Some men may experience chronic prostatitis, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, (CP/CPPS), alongsideirritable bowel syndrome(IBS). They are two different conditions but they do have some common features.The overlap is a good reason to discuss all of your symptoms with your healthcare provider. Here is a brief overview of CP/CPPS, with some information as to how it might relate to IBS.
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What Is Prostatitis?
Prostatitis refers to health conditions related to the prostate, a gland that is part of the male reproductive system. The prostate is responsible for secreting a fluid that contributes to semen, as well as helping to squeeze semen out during the ejaculation process.
CP/CPPS is one of four types of prostatitis:
What Is CP/CPPS?
CP/CPPS is a chronic type of prostatitis, it develops and persists over a longer period of time rather than occurring suddenly. You might be diagnosed with it when your healthcare provider’s comprehensive diagnostic assessment has ruled out a bacterial infection and/or the presence of other health disorders. The symptoms must be present for at least three of the last six months in order to receive a CP/CPPS diagnosis.
Symptoms of CP/CPPS
Symptomsof CP/CPPS can wax and wane over time and may include:
Treatment of CP/CPPS
As little is known as to why people develop CP/CPPS, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. You must work closely with your healthcare providers to develop a personalized plan for addressing your symptoms.
After ruling out and/or treating a possible infection, medications may be prescribed to help manage symptoms. Medications may include:
Overlap Between CP/CPPS and IBS
Research studies have found that a large number of men experience IBS alongside CP/CPPS. Although IBS and CP/CPPS are two separate disorders, they do share some similar features:
What Do I Do If You Have Both IBS and CP/CPPS?
Due to the high overlap rate between IBS and CP/CPPS, be sure to be open with your healthcare provider about all of your symptoms, whether they bebowel, bladder or sexual in nature. Even though talking about these particular parts of your body may feel uncomfortable.
Both disorders appear to benefit from an excellent working relationship with a healthcare provider. Your practitioner is in the best position to identify treatment options that take into account all of your symptoms.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liao CH, Lin HC, Huang CY.Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is associated with irritable bowel syndrome: a population-based study. Sci Rep. 2016;6:26939. doi:10.1038/srep26939Arora HC, Eng C, Shoskes DA.Gut microbiome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.Ann Transl Med. 2017;5(2):30. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.12.32Doiron RC, Nickel JC.Management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.Can Urol Assoc J. 2018;12(6 Suppl 3):S161-S163. doi:10.5489/cuaj.5325Additional Reading"Prostatitis: Disorders of the Prostate"National Kidney and Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)Accessed June 12, 2011.Nickel, J. “The Multidisciplinary Approach to Defining the Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes"Reviews in Urology2008 10:157-159.Rodriguez, M., Afari, N. & Buchwald, D. “Evidence for Overlap Between Urological and Nonurological Unexplained Clinical Conditions"The Journal of Urology2009 182:2123-2131.Vicaril, E., et.al. “High Frequency of Chronic Bacterial and Non-Inflammatory Prostatitis in Infertile Patients with Prostatitis Syndrome Plus Irritable Bowel Syndrome"PLoSone2011 6:e18647.Wagenlehner, F., et.al. “Prostatitis and Male Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment"Deutsches Aerzteblatt International2009 106:175-183.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liao CH, Lin HC, Huang CY.Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is associated with irritable bowel syndrome: a population-based study. Sci Rep. 2016;6:26939. doi:10.1038/srep26939Arora HC, Eng C, Shoskes DA.Gut microbiome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.Ann Transl Med. 2017;5(2):30. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.12.32Doiron RC, Nickel JC.Management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.Can Urol Assoc J. 2018;12(6 Suppl 3):S161-S163. doi:10.5489/cuaj.5325Additional Reading"Prostatitis: Disorders of the Prostate"National Kidney and Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)Accessed June 12, 2011.Nickel, J. “The Multidisciplinary Approach to Defining the Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes"Reviews in Urology2008 10:157-159.Rodriguez, M., Afari, N. & Buchwald, D. “Evidence for Overlap Between Urological and Nonurological Unexplained Clinical Conditions"The Journal of Urology2009 182:2123-2131.Vicaril, E., et.al. “High Frequency of Chronic Bacterial and Non-Inflammatory Prostatitis in Infertile Patients with Prostatitis Syndrome Plus Irritable Bowel Syndrome"PLoSone2011 6:e18647.Wagenlehner, F., et.al. “Prostatitis and Male Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment"Deutsches Aerzteblatt International2009 106:175-183.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Liao CH, Lin HC, Huang CY.Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is associated with irritable bowel syndrome: a population-based study. Sci Rep. 2016;6:26939. doi:10.1038/srep26939Arora HC, Eng C, Shoskes DA.Gut microbiome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.Ann Transl Med. 2017;5(2):30. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.12.32Doiron RC, Nickel JC.Management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.Can Urol Assoc J. 2018;12(6 Suppl 3):S161-S163. doi:10.5489/cuaj.5325
Liao CH, Lin HC, Huang CY.Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is associated with irritable bowel syndrome: a population-based study. Sci Rep. 2016;6:26939. doi:10.1038/srep26939
Arora HC, Eng C, Shoskes DA.Gut microbiome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.Ann Transl Med. 2017;5(2):30. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.12.32
Doiron RC, Nickel JC.Management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.Can Urol Assoc J. 2018;12(6 Suppl 3):S161-S163. doi:10.5489/cuaj.5325
“Prostatitis: Disorders of the Prostate"National Kidney and Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)Accessed June 12, 2011.Nickel, J. “The Multidisciplinary Approach to Defining the Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes"Reviews in Urology2008 10:157-159.Rodriguez, M., Afari, N. & Buchwald, D. “Evidence for Overlap Between Urological and Nonurological Unexplained Clinical Conditions"The Journal of Urology2009 182:2123-2131.Vicaril, E., et.al. “High Frequency of Chronic Bacterial and Non-Inflammatory Prostatitis in Infertile Patients with Prostatitis Syndrome Plus Irritable Bowel Syndrome"PLoSone2011 6:e18647.Wagenlehner, F., et.al. “Prostatitis and Male Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Diagnosis and Treatment"Deutsches Aerzteblatt International2009 106:175-183.
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