

Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Prostatic Diseases. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.

This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Prostate Diseases, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.