Prostatitis is the most common urological pathology and is characterized by inflammatory processes in the prostate. According to statistics, it occurs in nearly 40% of men, and the main risk group is patients aged 30-45. Almost every third urologist visit is associated with this condition.
important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For proper diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult your doctor.
Decreased immunity, hypothermia, the presence of bad habits and a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sexual activity, and sexual infections often contribute to the development of pathology. Treatment for prostatitis can be lengthy, especially in the later stages of development. The sooner a man seeks medical help, the better his chances of a successful recovery. Without prompt treatment, the risk of serious outcomes increases, including infertility, sexual function, and urination problems.
In this article, we discuss the mechanisms, symptoms, and causes of disease development, as well as modern treatments.
What is the prostate?
The prostate (or prostate) is an unpaired male organ responsible for producing secretions to maintain sperm motility. This organ is located under the bladder and surrounds the urethra. It's small—about the size of a walnut—but extremely important to men's health.
The prostate supports the production of sperm cells, ensures their motility and ejaculation, is involved in the formation of libido and the onset of orgasm, affects the activity of the testes and the synthesis of androgens (male hormones).
Any pathological process in the prostate affects the composition of prostate secretions. As a result, sperm quality decreases and fertilization ability decreases. In addition, there is an increased risk of urinary tract infections because the prostate normally blocks bacteria from entering the urethra.
Unfortunately, conditions requiring prostate treatment are very common. Usually we are talking about various tumors and hormonal processes. Prostatitis is considered one of the most common disorders of the organ because of its different pathogenesis.
symptoms of disease
Symptoms of prostate inflammation can vary depending on the form of the disease diagnosed in men. Regardless of the form, a comprehensive treatment is chosen to eliminate existing symptoms.
Prostatitis has 3 characteristic groups of symptoms:
- pain syndrome. Pain in prostatitis can vary in intensity and location. Sometimes the pain syndrome spreads to the lower abdomen, scrotum, perineum, anus, and lower back. The more inflammation develops, the more the patient worries about pain. The pain may become more intense during or after sexual activity or urination.
- dysuria syndrome. As the prostate increases in size, the pressure on the ureter increases, resulting in a progressive reduction in the lumen. The patient has problems urinating and feels a full bladder after going to the toilet.
- sexual biasIn some cases, men may experience frequent painful spontaneous erections or a complete lack of sexual arousal. Often with prostatitis, sexual intercourse may be diminished, intercourse itself may be shortened, or an erection may disappear completely during intercourse.
One of the first signs of prostatitis in men is frequent urination and discomfort in the groin area. A burning sensation in the urethra that intensifies when going to the toilet. Malaise, decreased potency, accelerated ejaculation, or painful ejaculation. However, the disease is not always characterized by the appearance of appropriate symptoms. Some forms of prostatitis are asymptomatic in the early stages. This means that pathological diagnosis will be difficult in this case.
reason
The disease usually occurs against a background of weakened immunity, with the presence of sexual infections or accompanying pathology. A common cause of prostatitis is a bacterial infection, where inflammation of the prostate tissue begins to fight the bacterial infection.
There are many risk factors for the development of pathology, we will focus on the main ones:
- low temperature. Hypothermia can cause severe stress in the body, which can lead to a weakened immune system. As a result, the pathogenic microflora begins to multiply actively, leading to an inflammatory process.
- inactive lifestyle. Sedentary work and lack of physical activity can negatively affect blood circulation to the pelvic organs. This can lead to congestion and inflammation.
- overweight. Often, overweight patients lead an inactive lifestyle, which leads to impaired splanchnic blood circulation. Stalled processes and inflammation develop in prostate tissue. Therefore, weight normalization is considered to be one of the main ways to prevent prostate disease.
- Presence of chronic disease. Foci of chronic infection in the body increase the risk of prostate inflammation.
- chronic constipation. The retention of feces in the intestines can cause pressure on the prostate, which can lead to circulatory disturbances. Additionally, constipation tends to help pathogens multiply.
