Prostatitis is the most common urological pathology, which is characterized by an inflammatory process in the prostate gland. According to statistics, this disease occurs in nearly 40% of men, belonging to the main risk group - patients aged 30–45 years. Almost every third visit to a urologist is associated with this disease.
Importance!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For an accurate diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult your doctor.
The emergence of pathology is often facilitated by a decrease in immunity, hypothermia, the presence of bad habits and a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sexual activity, sexual infections. sex. Treatment of prostatitis can be quite lengthy, especially in the later stages of development. The sooner a man seeks medical help, the greater the chance of a successful recovery. Without prompt treatment, the risk of serious consequences is increased, including infertility, problems with sexual function and urination.
In the article we will talk about the development mechanism of the disease, symptoms and causes as well as modern methods of treatment.
What is the prostate gland?
The prostate gland (or prostate) is an unpaired male organ that produces secretions to maintain sperm function. This organ is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra. It is small - about the size of a walnut, but extremely important for men's health.
The prostate gland aids in the production of sperm cells, ensures their movement and ejaculation, participates in the formation of sexual desire and initiates orgasm, affects the functioning of the testes andandrogen synthesis (male sex hormone).
Any pathological process in the prostate gland affects the composition of prostatic secretions. As a result, the quality of sperm decreases, the ability to fertilize is reduced. In addition, the risk of urinary tract infections is increased, as a normal prostate gland prevents bacteria from entering the urethra.
Unfortunately, diseases that require treatment for the prostate are quite common. Usually we are talking about various tumor and hormonal processes. Prostatitis is considered one of the most common pathologies of the organ, since it has a different pathogenesis.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of prostatitis can vary depending on the form of the disease diagnosed in men. Regardless of form, a comprehensive treatment is chosen to eliminate existing symptoms.
There are 3 groups of symptoms characteristic of prostatitis:
- Pain syndrome. Pain in prostatitis can vary in both intensity and locality. Sometimes the pain syndrome spreads to the lower abdomen, scrotum, perineum, anus, and lower back. The more inflammation develops, the more painful the pain makes the patient worry. The pain may become more intense during or after sex or urination.
- urinary retention syndrome. Due to the increase in the size of the prostate gland, increasing pressure on the ureters causes the lumen to gradually decrease. The patient has problems urinating, after going to the toilet, the bladder feels full.
- Sexual deviance. In some cases, a man may experience frequent painful spontaneous erections or complete absence of sexual arousal. Usually with prostatitis, the orgasm fades and the duration of intercourse itself becomes short, or the erection may disappear completely during intercourse.
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 increases with defecation. There is general fatigue, decreased potency, rapid or painful ejaculation. However, the disease is not always characterized by the appearance of appropriate symptoms. There are forms of prostatitis that are asymptomatic in the early stages. This means that the diagnosis of the pathology in such cases can be difficult.
Reason
Often the disease occurs on the basis of a weakened immune system, in the presence of a sexual infection or concomitant pathology. A common cause of prostatitis is a bacterial infection, which causes inflammation of the tissues of the prostate gland.
There are many risk factors for the development of pathology, we will list the main ones:
- Hypothermia. Hypothermia leads to severe stress in the body, which can weaken the immune system. As a result, the pathogenic microflora begins to actively multiply, which leads to the inflammatory process.
- Inactive lifestyle. Inactivity and inactivity negatively affect the blood circulation of the pelvic organs. This leads to congestion and inflammation.
- Overweight. As a rule, overweight patients lead a sedentary lifestyle, which leads to impaired blood circulation in the internal organs. Stagnant and inflammatory processes develop in the tissues of the prostate gland. For this reason, normalizing weight is considered one of the main ways to prevent prostate diseases.
- Presence of chronic diseases. Where chronic infection is concentrated in the body will increase the risk of prostatitis.
- Chronic constipation. The retention of stool in the intestine leads to pressure on the prostate gland, causing circulatory disorders. In addition, constipation often contributes to the reproduction of pathogens.
