How is chronic prostatitis defined?

Chronic prostatitis is primarily characterized by pelvic pain and discomfort, which can last for many months. The condition is typically categorized into different types, one of which is chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). This syndrome is defined not only by the presence of pelvic pain but can also involve urinary and sexual dysfunction without a clear infectious cause.

The definition encompassing pelvic pain lasting over six months aligns with the International Classification of Diseases, which recognizes chronic prostatitis or CP/CPPS by its symptom duration and includes pelvic pain over a significant time frame as a crucial criterion. Therefore, it captures the essence of chronic prostatitis and defines it in a way that helps identify and manage the condition effectively.

In the context of the other options, inflammation without infection might relate to some forms of prostatitis, but it does not specifically define it; instead, it describes a characteristic. Recurrent urinary tract infections could be a result of prostatitis but are not exclusive to it and can occur independently. Three months of dysuria with the same bacterial strain aligns more closely with acute bacterial prostatitis rather than chronic forms of prostatitis. Thus, focusing on the definition that includes the duration of pelvic pain as a key feature helps in recognizing and understanding