Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is not prostatitis and should be distinguished from it. Research actually questions the role of the prostate gland in CPPS. Tests on both men and women showed that there are twice as many women with CPPS than men, and as we know women don’t have prostate yet its believed that Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) occurs just in men which as we can see might not be true or at least that CPPS criteria should be revised. But today we will focus on well known facts and theories.

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is characterized by pain in pelvic or perineal area with no evidence of UTI (urinary tract infection), which continues for more than 3 months as the main symptom. Symptoms wary. Pain ranges from minor discomfort to excruciating pain. It may radiate to back and rectum thus making sitting down a difficult task for a person. Dysuria, unexplained fatigue, abdominal pain, arthralgia constant burning pain in the penis, myalgia may all be experienced. Frequent urination and increased urgency to empty the bladder may suggest interstitial cystitis, an inflammation centered in bladder rather than prostate. Ejaculation might also be painful, as the prostate gland contracts during ejaculation, although post-ejaculatory pain is more common, and a classic sign of chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Patients report low sexual desire, sexual dysfunction and difficulties with achieving and maintaining erection. Pain after ejaculation is a very specific complaint that distinguishes CPPS from men with BPH or normal men.

Recently a research into CPPS was carried out by scientists which concluded that CPPS often results from an interplay between psychological factors and dysfunction in the endocrine systems, immune and neurological systems.

But generally the cause of CPPS is unknown. There are a lot of theories out there about what the cause might be. They include infection of the prostate gland with a germ or bacteria that has been unknown, nerve problems in the prostate, tiny cysts or stones in the prostate, blockage of secretion fluid made in the prostate.

In some cases there is some inflammation of the prostate which we know as prostatitis. However, the cause of the inflammation is unknown. In some other cases of CPPS there is no inflammation at all.

There are no reliable tests or techniques to diagnose the CPPS. You have to understand that this is a very poorly understood condition even though it account for about 95% of prostatitis diagnoses. CPPS is found in men of all ages with 30 year olds being the largest group.
Men suffering from CP/CPPS are more likely than the general population to suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

There is no certain treatment procedure and in fact CPPS is one of the most frustrating conditions for doctors to evaluate and treat. Most of the time it’s the symptoms that are treated, although its believed that non prostatic centered treatments might be helpful but they are yet to be fully developed. But there is hope. Doctors work hard to develop new treatment techniques and some of them are working, like phytotherapy and therapy techniques aimed at calming the pelvic nerves.