Prostatitis is the most common urological pathology, characterized by an inflammatory process in the prostate. According to statistics, it occurs in almost 40% of men, in the main risk group - patients aged between 30 and 45 years. Almost every third visit to a urologist is associated with this disease.
Important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For correct diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
The occurrence 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. Treatment for 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. In the absence of timely therapy, the risk of serious consequences increases, including infertility, problems with sexual function and urination.
In the article, we will talk about the mechanisms of the development of the disease, symptoms and causes, as well as modern methods of treatment.
What is the prostate?
The prostate (or prostate gland) is an unpaired male organ that is responsible for producing secretions to maintain sperm activity. The organ is located under the bladder and surrounds the urethra. It is small in size - about the size of a walnut, but it is extremely important for men's health.
The prostate supports the production of sperm, ensures their movement and ejaculation, participates in the formation of sexual desire and the onset of orgasm, affects the activity of the testes and the synthesis of androgens (male sex hormones).
Any pathological processes in the prostate affect the composition of the prostatic secretion. As a result, sperm quality deteriorates and their ability to fertilize decreases. In addition, it increases the risk of urinary tract infections, as the prostate normally prevents bacteria from entering the urethra.
Unfortunately, diseases that require treatment of the prostate are quite common. Normally we are talking about various tumor and hormonal processes. Prostatitis is considered one of the most common pathologies of the organ, as it has a differentiated pathogenesis.
disease symptoms
Symptoms of prostate inflammation can vary depending on the form of the disease diagnosed in a man. Regardless of the form, comprehensive treatment is selected to eliminate existing symptoms.
There are 3 groups of characteristic symptoms of prostatitis:
- pain syndrome. Pain in prostatitis can be different in both intensity and location. Sometimes the pain syndrome spreads to the lower abdomen, scrotum, perineum, anus, and lower back. The more inflammation develops, the more pain worries the patient. The pain may become more intense during or after sexual activity or urination.
- dysuric syndrome. Due to the increase in the size of the prostate, there is increased pressure on the ureters, which leads to a gradual decrease in the lumen. The patient has trouble urinating while after going to the toilet there is a feeling of a full bladder.
- 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 intercourse itself becomes short, or the erection may disappear completely during intercourse.
One of the first signs of prostatitis in a man is frequent urination and discomfort in the groin area. There is a burning sensation in the urethra, which intensifies during a trip to the bathroom. There is general fatigue, decreased potency, accelerated or painful ejaculation. However, the disease is not always characterized by the appearance of adequate symptoms. There are forms of prostatitis that are asymptomatic in the early stages. This means that the diagnosis of the pathology in these cases will be difficult.
Causes
Often, the disease occurs against the background of a decrease in immunity, in the presence of sexual infections or concomitant pathologies. A common cause of prostatitis is a bacterial infection, against which inflammation of the prostate tissues begins.
There are many risk factors for the development of the pathology, we will highlight the main ones:
- hypothermia. Hypothermia leads to severe stress on the body, which can cause the immune system to weaken. As a result of this, pathogenic microflora begins to actively multiply, which leads to an inflammatory process.
- inactive lifestyle. Sedentary work and lack of physical activity negatively affect the blood circulation of Organs pelvic organs. This leads to congestion and inflammation.
- Overweight. As a rule, overweight patients lead an inactive lifestyle, which leads to impaired blood circulation in Organs internal organs. Stagnant processes and inflammation develop in the prostate tissues. For this reason, weight normalization is considered one of the main ways to prevent prostate diseases.
- The presence of chronic diseases. A focus of chronic infection in the body increases the risk of prostate inflammation.
- chronic constipation. The retention of feces in the intestines leads to pressure on the prostate, which causes circulatory disorders. In addition, constipation often contributes to the reproduction of pathogens.
- organ injury. In the case of a traumatic injury to the prostate or pelvic organs, blood flow worsens, local immunity decreases. This increases the risk of developing prostatitis.
- Features of sexual activity. Overly active sex life or prolonged abstinence can also cause the onset of the disease.
In addition, any condition that depresses the immune system can contribute to the development of the disease. We're talking about constant stress, lack of sleep, overwork.
types of disease
Often, the symptoms of pathology depend on its type and nature of the course. There are several types of prostatitis, each with its own characteristics:
- bacterial. The most common type of illness that occurs as a result of a bacterial infection and a decrease in 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 observed. However, these symptoms are more typical for the acute phase and relapses of the disease. In chronic prostatitis, symptoms may be "blurry" or not appear at all.
- abacterial. In this case, the disease is both 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 muscle tissue of the gland are observed. Pathogens are autoimmune diseases, anomalies in organ development, chronic cystitis.
- stagnant. This condition develops against the background of chronic prostatitis and is associated with impaired microcirculation and blood circulation in Organs pelvic organs. In addition, the pathology can manifest itself with a long absence of sexual intercourse, as this causes stagnation of secretions in the prostate. Most of the time, patients with this form of the disease experience erectile dysfunction, problems urinating and discomfort in the groin area.
- calculating. The development of this form of prostatitis contributes to the appearance of calculi (stones) in the tissues of the prostate. As a rule, the disease occurs in patients older than 55-60 years. The causes of the pathology are inadequate treatment of chronic prostatitis or urolithiasis. The characteristic symptoms of such prostatitis in men include difficulty urinating, weakening of the 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, which affects the entire perineum and groin area. A man has a sharp rise in temperature, severe problems with urination, and the presence of purulent inclusions in the urine. Purulent prostatitis is considered the most dangerous, as if left untreated it can cause an abscess and lead to death.
diagnosis of prostatitis
Diagnosis of the disease is carried out by a urologist - it is worth making an appointment with him when characteristic symptoms appear. At the initial consultation, the specialist collects the patient's history, asks about existing complaints and performs a rectal examination of the prostate. After that, several additional tests are prescribed, which are necessary to diagnose the existing type of prostatitis and prescribe competent treatment.
