Fears, sexual disturbances and personality features in men with prostatitis: a population‐based cross‐sectional study in Finland

Objective To determine the occurrence of mental distress related to prostatitis in Finnish men. Subjects and methods A population‐based cross‐sectional survey was conducted of 2500 men aged 20–59 years living in the two northernmost provinces of Finland (Oulu and Lapland). The final response rate was 75% (1832 men). Results The fear of undetected prostate cancer was reported by 17% of the men in the population who had had prostatitis, a value significantly higher ( P < 0.001) than in healthy men. Fears of having a sexually transmitted disease and suicidal thinking were also slightly more common. The men who had had prostatitis preferred to be alone in a public toilet during voiding (58% vs 44%, P < 0.001). Erectile dysfunction was reported by 43% of the men with symptomatic prostatitis and decreased libido by 24%. Self‐assessment of personality, adjusted for age, showed that the men with prostatitis were more often busy and nervous than the healthy controls ( P < 0.001), and that they had a more meticulous attitude to life and its problems. Marital difficulties were reported by 17% of the men who had had prostatitis at some point in their lives, and 4% were convinced that their illness had caused their divorce. Socio‐economic status and social well‐being had no apparent influence on the occurrence of prostatitis. Conclusions This survey showed that psychological stress is common in men with prostatitis. Urologists and general practitioners should consider that a consultation with a psychiatrist may be appropriate for selected men with prostatitis.