Urodynamic findings in chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic floor pain

Chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic floor pain are common, bothersome syndromes that nearly half of all American men will encounter in their lifetimes. In addition to pelvic floor pain, men experience various symptoms, including lower urinary tract symptoms, during voiding. Evaluation and classification is based on the National Institutes of Health criteria. Most cases have an inflammatory etiology, and successful identification of treatable cases can be challenging. Evaluation is currently evolving, with many cases requiring nontraditional testing, such as urodynamics. Because voiding dysfunction may exist concurrently, evaluation is crucial to enable symptom-improving intervention in treatable patients. Although many significant urodynamic findings exist, most studies suggest that obstructive voiding is a key component in contributing to symptoms. This paper reviews the classification of chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome and discusses the predominant urodynamic findings encountered in this syndrome.