Diagnosis

To properly diagnose chronic bacterial prostatitis, and to allow for the choosing of the appropriate antibiotics, insist on having the following tests done:

• Semen culture (and not analysis, although the latter can be useful as well)

• PSA - signals if something is wrong with the prostate, which in young patients will most likely be prostatitis. In combination with proPSA and free PSA can be used to calculate a Prostate Health Index score.

• MRI - can provide additional data on the structure of the prostate. If you have insurance or can afford to pay for it, have it done. Besides increased volume, calculi are a common finding.

Of the above, the most important is the semen culture with susceptibility testing. GPs (family doctors), urologists, and infectious diseases doctors can order this test.