Prostatitis is the most common urological pathology characterized by an inflammatory process in the prostate gland. According to statistics, it occurs in almost 40% of men, in the main risk group - patients aged 30-45. Almost every third visit to the urologist is associated with this disease.
It is important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. You should always consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
The occurrence of pathology is often facilitated by reduced immunity, hypothermia, bad habits and a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sexual activity, and sexual infections. Treatment of prostatitis can be quite long, especially in the later stages of development. The sooner a man seeks medical help, the greater the chance of a successful recovery. In the absence of timely therapy, the risk of serious consequences, including infertility, problems with sexual function and urination, increases.
In the article, we will talk about the mechanisms of disease development, symptoms and causes, as well as modern methods of treatment.
What is the prostate?
The prostate (or prostate gland) is an unpaired male organ responsible for producing secretions to maintain sperm activity. The organ is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra. Its size is small - about the size of a walnut, but it is extremely important for men's health.
The prostate gland supports the production of sperm cells, ensures their movement and discharge, participates in the formation of sexual desire and the initiation of orgasm, affects the activity of the testicles and the synthesis of androgens (male sex hormones).
Any pathological processes in the prostate affect the composition of prostate secretion. As a result, the quality of sperm deteriorates, the ability to fertilize decreases. In addition, the risk of urinary tract infection increases because the prostate gland normally prevents bacteria from entering the urethra.
Unfortunately, prostate diseases that require treatment are quite common. We are usually talking about various tumor and hormonal processes. Prostatitis is considered one of the most common pathologies of the body due to its various pathogenesis.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of inflammation of the prostate gland can vary depending on the form of the disease diagnosed in a man. Regardless of the form, a comprehensive treatment is chosen to eliminate the existing symptoms.
There are 3 groups of symptoms characteristic of prostatitis:
- Pain syndrome. Pain in prostatitis can be different both in intensity and localization. Sometimes the pain syndrome spreads to the lower abdomen, scrotum, perineum, anus and lower back. The more the inflammation develops, the more pain the patient experiences. The pain may be worse during or after sexual activity or urination.
- Dysuric syndrome. Due to the increase in the size of the prostate, there is an increased pressure in the ureters, which causes a gradual decrease in the lumen. The patient has problems with urination, there is a feeling of fullness of the bladder after going to the toilet.
- Sexual deviations. In some cases, a man may experience frequent painful spontaneous erections or a complete lack of sexual arousal. Often, with prostatitis, orgasmic sensations disappear, and sexual intercourse itself is short, or the erection during intercourse may disappear completely.
One of the first signs of prostatitis in men is frequent urination and discomfort in the groin area. There is a burning sensation in the urethra, which intensifies during a trip to the toilet. There is general fatigue, decreased potency, accelerated or painful ejaculation. However, the disease is not always characterized by the appearance of the corresponding symptoms. There are forms of prostatitis that are asymptomatic in the early stages. This means that it will be difficult to diagnose the pathology in such cases.
Reasons
Often, the disease occurs against the background of reduced immunity, sexual infections or accompanying pathologies. A common cause of prostatitis is a bacterial infection, against which inflammation of the tissues of the prostate gland begins.
There are many risk factors for the development of pathology, we will highlight the main ones:
- hypothermia. Hypothermia causes severe stress on the body, which can weaken the immune system. As a result, pathogenic microflora begins to multiply actively, which leads to an inflammatory process.
- Inactive lifestyle. Sedentary work and lack of physical activity have a negative effect on the blood circulation of the pelvic organs. This causes congestion and inflammation.
- Excess weight. As a rule, overweight patients lead an inactive lifestyle, which leads to impaired blood circulation in the internal organs. Stagnant processes and inflammation develop in the tissues of the prostate gland. For this reason, weight normalization is considered one of the main ways to prevent prostate gland diseases.
- The presence of chronic diseases. The focus of chronic infection in the body increases the risk of inflammation of the prostate.
- Chronic constipation. Retention of faeces in the intestine causes pressure on the prostate, which leads to impaired blood circulation. In addition, constipation often promotes the growth of pathogens.
- Organ damage. In case of traumatic damage to the prostate or pelvic organs, blood flow deteriorates, local immunity decreases. This increases the risk of developing prostatitis.
