Sadly, there are some health conditions that are often considered to be “gender specific”, and while that may be true about some issues, it isn’t true for all. Where Chronic Pelvic pain syndrome is concerned, there are just as many men with symptoms and the need for treatment. For this discussion we’ll take a brief look at the symptoms, causes, and available treatment for men living with the pain and discomfort.
The Symptoms
When a many experiences pelvic pain it could be located in several areas including his penis, anus, lower abdominal area, and lower back. In fact, the pain experienced may move or increase throughout any given day. Some male Chronic Pelvic Pain is caused by a condition known as Prostatitis. This is the traditional reason for pain in the testes, penis and other areas associated with pelvic pain. Generally, if Prostatitis is the cause the pain will increase during urination or ejaculation.
The Causes
Pelvic pain is somewhat mysterious, and often a patient experiences pain that first presented during illness or surgery which occurred in the distant past. Physicians and medical experts remain at a loss as to the reasons that the pelvic area seems to retain some pain and discomfort that should have faded, but not all discomfort is that difficult to understand. For example, many men feel the pelvic discomfort due to the inflammation of the prostate gland brought about by Prostatitis. Usually it is this that is the chief culprit of male pelvic pain, but IBS or urinary problems may cause it as well.
The Options
If the enlarged prostate gland is due to a bacterial infection (which is not uncommon) the patient can usually be treated with a course of antibiotics. If the Prostatitis is caused by something else, this will often remain an untreatable mystery. Generally this means that treatment is somewhat experimental. For example, doctors may look to a host of prescription medications that include pain killers, muscle relaxants, and even anti-anxiety drugs to ease the constant pain. Alternative treatments often include massage, surgery, acupuncture, dietary changes, and more.
Because this is still a somewhat elusive issue physicians and researchers are constantly attempting new approaches to alleviation of pain or symptoms.