The search includes:
- Ultrasound (TRUS) of Organs pelvic organs.
- Clinical blood test.
- General urine analysis.
- Microscopic analysis of prostatic secretion.
- A swab of the urethra and a bacterial seeding of the secret for the presence of sexually transmitted infections.
If necessary, the patient can be referred for additional studies: sperm analysis, computed tomography (or MRI) of Organs pelvic organs.
Important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For correct diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
treatment methods
Failure to properly treat prostatitis can lead to serious health problems. Often patients are diagnosed with complications such as cystitis, vesiculitis, pyelonephritis, infertility and erectile dysfunction. That's why choosing the right therapy is extremely important.
As a rule, treating prostate inflammation involves an integrated approach, including medication and supportive care. In difficult cases, the patient undergoes surgery.
As part of drug therapy, antibiotics are prescribed to stop the inflammatory process. If the disease has an infectious-bacterial nature, antibacterial treatment is additionally carried out.
Also, as part of drug therapy, medications are used to eliminate existing symptoms. It might be:
- Painkillers.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.
- Diuretics.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Medicines to normalize prostate function.
- Preparations to restore erection.
It is mandatory to follow a series of recommendations:
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day (1. 5-2 liters).
- Diet, exclusion of spicy, fatty and salty foods from the diet.
- Exclusion of alcohol.
Sometimes medicinal herbal preparations are used to relieve inflammation, which have a bactericidal effect. However, the intake of infusions and decoctions is allowed only in agreement with the urologist. Remember that folk remedies are not a panacea for the disease and only help with the symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause.
An important component of the treatment is prostate massage. It is carried out in the absence of contraindications. The essence of this procedure is to remove the accumulated inflammatory secret from the body. Due to this, it is possible to improve the blood circulation of the tissues, eliminate congestion, stimulate local immunity and restore the permeability of the secretory ducts.
Another popular way is to use physical therapy. In the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine modern, high-quality treatment of chronic prostatitis without the use of complex physical therapy. With its help, it is possible to restore blood circulation in Organs pelvic organs, increase the effect of drugs and eliminate congestion. As part of the therapy, ultrasonic, laser, thermal or electromagnetic effects are used.
With a long course of the inflammatory process and a decrease in immunity, the patient receives immunotherapy. It includes taking immunomodulators and multivitamin complexes intended to improve the body's protective functions and overall well-being.
Sometimes a conservative treatment regimen for prostatitis does not bring the desired results, so the patient needs surgery.
Of course, the surgery requires a long recovery and often causes a number of complications, including infertility. That is why it is not performed on young men of childbearing age.
Symptoms and treatment of acute prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is characterized by rapid onset and development. It is worth noting that it occurs very rarely - in about 5% of cases.
The inflammatory process in the prostate develops progressively, therefore, several stages of the acute form can be distinguished:
- catarrhal. The inflammatory process affects the individual lobes of the organ, affects the structure of the mucous membranes and the submucosal layer. As a result of this, congestion appears in the follicles of the gland.
- follicular. Focal suppuration of the affected lobes occurs.
- Parenchyma. There is a multiple organ injury, almost all tissues are involved in the inflammatory process. An abscess forms, which can open with the release of purulent contents 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 various microorganisms. The most common cause is Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter.
Treatment of the pathology should be started immediately after the appearance of the first symptoms. As a rule, in these cases it is possible to avoid complications and health consequences. The patient is given a combination of antibiotics that is effective against the existing pathogen. In this case, the effect of therapy is observed after 2-3 days. In a man, almost all the symptoms disappear, the urination process normalizes, and the signs of infection disappear.
In the absence of necessary therapy, urinary tract obstruction and abscess may occur. Such conditions will require urgent hospitalization and often surgical intervention.
Symptoms and treatment of chronic prostatitis
The chronic form of the disease is characterized by a slow development. 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 observe an increase in sexual desire and spontaneous erections. However, at the same time, these signs of chronic prostatitis appear as a reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse and painful ejaculation. As the disease progresses, symptoms become less pronounced, but deterioration in well-being increases. Many complain of lack of morning erection, decreased libido and increased groin sweating.
During an exacerbation of prostatitis in a man, there is pain in the genital area, difficulty urinating, and fever. However, other symptoms of the pathology may be absent, which often complicates the diagnosis.
An accurate diagnosis requires a comprehensive examination, which will include a history, a rectal examination of the prostate, and a series of laboratory tests. In some cases, additional instrumental methods are used.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis in the chronic form takes from 3-4 weeks to 6-12 months. Of paramount importance is the elimination of the causes of the inflammatory process in the prostate. Otherwise, it will not be possible to exclude the recurrent nature of the pathology.
Preventive measures
For the prevention of prostatitis in men, lifestyle correction and rejection of bad habits are recommended. This is due to the fact that, keeping the factors conducive to the development of the disease, its recurrence is possible. A key role in prevention is played by proper nutrition, good sleep and physical activity, regular sex life.
In addition, urologists advise following the following recommendations in order not to find prostate inflammation:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- When sedentary work, take regular short breaks and a light workout.
- Incorporate exercise and walking into your routine.
- Normalize nutrition and get rid of constipation (it is better to consult a specialist about the problem).
- Have a regular sex life with a regular partner.
- After age 40, annual preventive examinations by a urologist.
And, of course, it is worth remembering that if any signs of prostatitis appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. This is the only way to avoid dangerous health consequences.