The prostate is a gland of the male reproductive system that is located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder. The prostate is small and weighs about 15-25gm – about the same size and shape as a walnut. The prostate is wrapped around a tube called the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder out through the tip of the penis.

The prostate is made up mainly of muscular and glandular tissues. Its main function is to produce fluid for semen, which transports sperm. During the male orgasm, muscular contractions squeeze the prostate's fluid into the urethra. Sperm, which are produced in the testicles, are also propelled into the urethra at this time. Prostatitis, in many ways, is a mystery to health care practitioners. It is known that prostatitis starts with a bacterial infection: Bacteria take up residence in the prostate and as it proliferates, the patient becomes aware of a problem. He very quickly appears at the general practitioner's surgery demanding treatment, and is given antibiotics to kill the bacteria.

It is at this point that things become mysterious. Even after the bacteria have been killed, or should have been killed, the sensations and discomfort continue. Course after course of antibiotic are used and still there is a constant desire to urinate and a long list of unpleasant sensations issue from below the belt. Some health care practitioners feel that the problem is that the antibiotics cannot get into the prostate and completely clear the infection. Other practitioners feel that the bacteria are actually gone but the nerves have been affected so that the sensations remain. No one really has an answer to this riddle, but the fact remains many people, despite having been treated with many courses of antibiotics, continue to suffer with prostatitis.