The traditional classification of prostatitis using Meares-Stamey’s “four-cup method” was the first standardized classification of prostatitis, which compares the number of leukocytes in the initial urine (VB1), middle urine (VB2), prostate massage fluid (EPS), prostate post-massage urine (VB3), and bacterial culture results to classify prostatitis as: acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP), chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBSP), and chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBSP). The results of the four “cups” of urine (VB3) and the bacterial culture results were used to classify prostatitis into: acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP), chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP), chronic non-bacterial prostatitis (CNP), and prostatodynia (PD). However, this classification is not recommended at present because of its cumbersome operation, high cost and limited clinical guidance. In order to make up for the shortcomings of the traditional classification method, our “Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis” affirms the new classification method developed by the National Institutes of Health in 1995 based on the Meares-Stamey method. The diagnosis is based on the Meares-Stamey method. Type II: It is equivalent to CBP in the traditional classification method and accounts for about 5% to 8% of chronic prostatitis. There are recurrent lower urinary tract infection symptoms lasting more than 3 months, elevated white blood cell count in EPS/semen/VB3, and positive bacterial culture results. Type III: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), equivalent to CNP and PD in the traditional classification method, is the most common type of prostatitis, accounting for about 90% or more of chronic prostatitis. The main manifestation is long-term, recurrent pain or discomfort in the pelvic region lasting more than 3 months, which may be accompanied by varying degrees of urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction, seriously affecting the patient’s quality of life; negative EPS/seminal fluid/VB3 bacterial culture results. Type IV: asymptomatic prostatitis (AIP). No subjective symptoms, only evidence of inflammation found during examinations concerning the prostate (EPS, semen, prostate tissue biopsy and pathological examination of prostatectomy specimens, etc.). Based on the results of routine EPS/semen/VB3 microscopy, this type can be subdivided into two subtypes, IIIA (inflammatory CPPS) and IIIB (non-inflammatory CPPS): type IIIA patients have elevated white blood cell counts in EPS/semen/VB3; type IIIB patients have normal white blood cells in EPS/semen/VB3. Both subtypes IIIA and IIIB account for about 50% each.