- Characteristics of sexual activity. Excessively active sexual life or prolonged abstinence can also cause the onset of the disease.
In addition, any condition that weakens the immune system can contribute to the development of the disease. We are talking about constant stress, lack of sleep, overwork.
Types of disease
Often, the symptoms of the pathology depend on its type and the nature of the course. There are several types of prostatitis, each of them has its own characteristics:
- Bacterial. The most common type of disease caused by bacterial infection and decreased immunity. There are acute and chronic forms of pathology. As a rule, a man is worried about pain and discomfort in the perineum, urinary disorders, deterioration of general well-being and fever. In severe cases, the presence of blood or pus in the urine is noted. However, these symptoms are more characteristic of the acute stage and relapses of the disease. In chronic prostatitis, the symptoms may be "blurred" or may not appear at all.
- bacterial. In this case, the disease has an inflammatory and non-inflammatory nature and is often called chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). With this form of prostatitis, destructive changes in the muscle tissue of the gland are observed. Pathogens are autoimmune diseases, abnormalities in the development of the body, chronic cystitis.
- stagnant. This condition develops against the background of chronic prostatitis and is associated with microcirculation and blood circulation disorders in the pelvic organs. In addition, the pathology can manifest itself in the absence of sexual intercourse for a long time, because this causes stagnation of secretions in the prostate gland. Often, patients with this form of the disease experience erectile dysfunction, problems with urination, discomfort in the groin area.
- calculated. The development of this form of prostatitis contributes to the formation of stones (stones) in the tissues of the prostate gland. As a rule, the disease occurs in patients older than 55-60 years. The causes of pathology are improper treatment of chronic prostatitis or urolithiasis. In men, the characteristic symptoms of prostatitis include urinary incontinence, weak erection, and the appearance of blood in the urine.
- Purulent. A dangerous consequence of improper treatment of acute prostatitis can be a purulent form of the disease. In this case, an acute pain syndrome develops affecting the entire area of the perineum and groin. A man has a sharp increase in temperature, serious problems with urination, and the presence of purulent inclusions in the urine. Purulent prostatitis is considered the most dangerous, because if not treated, it can lead to abscess and death.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
The diagnosis of the disease is carried out by a urologist - it is worth making an appointment with him when characteristic symptoms appear. During the initial consultation, the specialist collects the patient's medical history, asks about existing complaints and conducts a rectal examination of the prostate gland. After that, a number of additional examinations are prescribed, which are necessary for the diagnosis of the existing prostatitis and the appointment of competent treatment.
The survey includes:
- Pelvic ultrasound examination (TRUS).
- Clinical blood test.
- General urinalysis.
- Microscopic analysis of prostate secretion.
- A swab from the urethra and a bacterial seed of cannabis for the presence of sexually transmitted infections.
If necessary, the patient can be sent for additional studies: spermogram, CT (or MRI) of the pelvic organs.
It is important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. You should always consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment methods
If prostatitis is not properly treated, it can lead to serious health problems. Often patients are diagnosed with complications such as cystitis, vesiculitis, pyelonephritis, infertility and erectile dysfunction. Therefore, choosing the right therapy is extremely important.
As a rule, the treatment of inflammation of the prostate involves an integrated approach, including drug therapy and supportive care. In difficult cases, the patient is operated.
As part of drug therapy, antibiotics are prescribed to stop the inflammatory process. If the disease is of an infectious-bacterial nature, antibacterial treatment is additionally carried out.
Also, as part of drug treatment, drugs are used to relieve existing symptoms. Can be:
- Pain relievers.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.
- Diuretics.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Medicines that normalize the activity of the prostate.
- Preparations for recovery of erection.
It is mandatory to follow a number of recommendations:
- Drink enough water during the day (1. 5-2 liters).
- Exclusion of diet, spicy, fatty and salty foods from the diet.
- Elimination of alcohol.
Sometimes medicinal herbal preparations are used to eliminate inflammation with a bactericidal effect. However, infusions and decoctions are allowed only after consultation with a urologist. Remember that folk remedies are not a panacea for the disease and only help the symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause.
