Some sources suggest that up to 10% of men suffer from some of the symptoms of chronic prostatitis, more commonly referred to nowadays as chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). Whilst western medical treatment does not offer a lot of help for this condition, there have been reports and studies rom China over many years of its successful treatment by acupuncture. Now a western study has confirmed these findings. Twelve men with CPPS that was refractory to standard western treatment (antibiotics, alpha-blockers, anti-inflammatories), received treatment at 3 sets of acupuncture points (total 30 points) twice weekly for 6 weeks. Ten of them had a greater than 50% decrease symptoms at the end of the course of treatment, and in 8 of these there was sustained improvement at follow up (33 weeks). The authors conclude that acupuncture appears to be a safe, effective, and durable treatment in improving symptoms in, and the quality of life of, men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome refractory to treatment.

Urology. 2003 Jun;61(6):1156-9.