Diseases of the genitourinary system in men are difficult to treat and are recurrent in nature. Prostate pathologies affect hormonal levels, emotional state, erectile and genitourinary function.
The treatment of prostatitis in men is complicated by the fact that in the early stages of development the disorders are practically not manifested symptomatically. The first signs appear when the disease is advanced. Early diagnosis and an adequately prescribed course of therapy are the key to a favorable prognosis in the fight against pathology.
What is prostatitis?
With some exceptions, the term "prostatitis" refers to chronic or acute inflammation of the prostate gland. The manifestations of prostatitis in men are similar to the symptoms of other pathologies of the genitourinary system. The process leads to blockage of glandular tissue and the appearance of the following disorders:
- Dysuric disorders.
- Decreased sexual desire.
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Pain syndrome.
The disease provokes the formation of adhesions and wounds. Metabolism and blood circulation in tissues gradually deteriorate. Irreversible changes occur that can only be corrected through surgery. There are several types of disorders depending on the etiology and stage of development.
Categories of prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate gland matures against the background of overload in the pelvic area. The process quickly becomes chronic. The favorable time for treatment is the early stage of the disease.
Medical reference books describe 4 types of the disease, with characteristic symptoms and manifestations:
- Category I-
Acute prostatitis. The catalyst is infection that has entered the tissue, injury and hypothermia of the gland. The inflammation appears suddenly and lasts 3-4 days. Without the necessary therapy it becomes chronic. Manifestations:- heating,
- fever,
- pain in the pelvis and lumbar region,
- intoxication of the body.
- Category II-
Chronic bacterial prostatitis. It starts with an aggravation. Reason for presentation: interruption of the course of antibiotics, self-medication. Inflammation occurs in a latent form, without visible manifestations, until the immune system weakens so much that the infection causes an exacerbation of the disease. Treatment begins with antibiotics and NSAIDs. - Category III-
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). A disease caused by acute inflammation of the prostate gland. Disorders develop slowly, irreversible changes occur, leading to tissue blockage. Congestive inflammation, on the other hand, is divided into two subgroups:Category IIIa - Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with signs of inflammation. It is characterized by pronounced manifestations: low temperature, which increases during the aggravation to 38-38, 5°. Characteristic symptoms of male prostatitis: deterioration of erection, hemospermia, prolonged intercourse without orgasm, impaired urination.Category IIIb - Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome without signs of inflammation. In this case, the manifestations are diagnosed exclusively using instrumental research methods.
- Category IV-
Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis (asymptomatic). It is considered a poorly understood disease with an incompletely understood etiology. Some leading urologists have suggested an age-related cause of the disease. There are no symptoms of pathology.
It is difficult to cure prostatitis even at an early stage. To achieve lasting remission, it will be necessary to eliminate the causes - catalysts, to deal with the complications and consequences that arise.
Why is prostatitis dangerous?
Inflammation of the prostate gland is a serious pathology that affects men's health. Possible complications and consequences of the disease:
- erectile dysfunction- wounds and adhesions, the result of inflammation, prevent the normal flow of blood in the cavernous vessels. At the same time, the prostate's ability to process testosterone deteriorates. Sexual desire decreases. In the acute period, friction and ejaculation bring pain. All of the above cause deterioration of the erection. In some cases, complete sexual impotence is diagnosed.
- Infertility— Chronic inflammation affects not only the prostate, but also spreads to adjacent parts and organs of the genitourinary system. Degenerative disorders often appear in the ligament: testicles + glandular tissue. The quality and volume of spermatogenesis deteriorates. Getting pregnant by a man with advanced prostate is problematic.
- Development of related diseases- inflammation can spread to neighboring organs of the genitourinary system:
- urethral canal,
- bladder,
- kidneys,
- the scrotum
- DEATH- the risk of death exists with a purulent disease. If the treatment of acute male prostatitis is not started at the right time and purulent formations appear that develop into an abscess, the patient's life is in danger. A ruptured cavity towards the rectum leads to general intoxication and may result in death.
In severe conditions, surgery is required. Unlike adenoma or malignant hyperplasia, surgery is prescribed extremely rarely and does not guarantee prevention of recurrence.
Which doctor treats prostatitis?
It all depends on the manifestations of the disease. The main one remains the urologist. It is this specialist who deals with pathologies of the male genitourinary system, including inflammation of the prostate. In case of some violations, it will be necessary to involve doctors of other specializations.
Current clinical guidelines indicate the need to promote:
- Psychiatrist— help is needed if pain and other manifestations create psychological refusal of sexual relations, impotence without physical disorders.
- Immunologist— Long-term antibacterial and drug therapy causes a strong shock to the body. Protective functions and the ability to resist infection are reduced. Some forms of prostatitis begin with autoimmune diseases. In each of these situations, the help of an immunologist will be required.
