Dear Dr. Richards,
I’ve had fairly severe prostatitis (as diagnosed by my Dr. after performing a digital rectal exam, and mentioning that my prostate is inflamed or “boggy”)for over 5 years – and I’m 29. At times, the pain is so intense as to interrupt my sleep and work. Symptoms include burning during urination and especially ejaculation. I also suffer from severe “fight or flight” type anxiety while going to the bathroom in public places (i basically CANNOT urinate unless i am completely alone, in a stall, sitting down). I’ve been treated with Cipro and Doxycycline for STDs/bacterial infections, to no avail. I’ve seen 3 urologists, had an intraveinous pylogram, CT scan, urothroscope, and various other painful and invasive procedures. All in all, I’ve spent thousands of dollars looking for some improvement, and have nothing to show for it – no structure, stones, cancer etc. This seems to compound the severe anxiety and at times depression i feel… until i found this site and read some of the symptoms of sexual exhaustion (which gave me a little bit of hope). i started masturbating at 10-11 yrs old, and masturbated at least once (and up to 7 times) every day until recently. The urologists and Dr.s are baffled. The funny thing is that i’ve been encouraged to keep on masturbating by my Dr.s to increase blood flow and get the antibiotics into my prostate.
My question is two-fold.
1) Could an STD cause prostatitis – if so what should i do to heal naturally? I mean, i get sinus infections and strep throat for a week or so, and they clear up on their own, without antibiotics. Why would my prostate be any different? Urine tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia continue to come back negative. The antibiotics don’t seem to help thus far. (I’ve only had unprotected oral sex – which makes me think my prostatitis is more “exhaustion” based).
2)Would an STD cause severe anxiety? (as experienced by those who suffer from sexual exhaustion). I honestly feel like my nervous system is completely shot. At times, i literally and physically tremble uncontrollably when stressed by work or relations.
All this began during a very reckless and stress filled time in my life in the spring of 2005.
Please, please, please help me… I don’t know how much longer i can endure this pain – it’s overwhelming at times. the way i describe it to my friends is that it’s a similar burning sensation to having lemon juice squeezed in your eye! (except, it’s my prostate of course) It ESPECIALLY hurts when my bladder is full (which feels like all the time). When i do urinate, it’s excruciating to begin, and at the end it drips out for almost 20 seconds (it’s like i can’t squeeze the last bit of urine out of my urethra).
Also, I have a forked urine stream, feel weak and exhausted/depressed most of the time, and (crazily as described on your site) i often wake up with my hands and forearms numb (almost like they’re “asleep” but i sleep on my back… it’s like they’re just not getting any blood flow when i sleep)
Could you describe exactly what’s (most likely) happening to my prostate, and what i should do?
He who sows to the flesh reaps corruption (abrasion at least) after all, i guess.
May God Bless You,
-A
p.s. I can’t believe that i would be much healthier and probably much more “masculine” had i not masturbated all this time… the ultimate irony. Growing up, you were a “man” (at least among my peers) if you looked at porn all the time and masturbated, and objectified women… what a joke!
ANSWER
I’m really sorry to hear of you problems.
“He who sows to the flesh reaps corruption”
That is true, doesn’t matter if are drugs, over-masturbation, over-eating, etc.
You have a chronic prostatitis, this means that it is less likely to be caused by any STD (except HIV). It gets even more strange to why were you prescribed antibiotics for a chronic prostatitis in the first place.
Here is what I consider the real problem here:
You’re completely sexually exhausted (I suggest you read the articles for more detailed explanations), have insufficient cholinergic, serotonine, dopamine, and GABA functions as well as blown nervous modulation and control over the inflammatory stress hormones prolactin, cortisol, prostaglandin E2, and dopamine-norepinephrine-epinephrine conversion. You are experiencing uncontrollable anxiety and stress because your nervous and endocrine systems are on constant alert. This is a vicious cycle that just leads to additional release of stress and inflammatory hormones, so can’t be broken by your already completely exhausted nervous modulation system. The excessive norepinephrine and epinephrine will induces even additional prostaglandin E2 production, which in turn suppresses the immune system and hypersensitizes the sympathetic nerves. The neuroimmune function is usually weakened and many internal organs are in a constant state of inflammation.
