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Urology (Expert Forum)
Tests of Prostatic Fluid and/or Semen
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
Questions in the Urology forum are answered by Dr. Stephen Liroff, affiliated with the Henry Ford Hospital. Topics covered include benign prostate disease, penis curvature, cystisis, kidney stones, pediatric urology, prostate, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections (UTI), and urological cancers.
Tests of Prostatic Fluid and/or Semen
by Campbell31, Sep 17, 2005 12:00AM
I am 35 and have had chronic prostatis, erectile dysfunction and other pain in my testicular area for 6 years. A recent MRI confirmed scarring in the prostatic tissue, other past images have seen inflammation in the right seminal vesicle. Doctors have tested my prostatic fluid and especially always my urine for infections without any success. I have been on many courses of anti-biotics with very temporary relief only.
After these failures of bacterial line of treatment, I must now concede that the prostatis and other problems is not due to an existing infection.
Based on all the symptoms and test results I have had - including previous epidydimytis, current prostatic pain, low measured testerone levels, shrunk testicles, symptom relief after prostatic massage etc - my best explanation at this time is that the problems are caused by or closely related to a sort of leakage of components (or leakage of the dysfunctional breakdown of components) that are supposed to reside in the testis into adjacent areas in the uro/reproductive track - including the prostate area, thereby irritating tissue and nerves in these areas.
For example, there is clearly a breakdown of the testerone producing cells in the testis because they have shrunk over time during this chronic symptomatic period (I have not used any testerone boosters in the past), in considering where the "waste" that must be generated by this process goes, I would have to consider that some of these presumely highly biochemically distruptive "steroids" or steroid pre-causers end up along the uro/reproductive tract and wreck havoc on the tissues and nerves.
First I would like any criticism of my theory that you can offer.
Second I would like if you can give me specific thoughts on how this theory can be tested in doctors' offices and which can of doctors are best - urologists, or fertility doctors or others? What specific prostatic fluid, or urine or semen tests may help identify errant substances (or breakdown of substances that should not be there) coming from the testis that should not be in the fluids.
Third, should this turn out to be true, what would be some hopeful methods of intervention?
Thanks
After these failures of bacterial line of treatment, I must now concede that the prostatis and other problems is not due to an existing infection.
Based on all the symptoms and test results I have had - including previous epidydimytis, current prostatic pain, low measured testerone levels, shrunk testicles, symptom relief after prostatic massage etc - my best explanation at this time is that the problems are caused by or closely related to a sort of leakage of components (or leakage of the dysfunctional breakdown of components) that are supposed to reside in the testis into adjacent areas in the uro/reproductive track - including the prostate area, thereby irritating tissue and nerves in these areas.
For example, there is clearly a breakdown of the testerone producing cells in the testis because they have shrunk over time during this chronic symptomatic period (I have not used any testerone boosters in the past), in considering where the "waste" that must be generated by this process goes, I would have to consider that some of these presumely highly biochemically distruptive "steroids" or steroid pre-causers end up along the uro/reproductive tract and wreck havoc on the tissues and nerves.
First I would like any criticism of my theory that you can offer.
Second I would like if you can give me specific thoughts on how this theory can be tested in doctors' offices and which can of doctors are best - urologists, or fertility doctors or others? What specific prostatic fluid, or urine or semen tests may help identify errant substances (or breakdown of substances that should not be there) coming from the testis that should not be in the fluids.
Third, should this turn out to be true, what would be some hopeful methods of intervention?
Thanks
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Sep 20, 2005 12:00AM
, Sep 20, 2005 12:00AM
I have looked up the theory that you have mentioned and cannot find it to be a cause of your symptoms in the textbooks.
A urologist would be best in discussing your theory. If you wanted to test for specific substrates like testosterone or cortisol, I would assume that you can send off the samples for these specific tests. You can also send off the prostatic fluid for chemical analysis as well as the semen for semen analysis.
You can also consider some other treatments for non-infectious causes of prostatitis. This can include medications like alpha-blockers as well as alpha-reductase inhibitors.
An investigation study has found some small benefits with mepartricin, which lowers estrogen levels in the prostate.
These options can be discussed with your urologist.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
A urologist would be best in discussing your theory. If you wanted to test for specific substrates like testosterone or cortisol, I would assume that you can send off the samples for these specific tests. You can also send off the prostatic fluid for chemical analysis as well as the semen for semen analysis.
You can also consider some other treatments for non-infectious causes of prostatitis. This can include medications like alpha-blockers as well as alpha-reductase inhibitors.
An investigation study has found some small benefits with mepartricin, which lowers estrogen levels in the prostate.
These options can be discussed with your urologist.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com
Member Comments (3)
by gqxtk3333, Sep 19, 2005 12:00AM
To: Prostate
0
by Campbell31, Sep 20, 2005 12:00AM
To: Prostate
0
by Campbell31, Sep 22, 2005 12:00AM
To: Prostate
0