- Visceral trauma. In cases where the prostate or pelvic organs are damaged, blood flow is reduced, local immunity is reduced. This increases the risk of developing prostatitis.
- Characteristics of sexual activity. Excessive sex life or prolonged abstinence can also trigger 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 diseases
Often the symptoms of pathology depend on the type and nature of the course. There are several types of prostatitis, each with its own characteristics:
- Bacteria. The most common type of disease occurs due to bacterial infection and weakened immunity. There are acute and chronic forms of the disease. As a rule, a man is worried about pain and discomfort in the perineum, urinary disorders, general deterioration of health and fever. In severe cases, the presence of blood or pus in the urine is noted. However, these symptoms are more typical of the acute phase and recurrent episodes of the disease. In chronic prostatitis, symptoms may be "faded" or absent.
- bacteria. In this case, the disease is inflammatory and non-inflammatory in nature and is commonly referred to as chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). With this form of prostatitis, destructive changes in the muscle tissue of the gland are observed. The causative agents of the disease are autoimmune diseases, malformations in the development of organs, chronic cystitis.
- stagnation. This condition develops against the background of chronic prostatitis and is associated with impaired microcirculation and blood circulation in the pelvic organs. In addition, the pathology can manifest itself by not having sex for a long time, as this causes stagnation of secretions in the prostate gland. Typically, patients with this form of the disease experience erectile dysfunction, problems with urination, and discomfort in the groin area.
- calculate. The development of this form of prostatitis contributes to the appearance of stones (stones) in the tissues of the prostate gland. As a rule, the disease occurs in patients over 55-60 years old. The cause of the pathology is improper treatment of chronic prostatitis or urolithiasis. Characteristic symptoms of prostatitis in men include difficulty urinating, impaired erection, and blood in the urine.
- There is pus. A dangerous consequence of improper treatment of acute prostatitis can be a purulent disease. In this case, acute pain syndrome develops, affecting the entire perineum and groin area. A man has a sharp increase in temperature, severe problems with urination and the appearance of purulent substances in the urine. Purulent prostatitis is considered the most dangerous, because if left untreated, it can cause an abscess and lead to death.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
Diagnosis of the disease is made by a urologist - you should make an appointment with a doctor when characteristic symptoms appear. During the initial consultation, the therapist takes the patient's history, asks about existing complaints, and conducts a rectal examination of the prostate. After that, a number of additional examinations are prescribed, which are necessary to diagnose the existing type of prostatitis and to prescribe a competent treatment.
The survey includes:
- Ultrasound (TRUS) of the pelvic organs.
- Clinical blood test.
- Urine analysis.
- Microscopic analysis of prostatic secretions.
- A swab from the urethra and a bacteria that secretly seed the presence of sexually transmitted infections.
If necessary, the patient may be referred for additional studies: X-ray, CT (or MRI) of the pelvic organs.
Importance!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For an accurate diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult your doctor.
Treatments
Without proper treatment, prostatitis can lead to serious health problems. Usually, patients are diagnosed with complications such as cystitis, seminal vesicles, pyelonephritis, infertility, and erectile dysfunction. That's why choosing the right therapy is so important.
As a rule, the treatment of prostatitis involves an integrated approach, including medication and supportive care. In difficult cases, the patient is operated on.
As part of drug therapy, antibiotics are prescribed to stop the inflammatory process. If the disease is infectious due to bacteria, then additional antibacterial treatment is carried out.
In addition, as part of drug therapy, drugs are used to eliminate existing symptoms. It can:
- Analgesic.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.
- Diuretic.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Drugs to normalize prostate function.
- Preparations for restoring an erection.
It is imperative to follow several recommendations:
- Drink enough water during the day (1. 5–2 liters).
- Diet, exclude from the diet spicy, fatty and salty foods.
- Exclude alcohol.
Sometimes herbal preparations are used to reduce inflammation, have a bactericidal effect. However, the use of infusions and decoctions is only allowed with the consent of the urologist. Remember that folk remedies are not a panacea and can only cure the symptoms, not the cause.