An important component of treatment is prostate massage. It is carried out if there are no contraindications. The essence of this procedure is to remove the accumulated inflammatory secret from the body. Thanks to this, it is possible to improve tissue blood circulation, remove congestion, stimulate local immunity and restore the openness of excretory channels.
Another popular method is to use physical therapy. In the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine high-quality modern treatment of chronic prostatitis without the use of complex physiotherapy. With its help, it is possible to restore blood circulation in the pelvic organs, increase the effect of drugs and eliminate congestion. Ultrasound, laser, thermal or electromagnetic effects are used as part of the therapy.
With a long course of the inflammatory process and a decrease in immunity, the patient is prescribed immunotherapy. This includes taking immunomodulators and multivitamin complexes aimed at improving the protective functions of the body and general well-being.
Sometimes the conservative treatment regimen for prostatitis does not bring the desired result, so the patient needs surgery.
Of course, surgery requires a long recovery and often causes a number of complications, including infertility. Therefore, it is not performed on young people of childbearing age.
Symptoms and treatment of acute prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is characterized by rapid onset and progression. It should be noted that this happens very rarely - about 5% of cases.
The inflammatory process in the prostate gland develops gradually, so several stages of the acute form can be distinguished:
- catarrhal. The inflammatory process affects the individual lobes of the body, affects the structure of the mucous membranes and the submucosal layer. As a result of this, congestion occurs in the follicles of the gland.
- Follicular. Focal suppuration of the affected lobes occurs.
- Parenchymal. There are multiple injuries of the organ, almost all tissues are involved in the inflammatory process. An abscess is formed, which can be opened by releasing the purulent contents into the bladder, urethra, or rectum.
Among the symptoms of acute prostatitis: severe pain, fever, chills, profuse sweating, weakness. Various microorganisms can cause this condition. The most common cause is Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter.
Treatment of pathology should begin immediately after the first symptoms appear. As a rule, in such cases, it is possible to prevent health complications and consequences. The patient is given a combination of antibiotics that are effective against the pathogen present. In this case, the effect of therapy is observed after 2-3 days. In a man, almost all symptoms disappear, the urination process normalizes, and the signs of infection disappear.
In the absence of appropriate therapy, urinary tract obstruction and abscess may develop. Such conditions will require immediate hospitalization and often surgical intervention.
Symptoms and treatment of chronic prostatitis
The chronic form of the disease is characterized by slow development. Symptoms are intermittent or absent, so many men ignore their presence for years and do not seek medical attention.
At the same time, at the beginning of the development of the pathology, patients note an increase in sexual desire and spontaneous erection. However, at the same time, such symptoms of chronic prostatitis appear as a decrease in the duration of sexual intercourse and painful ejaculation. As the disease progresses, the symptoms are less pronounced, but the deterioration of well-being increases. Many complain about the lack of morning erection, decreased libido and increased sweating in the groin.
During exacerbation of prostatitis in men, pains in the genital organs, urinary disorders and fever rise. However, other symptoms of the pathology may not be present, which often complicates the diagnosis.
An accurate diagnosis requires a comprehensive examination, which will include an anamnesis, a rectal examination of the prostate gland and a number of laboratory tests. In some cases, additional instrumental methods are used.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis in chronic form lasts from 3-4 weeks to 6-12 months. The main thing is to eliminate the causes of the inflammatory process in the prostate gland. Otherwise, it will not be possible to exclude the recurrent nature of the pathology.
Preventive measures
To prevent prostatitis in men, lifestyle correction and rejection of bad habits are recommended. This is due to the possibility of its recurrence by maintaining the factors that contribute to the development of the disease. Proper nutrition, good sleep and physical activity, regular sex life play the main role in prevention.
In addition, urologists advise to follow the following recommendations to avoid inflammation of the prostate gland:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Take regular breaks and light exercise during sedentary work.
- Incorporate exercise and walks into your routine.
- Normalize nutrition and get rid of constipation (it is better to consult a specialist about the problem).
- Have regular sex with a regular partner.
- Annual preventive examinations by a urologist after the age of 40.
And, of course, it is important to remember that if any signs of prostatitis appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. This is the only way to prevent dangerous health consequences.