It makes sense that it started during a period of great stress that induced additional stress hormones to blow up the modulation completely. One more confirmation to the stated above is that you’re experiencing Parkinson’s symptoms.
In addition – the high levels of the inflammatory prolactin, along with testicular exhaustion will lead to a deficiency of androgen hormones, causing a bunch of other symptoms.
Your prostate and urethra are severely abraded by the poor quality of ejaculation fluid and semen, which do not contain sufficient Prostaglandin E1. Prostaglandin E1 itself is very beneficial to the nearby tissues, acting as a nervous rejuvenation drug and an anti-cancer agent. If the quality of your EF and semen is poor, the contraction force with which they come out can be extremely destructive for the nerves and tissues of the prostate and the urethra. Any internal abrasion is extremely difficult to detect by today’s medical tests and procedures. Your symptoms are a complete UFO for most of the urologists nowadays. They will just prescribe something that they think can counteract the symptoms and will grossly overlook the cause. Many of the things I write about are severely neglected by the medical community.
To conclude, your prostate is enlarged, inflamed, and abraded. That’s why you are experiencing pains. Keep in mind that an abrasion accompanied with such pains is dangerous, so you should be quick to act.
The things you may and should do are:
1. Discontinue any sexual activity for 1 to 3 months.
2. Take massages to increase the proper blood circulation.
3. Balance your diet.
4. Restore your nervous modulation on your inflammatory hormones release, jump start your CNS, increase prostaglandin E1 E3 and NO levels for healing, unlock your hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis and rewrite the negative neuroplasticity you’ve developed by using a set of specific supplements.
5. As for prostate, you may naturally reduce the DHT that is binding to it and making it grow.
Wish you a fast recovery!
UPDATE
I plan on keeping a weekly journal with any improvements/changes and will keep this link posted! I will start right away (just bought some fish oil and borage oil from the local health food store). Thanks again! I’m otherwise very healthy, and athletic (6’4, 200lbs) so hopefully i can get back to normal over the next few months/years!
ANSWER
Of course, keep me informed. Don’t hesitate to post any questions.
UPDATE
Ok – quick question… since I’ve not been masturbating for about 4 weeks now (I stopped about three weeks prior to finding this site on my own just due to the pain) I’ve noticed that my urine is extremely “foamy” or “frothy”, especially when I urinate in the morning upon waking up. It’s almost as if there’s a “head” on it, like a beer (except with larger/medium sized bubbles)… should this be a cause for concern – this is a recent and odd development. What might be the cause of this?
ANSWER
It is normal, that is if not chronically observed. The possible causes are:
• Rapid urination: mostly observed in the morning when you’ve been holding the urine for a long time.
• Dehydration: just try to drink more fluids and see if there’s a change. Sexual exhaustion can burden the hypothalamus, also responsible for metabolic processes and other activities. You may not even feel thirsty and be dehydrated.
• Excessive protein in the urine (Proteinuria): it is possible to occur through heightened intake of certain foods like fish, chicken. Other possible causes are considered: kidney damage or gallbladder problems. Note that chronically elevated levels of prostaglandin E2 and epinephrine will damage many internal organs, including the gallbladder and the kidneys, so they may not work as effectively as before. Organs used to work under heightened levels of certain inflammatory hormones may take some time to adapt properly.
Try drinking lots of fluids, balance your protein intake, urinate slower, and see if there are any improvements.
If not, you may consider urinalysis and additional tests to determine the exact cause of the problem.
