Stop Confusing Prostatitis with Urethritis! Here Are 6 Points to Instantly Understand the Difference!

Prostatitis and urethritis are common diseases in men, yet many struggle to differentiate between the two. Understanding their differences is crucial for early detection and treatment.

What's the Difference Between Prostatitis and Urethritis?

1. Different Sites of Infection

The onset sites of prostatitis include the prostate urethra, bladder meridian, and bladder trigone. The site of onset of urethritis is mostly the anterior urethra.

2. Different Causes

The causes of prostatitis can be complex. Acute prostatitis is usually caused by pathogens like bacteria, which can be alleviated with antibiotics. Chronic prostatitis, however, is less often associated with bacterial infection and more with factors such as frequent masturbation, alcohol consumption, spicy foods, staying up late, and prolonged sitting.

Urethritis in men is typically caused by pathogens including mycoplasma, chlamydia, gonococcus, and E. coli, often linked to unprotected sexual contact or unsanitary conditions. Urethritis is usually evident through significant leukocytosis in urine tests, with pathogens like gonococcus, mycoplasma, and chlamydia detectable in secretion cultures.

Conversely, prostatitis might not show significant changes in routine urine tests, and while prostate fluid may show increased white blood cells and decreased lecithin bodies, bacterial cultures of prostate fluid might not always reveal pathogens.

3. Different Symptoms

Symptoms of prostatitis primarily include urinary frequency, urgency, discomfort in the lower abdomen and perineum, and even urinary retention. There may be urethral discharge without significant external secretions. The prostate area, being deeper, can also have accompanying discomfort or a sensation of heaviness around the anal area. This condition can be bacterial or non-bacterial prostatitis.

In most cases, prostatitis is caused by physiological inflammation, with only a minority of cases resulting from bacterial infections, which are relatively rare.

Urethritis, on the other hand, is primarily a bacterial infection, with the most common being gonococcal urethritis, which is sexually transmitted. Symptoms include increased urethral discharge, reddening of the urethral mucosa, and often pus discharge, along with urinary frequency and urgency among other urinary tract irritation symptoms.
The symptoms are mainly concentrated in the urethral area and generally do not include fever or other systemic symptoms. If urethritis is not treated promptly, it can lead to prostatitis. Additionally, it can cause urethral fibrosis and scarring, leading to urethral stricture and difficulty urinating, which may require surgical treatment.

4. Different Characteristics and Colors of Discharge

Both diseases can lead to discharge from the penis, but the characteristics and color of the discharge differ. Prostatitis results in thick, clear prostate fluid, whereas urethritis produces yellow or light yellow cloudy discharge.

5. Different Treatment Approaches

Treatment for urethritis, being a type of urinary tract infection, is similar to that for cystitis and pyelonephritis, focusing on anti-infection treatment against sensitive pathogens and heat-clearing and diuretic treatment.

Prostatitis treatment aims to alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms such as urinary retention, frequency, and urgency, along with pain relief and fever reduction. Many prostatitis patients do not show bacterial infection and may not benefit significantly from antibiotics. Hence, many people choose traditional Chinese medicine Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill to effectively improve symptoms and reduce recurrence.

6. Different Risks

Untreated prostatitis can lead to sexual dysfunction, a risk less common with urethritis. Prostatitis patients may also experience erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, which are generally not caused by urethritis.

Friendly Reminder

If you're unsure whether you have prostatitis or urethritis, seek medical treatment promptly and follow your doctor's advice on medication use. Do not adjust your dosage without professional guidance, as this could affect the drug's efficacy or exacerbate side effects, potentially harming your health.