Prostatitis is the most common urological pathology, which is 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 years. Almost every third visit to the urologist is associated with this disease.
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 a doctor.
The appearance of pathology is often facilitated by decreased immunity, hypothermia, the presence of bad habits and a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sexual activity, sexual infections. Treatment of prostatitis can be quite long, especially in the later stages of development. The earlier a man seeks medical help, the greater the chances 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 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 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 - 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 shedding, participates in the formation of sexual desire and the beginning of orgasm, affects the activity of the testicles and the synthesis of androgens (male sex hormones).
Any pathological process in the prostate affects the composition of the prostate secretion. As a result, the quality of the sperm deteriorates and its fertilizing ability decreases. In addition, the risk of urinary tract infections increases, as the prostate gland normally prevents bacteria from entering the urethra.
Unfortunately, prostate diseases that require treatment are quite common. It is usually about various tumoral and hormonal processes. Prostatitis is considered one of the most common pathologies of the organ, as it has a different pathogenesis.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of inflammation of the prostate 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 the prostate 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 inflammation develops, the more pain bothers the patient. The pain may become worse during or after sexual activity or urination.
- Dysuric syndrome. Due to the increase in the size of the prostate, there is an increase in pressure in the urethra, which leads to a gradual decrease in the lumen. The patient has problems with urination, 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 fade and sexual 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 toilet. There is general fatigue, decreased potency, accelerated 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 pathology in such cases will be difficult.
Causes
Often the disease appears against the background of a decrease in immunity, in the presence of 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 single out the main ones:
- hypothermia. Hypothermia leads to severe stress on the body, which can provoke a weakening of 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 negatively affect the blood circulation of the 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 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 diseases.
- The presence of chronic diseases. The focus of chronic infection in the body increases the risk of prostate inflammation.
- Chronic constipation. Retention of feces in the intestine leads to pressure on the prostate, which provokes blood circulation disorders. In addition, constipation often contributes to the reproduction of pathogens.
- Organ injury. In the event of a traumatic injury to the prostate or pelvic organs, blood flow worsens, local immunity decreases. This increases the risk of developing prostatitis.
- Characteristics of sexual activity. Excessively active sex life or prolonged abstinence can also cause the disease to appear.
In addition, any condition that depresses 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 which has its own characteristics:
- Bacterial. The most common type of disease that appears as a result of a bacterial infection and decreased immunity. There are acute and chronic forms of the pathology. As a rule, a man is worried about pain and discomfort in the perineum, urination 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 "cloudy" or not appear.
- bacterial. In this case, the disease is inflammatory and non-inflammatory in nature and is often called chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). With this form of prostatitis, destructive changes are observed in the muscle tissue of the gland. Pathogens are autoimmune diseases, abnormalities 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 the pelvic organs. In addition, the pathology can appear with a long absence of sexual intercourse, as this provokes stagnation of secretions in the prostate gland. Most often, patients with this form of the disease experience erectile dysfunction, problems with urination and discomfort in the groin area.
- numerator. 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 appears in patients older than 55-60 years. The causes of the pathology are improper treatment of chronic prostatitis or urolithiasis. The characteristic symptoms of such prostatitis in men include impaired urination, 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 area of the perineum and groin. 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, since if left untreated it can cause an abscess and lead to 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 history, asks about existing complaints and performs a rectal examination of the prostate gland. After that, a series of additional examinations are prescribed, which are necessary for the diagnosis of the existing type of prostatitis and the prescription of competent treatment.
The survey includes:
- Ultrasound (TRUS) of the pelvic organs.
- Clinical blood test.
- General analysis of urine.
- Microscopic analysis of prostate secretion.
- A swab from the urethra and a bacterial culture of the secretion for the presence of sexually transmitted infections.
If necessary, the patient can be referred for additional studies: spermogram, CT (or MRI) of the pelvic organs.
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 a doctor.
Methods of Treatment
Lack of proper treatment of prostatitis can lead to serious health problems. Often, patients are diagnosed with complications such as cystitis, vesiculitis, pyelonephritis, infertility and erectile dysfunction. That is why the right choice of therapy is extremely important.
As a rule, the treatment of inflammation of the prostate involves an integrated approach, including medication and supportive care. In difficult cases, the patient undergoes an operation.
As part of drug therapy, antibiotics are prescribed to stop the inflammatory process. If the disease has an infectious-bacterial nature, then antibacterial treatment is also carried out.
Also, as part of drug therapy, drugs are used to eliminate existing symptoms. It can be:
- Painkillers.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.
- Diuretics.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Medications to normalize prostate function.
- Preparations for the restoration of erection.
It is mandatory to follow a number of recommendations:
- Drinking enough water throughout the day (1. 5-2 liters).
- Diet, exclusion from the diet of spicy, fatty and salty foods.
- Exclusion of alcohol.
Sometimes medicinal plant preparations are used to relieve inflammation, which have a bactericidal effect. However, taking infusions and decoctions is allowed only in agreement with the urologist. Remember that folk remedies are not a cure for the disease and help only with the symptoms, but do not eliminate 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 secretion from the body. Due to this, it is possible to improve tissue blood circulation, eliminate congestion, stimulate local immunity and restore the permeability of secretory channels.
Another popular way is to use physical therapy. In the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine modern quality treatment of chronic prostatitis without the use of complex physiotherapy. With its help, it is possible to restore blood circulation in the pelvic organs, improve 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 is prescribed immunotherapy. It includes taking immunomodulators and multivitamin complexes aimed at improving the body's protective functions and general well-being.
Sometimes a conservative treatment regimen for prostatitis does not bring the desired results, so the patient needs surgery.
Of course, the operation requires a long recovery and often provokes a number of complications, including infertility. This is why it is not performed on young people of reproductive age.
Symptoms and treatment of acute prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is characterized by rapid onset and progression. It is worth noting that it happens quite rarely - in about 5% of cases.
The inflammatory process in the prostate gland develops progressively, so 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 submucous layer. As a result, congestion occurs in the follicles of the gland.
- Follicular. Focal suffocation of the affected lobes occurs.
- Parenchymal. There is a multiple lesion of the organ, almost all tissues are involved in the inflammatory process. An abscess is formed, 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 begin immediately after the appearance of the first symptoms. As a rule, in such 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 symptoms disappear, the urination process normalizes, and the signs of infection disappear.
In the absence of the necessary therapy, urinary tract obstruction and abscess may develop. Such conditions will require emergency 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, 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 notice an increase in sexual desire and spontaneous erections. However, at the same time, such signs of chronic prostatitis appear as a reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse and painful ejaculation. As the disease progresses, the symptoms become less pronounced, but the deterioration of well-being increases. Many complain about the lack of erection in the morning, decreased sexual desire and increased sweating of the hips.
During an exacerbation of prostatitis in a man, there is pain in the genital area, impaired urination 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 history taking, rectal examination of the prostate gland and a series of laboratory tests. In some cases, additional instrumental methods are used.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis in the chronic form lasts from 3-4 weeks to 6-12 months. Of great importance is the elimination of 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
For the prevention of prostatitis in men, it is recommended to correct the lifestyle and reject bad habits. This is due to the fact that by maintaining the factors that contribute 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 to follow the following recommendations to avoid inflammation of the prostate gland:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- When sitting, take regular short breaks and light exercise.
- Include exercise and walking in your routine.
- Normalize food 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 the age of 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.