There are three types of prostatitis. Notwithstanding their names, none of them is contagious. If you have it, you have not caught it from -- nor will you endanger -- your sexual partner. The manner in which the prostate becomes infected is not clearly understood. One theory is the bacteria may get into the prostate from the urethra by backward flow of infected urine, or from rectal bacteria. The three types of prostatitis are:

Acute infectious prostatitis, caused by bacteria. It comes on suddenly, and its symptoms, which include fever, chills, pain, and frequently blood in urine, are severe. Acute infectious prostatitis often requires a trip to the hospital emergency room -- and frequently hospitalization. Doctors treat it with 7 to 14 days of antimicrobial medication and recommend that the patient drink more liquids..

Chronic infectious prostatitis, also caused by bacteria. Its symptoms, unlike acute infectious prostatitis, may include the need to urinate frequently, a sense of urgency, burning or painful urination. Chronic infectious prostatitis is associated with repeated urinary tract infections. It is treated with 4 to 12 weeks of antimicrobial medication.

Noninfectious prostatitis is the most common and least understood form of prostatitis. Its cause is unknown. Its symptoms may mimic those of chronic infectious prostatitis. Since it is not caused by bacteria, antimicrobial medications are not effective in treating this type of prostatitis. Treatment generally focused on lessening the patient's symptoms with a variety of pain-relief medications and include use of an alpha blocker, a drug that can relax the muscle tissue in the prostate and reduce the difficulty in urination.

The risk for getting prostatitis is higher for men who:

• Recently have had a medical instrument, such as a urinary catheter (a soft, lubricated tube used to drain urine from the bladder), inserted during a medical procedure;
• Engage in rectal intercourse;
• Have an abnormal urinary tract;
• Have had a recent bladder infection;
• Have an enlarged prostate.

Because the three types of prostatitis require different treatment, the correct diagnosis is important. When prostatitis is suspected , your doctor -- while performing a digital rectal examination -- may vigorously massage, or "strip," the prostate to force prostatic fluid out of the gland and into the urethra.

A three-glass urine collection method is used to measure the presence of white blood cells and bacteria in the urine and prostatic fluid. From examination of these samples, a doctor can determine whether the problem is in the urethra, bladder, or prostate. And if an infection is present, the doctor will be able to identify the type of bacteria involved so that the most effective antimicrobial medication can be prescribed.

Having prostatitis does not increase your risk of getting any other prostate disease -- including prostate cancer.