- organ damage. In the event of trauma to the prostate or pelvic organs, blood flow deteriorates and local immunity decreases. This increases the risk of developing prostatitis.
- characteristics of sexual activity. Hyperactive sex life or long-term abstinence can also lead to the onset of the disease.
In addition, any disease that suppresses the immune system can lead to the development of the disease. We're talking about constant stress, sleep deprivation, overwork.
disease type
Usually the symptoms of the pathology depend on its type and the nature of the process. There are several types of prostatitis, each with its own characteristics:
- bacteria. The most common type of illness that occurs due to bacterial infection and decreased immunity. The pathology has acute and chronic forms. Often, men worry about perineal pain and discomfort, urination disturbances, worsening general health, and fever. In severe cases, the presence of blood or pus in the urine is noted. However, these symptoms are more typical for the acute phase and relapse of the disease. In chronic prostatitis, symptoms may be "fuzzy" or absent.
- bacteria freeIn this case, the disease is inflammatory and non-inflammatory in nature and is often referred to as chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). With this form of prostatitis, destructive changes in the musculature of the glands can be observed. The causative agent is autoimmune disease, abnormal organ development, chronic cystitis.
- stand still. This condition develops in the context of chronic prostatitis and is associated with impaired microcirculation and blood circulation in the pelvic organs. In addition, the pathology can be manifested by prolonged absence of sexual intercourse, as this causes stagnation of prostatic secretions. Most often, patients with this condition experience erectile dysfunction, urination problems, and discomfort in the groin area.
- CalculatedThe development of this form of prostatitis results in the formation of stones (stones) in the prostate tissue. Typically, the disease occurs in patients over the age of 55-60. The pathological cause is improper treatment of chronic prostatitis or urolithiasis. Characteristic symptoms of prostatitis in men include difficulty urinating, a weakened erection, and blood in the urine.
- Purulent. A dangerous consequence of improper treatment of acute prostatitis may be the purulent form of the disease. In this case, an acute pain syndrome develops that affects the entire area of the perineum and groin. Men have a sharp rise in body temperature, severe urination problems, and purulent inclusions in the urine. Suppurative prostatitis is considered the most dangerous because if left untreated, it can lead to abscesses and lead to death.
Diagnosis of Prostatitis
The diagnosis of the disease is made by a urologist - it is worth making an appointment with him when characteristic symptoms appear. During the initial consultation, the specialist will collect the patient's medical history, ask about existing complaints and perform a prostate and rectal exam. After that, some additional tests are prescribed, which are necessary to diagnose the existing type of prostatitis and to prescribe an effective treatment.
The investigation includes:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs (TRUS).
- Clinical blood test.
- General urinalysis.
- Microscopic analysis of prostate secretions.
- The secret to swabs and bacterial seeding from the urethra is the presence of sexually transmitted infections.
If necessary, the patient can be referred for other tests: semen test of pelvic organs, CT (or MRI).
important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For proper diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult your doctor.
treatment method
Lack of proper treatment for prostatitis can lead to serious health problems. Often, patients are diagnosed with complications such as cystitis, seminal vesiculitis, pyelonephritis, infertility, and erectile dysfunction. This is why the correct choice of treatment is so important.
Typically, treatment of prostate inflammation involves a comprehensive approach, including medication and supportive care. In difficult cases, patients undergo surgery.
Antibiotics are prescribed to stop the inflammatory process as part of medical treatment. Antibacterial treatment is additionally administered if the disease is of a contagious bacterial nature.
Also, as part of medical treatment, medication is used to eliminate existing symptoms. possible:
- painkiller.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.
- Diuretics.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Medications that normalize prostate function.
- Preparing to restore an erection.
Some advice must be followed:
- Drink enough water (1. 5-2 liters) throughout the day.
- Go on a diet that excludes spicy, fatty, and salty foods.
- Exclude alcohol.
Sometimes medicinal herbal preparations are used to relieve inflammation and have a bactericidal effect. However, ingestion of infusions and decoctions is only allowed with the consent of the urologist. Keep in mind that folk remedies are not a panacea for an illness, they can only help relieve the symptoms, but not the cause.
