Prostatitis
Prostate gland inflammation causing pelvic pain and urinary symptoms.
TL;DR
Prostatitis is several different conditions wearing one name. Acute bacterial prostatitis — fever, chills, severe pelvic pain, painful urination — needs same-day antibiotics. The common chronic form (chronic pelvic pain syndrome) involves pelvic floor tension and nerve sensitisation more than infection, so antibiotics usually fail it. Quercetin has the best supplement evidence in CPPS. Pain with fever is always urgent.
Overview
Inflammation or infection of the prostate causing pelvic, perineal, or genital pain, often with urinary symptoms and sometimes painful ejaculation. It comes in distinct types — acute bacterial (a medical urgency with fever), chronic bacterial, and chronic pelvic pain syndrome, the most common and least understood form.
Root Causes
Evidence synthesis: Acute bacterial prostatitis is well-characterised — fever, systemic illness, and positive cultures, requiring prompt antibiotics (evidence-based, and delay risks sepsis and abscess). Chronic bacterial prostatitis shows recurrent positive cultures and responds to prolonged targeted antibiotics. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) — 90%+ of cases — has no infection: research implicates pelvic floor muscle spasm, nerve sensitisation, and central pain amplification, which is why antibiotics fail and multimodal approaches (pelvic floor physiotherapy, alpha-blockers) have trial support. Quercetin (500 mg twice daily) has two positive randomised trials in CPPS (Shoskes et al.), the best supplement evidence in this space, likely via anti-inflammatory and mast-cell stabilising effects. Pelvic floor physiotherapy has RCT support for CPPS pain.
How It's Diagnosed
When to See a Doctor
Seek urgent care for fever, chills, or inability to pass urine - acute bacterial prostatitis is a medical emergency. See a clinician for pelvic pain lasting over 3 months or blood in urine or semen.
Supplements Studied For This
Quercetin
Quercetin is the best-studied supplement in chronic pelvic pain syndrome, with two positive randomised trials — a genuine evidence-based adjunct for the most common and most treatment-resistant form of prostatitis.
Pollen Extract
Likely eases pain and improves quality of life in chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome, with modest effects from short trials.
Supporting Research
Serenoa repens associated with Urtica dioica (ProstaMEV) and curcumin and quercitin (FlogMEV) extracts are able to improve the efficacy of prulifloxacin in bacterial prostatitis patients: results from a prospective randomised study
A pollen extract (Cernilton) in patients with inflammatory chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a multicentre, randomised, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study
The role of flower pollen extract in managing patients affected by chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a comprehensive analysis of all published clinical trials
Effects of pollen extract preparation Prostat/Poltit on lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
Pollen extract in association with vitamins provides early pain relief in patients affected by chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome
Frequently Asked Questions
Is prostatitis an infection?
What helps chronic pelvic pain syndrome?
When is prostatitis an emergency?
Does prostatitis mean prostate cancer risk?
My Notes
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This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.