UPDATE
Well, the good news is that i slept for 7 hours last night without waking up to urinate… I’ve probably done that less than 20 times over the past 5 years, as i usually have to wake up at least once or twice to urinate. i believe my symptoms are improving slightly, but it is definitely slow going. one improvement i have noticed is that i seem to have less “dripping” when i finish urinating – i’m able to squeeze the last few drops out normally rather than manually. i also feel marginally calmer, and more relaxed.
two follow-up questions
1)is it possible that an undiagnosed STD is causing prostaglandin E2 production. i.e. a “which came first, the chicken or the egg” type question. obviously, over masturbation is incredibly destructive, but could an std just compound or actually be the cause of the prostatitis? i’m just wondering if taking an antibiotic “just in case” would be helpful. My doctor recomended Bactrim, but i haven’t filled the prescription, because i really don’t want to take an antibiotic if my prostatitis isn’t caused by a bacterial infection. it’s so confusing, trying to “do the right thing.”
2) i lift weights regularly, surf, go to yoga, etc. (i live in southern california). Surfing is especially exhilerating, and i always notice that my symptoms seem to spike after surfing – is this because of the adrenalizing effects of surfing (if so, i should probably quit for a few months)? i guess my question is, what types of exercise are ok during recovery. weight lifting always makes me feel better, i train hard – but i don’t take supplements or overdo it.
i just want to get better as quickly as possible. thanks again!
ANSWER
There seems to be some progress but you have to keep in mind that it is a generally slow process. You ware to observe improvements one after another, it will take time, though. Remember how many years it took you to exhaust your organism in the first place.
1) A chronic prostatitis (in your case 5 years) is unlikely to be caused by any STD except HIV. You should try taking the antibiotic. If there is no improvement it will be advisable to discontinue the administration.
2) You should avoid doing things that promote an excessive epinephrine release since you have to improve the modulation on stress and inflammatory response.
Light to moderate exercises are beneficial. Acute or prolonged weight lifting (more than 60 minutes) is to be avoided.
UPDATE
Well, two weeks have gone by… i’ve been taking the prescribed supplements, and have not “caved” into taking the Bactrim prescribed for me about a month ago yet (because i don’t think it’ll work… because i’m not sure that my affliction is caused by a bacteria!)
Improvements continue, although the healing process is understandably slow. A few days agp, I had back to back nights of uninterrupted sleep, which was amazing.
I haven’t masturbated, been with a woman, looked at porn, fantasized, or really even had an erection in about 6 weeks (unbelievable, but true) i guess when you feel searing pain upon urination and ejaculation, it has a way of “taming” the compulsion… maybe like a smoker with throat/lung cancer. You start to see the folly of your ways, and hope there’e enough time to repent as you come to your senses.
As far as symptoms go, I still have the “urgency” to urinate frequently, and I do go frequently, but the “burning” upon urination has diminished quite a bit, and I’m very, very encouraged by this improvement. Some days are better than others, but for the first time (here and there) I’ve been able to urinate with almost no complications, which practically brought tears of joy to my eyes (i called my friends, too, because i was so happy).
As a Christian, what’s helped me the most is realizing the errors of my ways, repenting, and asking God’s forgiveness for all the crap I’ve done to my body. I’ve been struggling with sexual compulsion/addiction for almost twenty years, and through God’s chastening (because He loves us), I’m finally coming to my senses. Looing back, I can’t believe some of the things I used to do and think. My mind and thoughts are actually changing, the LUST IS DIMINISHING, and I’m less anxious, less depressed, and less afraid of social interaction with strangers. It’s weird to look at a woman, and not lust after her, but at the same time appreciate her beauty, like looking at a sunset or something.
I also began attending SAA meetings (Sex Addicts Anonymous) locally, and they’ve been really helpful, too. I go once a week, and it’s great to be with others who are struggling with the same thing.
One last thing i’ve done that Dr. Richards encouraged was to change my diet. After reading about all the hormones in milk and red meat, I haven’t really touched the stuff in about 4 weeks. I’ve mostly been eating raw, uncooked fruits and veggies. It def. takes some getting used to, but I feel so much better, and i have much more energy. Asparugus I feel is especially helpful for me for some reason (maybe it’s in my head)… it would be interesting to test all the fruits and veggies in the world for their prostaglandin effects, and them list them like we do their chemical content (e.g. spinach is known for having iron).
