So about 8 months ago I started having the constant urge to urinate. After about 3 weeks of having this constant urge, I went to my primary care physician. He did a urine test and found that I had trace amounts of blood in my urine. He sent the urine up to the lab for a microscopic evaluation and found that my urine was within normal range as far as red blood cells. There was no sign of infection. Over the next couple of months I felt better, then worse, then better. I visited my primary care physician 2 more times. Each time there was trace amounts of blood in my urine but no infection. on my third visit I was absolutely miserable and had the following symptoms; microscopic hematuria, dark morning urine, weird urge to urinate, discomfort while sitting, feeling of not being able to empty bladder completely, bladder pressure, urethra irritation. I was referred to a urologist. The first visit to the urologist was semi-helpful. I told him about the symptoms I was having and he performed a DRE. Immediately after the DRE hestated that I have chronic prostatitis because my prostate was swollen and tender. He prescribed antibiotics (cefuroxime) and sent me on my way. The antibiotics have helped some, but I am still not 100%. I have had follow up appointments, and each time the urologist says that I should not be concerned with blood in my urine, and that prostatitis takes a long time to heal. Could this be something more serious? What else could cause a swollen tender prostate? should I ask him to do a cystoscopy?