Prostatitis is a general term for inflammation of the prostate gland — an organ about the size and shape of a walnut, located just below the bladder in males. The prostate gland's main function is to produce semen, the fluid that helps nourish and transport sperm. An inflamed prostate can cause a variety of symptoms, including a frequent and urgent need to urinate and pain or burning when urinating (dysuria) — often accompanied by pelvic, groin or low back pain.

Prostatitis can appear in several forms. The acute form is the least common, but is also the most severe. Symptoms are often sudden, and the condition may require hospitalization. Symptoms of chronic prostatitis tend to develop more slowly and aren't as severe as those of acute prostatitis.

It's not always possible to completely eliminate prostatitis, but in many cases your symptoms can be controlled. In addition to medication, treatments such as heat therapy, biofeedback and sometimes just drinking a lot of water or avoiding certain foods can provide relief.

• Back pain

Self-care

Because traditional treatments aren't always effective for prostatitis, many men experiment with various lifestyle changes to control their symptoms. Although no scientific evidence proves these practices are beneficial, you may want to try one or more of the following suggestions:

• Drink plenty of water.

• Limit or avoid alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods.

• Urinate at regular intervals.

• Have regular sexual activity.

• If you're a cyclist, use a "split" bicycle seat, which reduces the pressure on your prostate.

Eventually, many men with prostatitis learn to live with the disease by limiting the things that make their symptoms worse and emphasizing the things that make them feel better. Sometimes, finding what improves your condition may be up to you.

Complementary and alternative medicine

Although how they work is poorly understood, some natural remedies — including saw palmetto preparations, zinc supplements and quercetin — have helped some men manage the symptoms of prostatitis.