An important part of treatment is prostate massage. It is performed without contraindications. The essence of this process is to clear the secrets of inflammation accumulated in the body. Therefore, it is possible to improve the blood circulation of the tissue, eliminate congestion, stimulate local immunity and restore the patency of the secretory ducts.
Another popular method is to use physical therapy. In the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine obtaining high-quality modern chronic prostatitis treatment without the use of sophisticated physical therapy. With its help, it is possible to restore blood circulation to the pelvic organs, enhance the action of the drug and eliminate congestion. As part of the treatment, ultrasound, lasers, heat or electromagnetic effects are used.
With the prolonged course of the inflammatory process and the decline of immunity, the patient received immunotherapy. It includes taking immunomodulators and multivitamin complexes designed to improve the body's protective function and overall health.
Sometimes conservative treatment options for prostatitis do not bring the desired results, so the patient needs surgery.
Of course, surgery requires a long recovery time and often has complications, including infertility. That's why it's not performed on young men of reproductive age.
Symptoms and treatment of acute prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is characterized by rapid onset and development. Notably, it happens very rarely - about 5% of the time.
The inflammatory process of the prostate develops gradually, so several stages of the acute form can be distinguished:
- Cataract. The inflammatory process affects the individual lobes of the organ, affecting the structure of the mucosa and submucosa. As a result, the hair follicles of the glands appear congested.
- follicle. Focal suppuration in the affected lobe.
- substance. Organs have multiple lesions and almost all tissues are involved in the inflammatory process. An abscess forms, which can open as purulent contents are released into the bladder, urethra, or rectum.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis include: severe pain, fever, chills, profuse sweating, weakness. This condition can be caused by various microorganisms. The most common causes are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter.
Pathological treatment should be started as soon as the first symptoms appear. Often, complications and health effects can be avoided in this case. Patients are given antibiotic combinations that are effective against existing pathogens. In this case, the effect of the treatment will be observed after 2-3 days. In men, almost all symptoms disappeared, the urination process normalized, and signs of infection disappeared.
Urinary tract obstruction and abscesses may develop without necessary treatment. This condition requires urgent hospitalization and often surgical intervention.
Symptoms and Treatment of Chronic Prostatitis
The chronic form of the disease is characterized by slow progression. Symptoms are intermittent or nonexistent, which is why many men ignore their presence for years and do not seek medical care.
At the same time, at the beginning of the development of the pathology, the patient notices an increase in libido and spontaneous erections. At the same time, however, the signs of this chronic prostatitis are shortened intercourse time and painful ejaculation. As the disease progresses, symptoms become less pronounced, but deterioration in health increases. Many people complain of lack of morning erection, decreased libido, and increased groin sweating.
Pain in the genital area, urination disturbance and fever during exacerbations of prostatitis in men. However, other pathological symptoms may not be present, which often complicates diagnosis.
An accurate diagnosis requires a comprehensive examination, including a medical history, prostate and rectal examination, and a series of laboratory tests. In some cases, additional instrumental methods are used.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis in its chronic form takes 3-4 weeks to 6-12 months. The most important thing is to eliminate the cause of the inflammatory process of the prostate. Otherwise, recurrence of the pathology cannot be ruled out.
Precaution
In order to prevent prostatitis in men, it is recommended to correct the lifestyle and reject bad habits. This is because its recurrence is possible while maintaining factors favorable to the development of the disease. Proper nutrition, good sleep and physical activity, and regular sex play a key role in prevention.
Additionally, urologists recommend following these recommendations to avoid experiencing prostate inflammation:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- During sedentary work, take short breaks and light exercise regularly.
- Incorporate exercise and walking into your routine.
- Normalize nutrition and eliminate constipation (best to consult a specialist on issues).
- Have regular sex with a regular partner.
- After age 40, annual preventive check-ups by a urologist.
Of course, it's worth remembering that you should seek immediate medical attention if you develop any signs of prostatitis. This is the only way to avoid dangerous health consequences.