An important component of treatment is prostate massage. It is performed in the absence of contraindications. The essence of this procedure is to remove the accumulated inflammatory substances from the body. Thus, it is possible to improve the blood circulation of tissues, eliminate congestion, stimulate local immunity, and restore the functioning of the excretory ducts.
Another common way is to use physical therapy. In the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine a high-quality modern treatment of chronic prostatitis without the use of complex physical therapy. With its help, it is possible to restore blood circulation in the pelvic organs, enhance the effect of drugs and eliminate congestion. As part of the therapy, ultrasonic, laser, thermal or electromagnetic effects are used.
With a prolonged inflammatory process and impaired immunity, the patient is prescribed immunotherapy. It includes taking immunomodulatory drugs and multivitamin complexes aimed at improving the body's protective functions and general health.
Sometimes conservative prostatitis treatment regimens do not bring the desired results, so the patient needs surgery.
Of course, surgery requires a long recovery time and often causes a number of complications, including infertility. That's why it's not done on young men of childbearing age.
Symptoms and treatment of acute prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is characterized by rapid onset and progression. It is worth noting that it occurs quite rarely - in about 5% of cases.
The inflammatory process in the prostate develops gradually, so it is possible to distinguish several stages of the acute form:
- catarrhal. The inflammatory process affects each lobe of the organ, affects the structure of the mucous membrane and submucosa. As a result of this, blockages appear in the follicles of the gland.
- Cylinder shape. Focal point of the affected lobe occurs.
- Parenchyma. There are many organ lesions, almost all tissues are involved in the inflammatory process. An abscess is formed, which may open with the release of purulent substances into the bladder, urethra, or rectum.
Among the symptoms of acute prostatitis: severe pain, fever, chills, profuse sweating, weakness. This condition can be caused by different microorganisms. The most common causes are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter.
Pathological treatment should be started as soon as the first symptoms appear. As a rule, in such cases complications and consequences for health can be avoided. Patients are given a combination of antibiotics that work against existing pathogens. In this case, the effect of therapy is observed after 2-3 days. In a man, almost all symptoms disappear, the process of urination normalizes, and signs of infection disappear.
In the absence of necessary therapy, urinary tract obstruction and abscess may develop. Such conditions will require urgent hospitalization and often require surgical intervention.
Symptoms and treatment of chronic prostatitis
The chronic form of the disease is characterized by slow growth. Symptoms are intermittent or absent, which is why 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 libido and spontaneous erections. However, at the same time, signs of chronic prostatitis appear such as decreased sex time and painful ejaculation. As the disease progresses, symptoms become less obvious, but deterioration in health increases. Many people complain of not having an erection in the morning, decreased sex drive, and increased perspiration in the groin.
During an exacerbation of prostatitis in men, there will be pain in the genital area, difficulty urinating and fever. However, other symptoms of the disease may be absent, which often complicates the diagnosis.
An accurate diagnosis requires a comprehensive examination, including a history, a rectal examination of the prostate, and a variety of laboratory tests. In some cases, additional instrumental methods are used.
Treatment of prostatitis in chronic form takes from 3 - 4 weeks to 6 - 12 months. It is of paramount importance 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.
Precautions
To prevent prostatitis in men, it is advisable to adjust the lifestyle and give up bad habits. This is due to the fact that while maintaining factors conducive to the development of the disease, its recurrence is quite possible. An important role in prevention is due to proper nutrition, adequate sleep and physical activity, regular sex life.
In addition, urologists recommend following these recommendations to avoid prostatitis:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- When working sedentary, take frequent short breaks and gentle exercise.
- Incorporate exercise and walking into your routine.
- Normalize nutrition and get rid of constipation (it is better to consult a specialist in this regard).
- Have a regular sex life with a regular partner.
- After age 40, annual preventive examination by a urologist.
And of course, it should be remembered that if any signs of prostatitis appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. This is the only way to avoid dangerous health consequences.