Table 1.

Characteristics and treatment options for CP/CPPS^*

Category 3 prostatitis	Definition	Standard options	CAM options
Category 3: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain	≥3 months pain/discomfort in the pelvic region, no bacterial involvement, inconsistent micturition and/or sexual function complaints	Antibiotics	Acupuncture
A. Inflammatory	A. Presence of white blood cells in semen, EPS or VB3	Alpha-blockers	Biofeedback
B. Non-inflammatory	B. Absence of white blood cells in semen, EPS or VB3	Analgesics	Electrical stimulation
		Anti-inflammatory drugs	Heat therapy
		5-Alpha reductase inhibitors	Herbal and nutritional agents
		Muscle relaxants
		Pentosan polysulfate
		Prostatic massage
		Physical therapy

CAM, Complementary and alternative medicine; EPS, expressed prostatic secretions; VB3, voided urine after prostatic massage.

^*As adapted from the National Institutes of Health/National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (1–3).