Stanford University

Department of Urology

Research Study of New Treatment for Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain

This study will occur at Stanford University Medical Center, Department of Urology, Stanford, California.

Thirty patients will be admitted.

The best candidates for this treatment are men in good health between the ages of 18-75 who have a diagnosis of chronic prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain, chronic testicular, penile or perineal pain, who have been off of antibiotic therapy and alpha blocker therapy for three months, and for whom all prostate and other urinary diagnoses have been ruled out

Myofascial release/progressive relaxation therapy has been utilized at Stanford in a pilot study and has shown promising results. This study is based on the new view that prostatitis and its associated symptoms of pelvic pain and urinary dysfunction originate in an environment of chronic tension in the pelvic muscles. This new approach replaces the conventional view that this condition derives from some kind of microbe in the prostate gland. This new study focuses on the use of a specifically designed protocol of pelvic floor myofascial release to deactivate the tender points and trigger points in the pelvic floor and to restore the chronically contracted tissue in the pelvic muscles back to normal. In conjunction with the pelvic floor myofascial release, a specifically designed training of progressive relaxation of the pelvic muscles is taught weekly and assigned for home practice daily.

Patients enrolled in the study will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will immediately begin the study treatment, the other group will be treated using standard care (antibiotic/drug therapy) for 3 months prior to beginning the study treatment. All patients will receive 3 months of intensive myofascial release and training in progressive relaxation of the pelvic floor.

Patients will receive the study treatment weekly for 3 months. Patients assigned to the standard antibiotic/drug treatment will be seen every 30 days for 3 months prior to beginning the 3 months of weekly study treatment.

As a study unsponsored by governmental or industrial funding, patients will be required to pay $4600 for the cost of the study treatment. Insurance coverage will not be accepted.