Anyways, i’m getting better… Thanks again!
p.s. QUICK QUESTION regarding antibiotics – do antibiotics “cure” us, or do they just keep the bacteria at bay long enough for our own immune system to “cure” us?
ANSWER
I’m glad to hear of your progress.
You don’t crave sex through the diminished levels of excitatory and inflammatory hormones in the brain and internal organs. It is an indication that your sex drive was driven by the wrong factors.
You are currently recovering your proper neuroplasticity, which when restored and functional will promote a healthy non-obsessive (yet stronger) sex drive.
Congratulations on the way you are optimizing your diet, it will prove be highly beneficial.
There are different classes of antibiotics. However, they will not cure you, they will just assist your immune system if the problem is bacterial in nature. Actually there is nothing that “cures” you except your own immune system. There is no drug yet invented to be able to get you rid off just one viral infection by itself. All the work is done by the extremely advanced and complicated immune system. That is why it is difficult to invent cure for HIV since it targets the system itself.
I’d love to hear from you again!
UPDATE
(Week 6 follow-up)
Hi Dr. Richards!
I hope you’re doing well… it’s exciting to see the site expanding as it has, in such a small amount of time. Thank you so much for helping us! Thank you…
I wanted to give you a quick update, as I’ve stayed on course!
1) I saw my local Dr. last week and he re-checked my prostate as a follow-up from 8 weeks ago. He stated that my prostate had “shrunk”! He also let me know that it no longer felt swollen or boggy. I asked him directly whether or not he would have believed i had prostatitis 8 weeks earlier by feeling my prostate the way it is now, and he said no – because it felt “fine.” So, i think that’s pretty good news! He said it would have been very difficult to diagnose me with prostatitis had he not felt the inflammation for himself 8 weeks ago. He smiled, and stated “the antibiotics must be working.” He seemed annoyed when i told him that I hadn’t taken them at all… He stated and I quote “90 percent of the time, prostatitis is caused by an STD” He then strongly recommended (again) that I masturbate at least once a week to get “cell turnover” in my prostate… Needless to say NO WONDER it’s taken me 5 years to get better, because i keep listening to my Dr.s!
2) I did masturbate once a week ago, because I felt i was getting better, and just wanted to check if it “burned” when i ejaculated like i used to… it didn’t! That was just one time, just to see if it would burn (curiosity got the better of me) More good news, i guess…
3) This may sound odd, but i have a very keen sense of smell… and my urine smells more “normal” now. Not like ammonia/onions. When my prostatitis got really bad, my urine smelled awful! my urine now smells the way i remember it smelling from my childhood… almost a “sweet” kind of smell, not putrid.
4) I am able to urinate with more velocity, and I’ve noticed that my urethra doesn’t seem to be as swollen as it used to be, because my urine doesn’t split into two streams as it used to. I’ve been measuring the volume of my urine as well in the morning… now i urinate about 750 ml in the morning, only waking up ONCE in the middle of the night if i have to. I used to urinate when my bladder was around 200-300 ml full, 2-3 times a night.
5) I still have the urgency to urinate off and on, with better days and worse days… but the “burning” continues to subside.
And Finally, a Question for You, Dr. R –
While my immediate pain symptoms continue to improve (slowly), I still for the life of me cannot pee in a public place, unless i’m in a stall. At home, i’m beginning to pee normally again, without having to sit down each time. I understand this is from my parasympathetic nervous system being shot, but will i ever have the “nerve” to pee like a man again, without my fight or flight response overwhelming me when i urinate in a public restroom? how long would you estimate it takes the parasympathetic nervous system to recover to the point that this becomes a non-issue… it’s kind of embarrassing to me that I have to use a stall… i just feel very VULNERABLE when i’m not in a stall, and my body just CAN’T relax yet enough to urinate, even if i really, really have to go! What exactly is happening in this specific situation? Why can’t i just WILL myself to pee?
Thanks again! i look forward to hearing back soon!
ANSWER
Always a pleasure to hear of you progress in such a detailed manner.
