title: Efficacy of pollen extract in association with group B vitamins for pain relief in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A survey of urologists' knowledge about its clinical application.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPSS) is a pathology of high prevalence in Italian male population, difficult to diagnose and to treat and with poor response to conventional therapy. Aim of this study was to review the evidence of the literature about the therapeutic effects of a plant product containing flower pollen extracts and group B vitamins on symptoms resolution and amelioration of CP/CPPS patients' quality of life and to investigate the knowledge among practicing urologists about the clinical application of this product.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 38 urologists was submitted to an investigational survey of the knowledge of the clinical applications of a plant product containing flower pollen extracts and group B vitamins Results: 71% of the urologists interviewed prescribed the plant product for CBP and CP/CPPS at least one time in a month and 11% prescribed it more than 5 times; 67% had evidence of clear ameliorations in pain relief and on patient's quality of life and 47% reported that the effectiveness is comparable to NSAIDs; 39% also reported a significant effect for the improvement of the urinary symptoms of patients. No gastric or general side effects have been noticed during the administration period of this plant product. Finally, the cost of the product has always reported to be sustainable for the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the results of this investigational survey, we can state that the plant product containing flower pollen extracts and group B vitamins is well-known and demonstrated beneficial effects on symptoms resolution and amelioration of quality of life in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena. gmo.pirola@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giacomo Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Pirola
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puliatti
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bocchialini
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martorana
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianchi
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000072178:Urologists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014803:Vitamin B Complex