You are currently transforming your neuroplasticity to a positive one. The inter neuronal connections have been developed and ordered to process information in a specific manner. You may experience severe difficulties in rewriting their work to induce proper (by what you consider a proper response) responses in certain situations.
To do that, you must be constantly trying to achieve your goal. Actually, the prostaglandin E2 that will be released in stressful situations will aid your nervous system in rewriting specific responses. The fact is that if you present an external irritant, as to say excessive reading, the induced prostaglandin E2 will actually help your neuronal connections create a whole new internal network to support your activities in a more efficient manner. So the change in the neuroplasticity will help you read faster and remember more information the next day. It is like a mind and nervous training, or as a positive brainwash – a two edged blade, just don’t overdo it. And there you go, very frequently one will not have the conscious control over similar nervous responses to external irritants.
It will take some time to alter the negative neuroplasticity that has been formed and reinforced for so many years, but the persistence will be rewarded.
UPDATE
(Week 8 follow-up)
Still holdin’ on… 8 weeks into the healing process. I think I continue to improve – but very, very slowly.
I was hoping to be “completely healed” by now… certainly, i thought, 2 months is enough time to recover from any sickness or irritation.
I am realizing that my recovery is more along the lines of a recovering bulimic, whose esophagus has been eroded from years and years of vomiting. On countless occasions, i’ve literally masturbated until there was no ejaculate left in me.
I guess my prostatitis probably isn’t going to heal “just like that.”
Dr. Richards, please go into a little more detail regarding the following:
“Restore your nervous modulation on your inflammatory hormones release, and jump start your CNS, increase Prostaglandin E1 E3 and NO levels for healing, UNLOCK (emphasis mine) your hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis by taking the proper supplements”
I see this mentioned in your recommendations often, and I’ve searched the web for weeks trying to understand this better. I’ve heard it described by Dr. Lin (another online doctor who seems to specialize in sexual exhaustion) as a car-battery that’s too depleted to start the car, and in turn, can’t recharge itself.
My questions are:
1) How and why does the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis become “locked” in the first place?
2) How long, after taking the supplements, will it take to unlock?
Ideally, i’d like to be a helpful case study of sorts for you – documenting an approximate healing time for severe prostatitis “most likely” caused by sexual exhaustion, as i’ve exhibited most of the symptoms listed on your website (anxiety/depression, trembling, prostatitis, negative bacteria urinalysis, over-masturbation, etc.).
Thanks again for your help!
Also, please recommend for me the appropriate “new” supplements, as the original supplements have been removed from your first response.
Double thanks, again…
ANSWER
Always a pleasure.
“1) How and why does the hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis become “locked” in the first place?”
The increased levels of cortisol, prostaglandin E2, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and especially prolactin after ejaculation will negatively affect the levels of GnRH, LH and FSH, and together with the arterial inflammation and constriction will kill testicular function as well as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-testicular axis’ proper functioning. Less androgens to modulate inflammatory response, testicular tissue health, insulin resistance, energy levels, tissue and testicular health, proper nts. and hormonal conversions, and neurotransmitters homeostasis will result in even more vicious cycle of inflammation to suppress them even further through low dopamine levels and chronically high prolactin. The overactive sexual activities will slowly drain the organism of its potential for rejuvenation.
“2) How long, after taking the supplements, will it take to unlock?”
The functions of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis in sexually exhausted individuals improves after about 2 to 3 weeks when finally the inflammatory hormones levels are brought down. However, there are many problems to deal with, like the unstable responses of ones organism to sexual stimulations because of local tissue damage, negative neuroplasticity, and still existent neurostransmitter and hormonal imbalances. So similar extra inflammatory responses to sexual stimulation may occur even with minor triggers.
“Also, please recommend for me the appropriate “new” supplements, as the original supplements have been removed from your first response.”
The old products were quite effective in dealing with the ill cycle of inflammation and proper nervous and endocrine functioning restoration. In your case Alpha-Amino, 5HTP-Nettle, GRB6-GABA, Alpha-AGH, Multi-Alpha, Ultra-Purified-FishOil, and testicle temperature regulation will prove to be of even greater assistance.