- Surgeon— the opening of purulent abscesses, performing TUR, prostatectomy and removal of calcifications is done by a specialist. The help of a surgeon will be required to remove adhesions in the seminal ducts and restore reproductive function.
Such a number of specialists required for the complete recovery of the patient convincingly proves that it is impossible to cure prostatitis on your own, let alone get rid of complications. Qualified help is required.
How to recognize prostatitis
The cunning of the disease lies in the fact that for a long period the inflammation develops asymptomatically in a latent form. The first signs of prostatitis are often attributed to: fatigue, radiculitis, diseases of the genitourinary system. The pain stops after taking an analgesic or antispasmodic tablet. But the inflammation of the prostate gland continues until the disorders become global. A man goes to the doctor, where he is given an unpleasant diagnosis.
However, the most effective way to get rid of prostatitis is early diagnosis and prompt treatment. The chances of complete recovery are about 80%.
To distinguish inflammation from other diseases, several diagnostic tests are performed:
- Rectal method— The doctor investigates the structure of the gland by inserting a finger into the anus, which allows the identification of any abnormalities and deviations.
- Ultrasound and TRUS— Diagnostic ultrasound remains the research standard due to its low cost and availability. The monitor shows a loose structure of the gland, which indicates inflammation; it is possible to detect calcifications and other signs of prostatitis.
- Clinical and biochemical tests of blood and urine- indicate the presence of inflammation, and also identify an infectious agent.
- Spermogram- reduction of sperm vitality and speed, characteristic sign of congestive prostatitis and obstruction of glandular tissue. Bacteria and pathogens are found in the ejaculate during an infectious disease.
- MRI and PET-CT- the most reliable diagnostic methods. Due to the high cost, the examination is prescribed only if the results of previously conducted analyzes are unclear, as well as if cancer is suspected.
Tomography reveals signs of prostatitis in the early stage, which is inaccessible with other diagnostic methods. If abnormalities in the functioning of the prostate gland are suspected, MRI remains the preferred type of instrumental examination.
How long it takes to treat
Stories of miraculous deliverance in a few days are nothing but fairy tales. There is no quick way to treat prostatitis. After diagnosing inflammation, you need to adapt to long-term therapy and radical changes in eating habits and lifestyle. Only in this case will it be possible to defeat the disease.
Modern and effective methods of treating prostatitis have made it possible to shorten the period of therapy. With an integrated approach, significant improvements can be achieved within 2-3 months.
Doctors have learned to cope with the consequences of prostatitis. Unique therapy methods help eliminate infertility, restore normal erection and increase sexual desire.
After achieving stable remission, you will need to regularly take herbal medicines, participate in physical therapy sessions for prevention and maintain men's health in other ways.
How is prostatitis treated?
There is no effective pill, after taking which all unpleasant symptoms will go away. Among traditional medicine there is also no such wonderful medicine. The best methods of treating prostatitis in men with proven effectiveness include an integrated approach: medication + physical therapy + unconventional methods.
Official medicine offers conservative treatment. After the end of the course, the unpleasant symptoms and negative manifestations of the disease disappear. In the second stage, the task is to eliminate the complications that have arisen.
Advanced non-invasive methods have increased the chances of a favorable outcome of the disease. Surgery is required in no more than 10-15% of cases.
With the help of drugs
Conservative therapy is performed in order to eliminate symptoms. The following groups of drugs are described:
- NSAIDs- relieves inflammation, heat and temperature. They have a mild analgesic effect. When prostatitis begins, short-term treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and vitamins is required to keep the gland in a normal state. Medicines are available in suppositories, tablets and injections.
- Antibiotics- designed to eliminate infectious or bacteriological inflammatory factors. The treatment regimen for prostatitis is prescribed after the pathogen has been identified and its resistance to antibiotics has been tested. The course of treatment is 7-10 days. In severe cases, the therapy is extended up to two weeks.
- Hormones- recommended if the usual course of medication has not brought any benefit, as well as with decreased sexual desire due to an advanced disease. Treatment with hormones at an early stage is prohibited. Medicines are taken under the strict supervision of a urologist.
- Symptomatic medications— to eliminate pain, take acetylsalicylic acid tablets. Spasms are removed by an antispasmodic agent. For persistent intense pain, blocking with an anesthetic is indicated.
- Vitaminsand medications to maintain prostate function. During the remission period, it is recommended to take medications to normalize metabolism and improve blood supply to glandular tissues and fluid production. For this purpose, herbal medicines are prescribed. To strengthen the immune system, a complex of vitamins and minerals is indicated.
Self-medication is dangerous and does more harm than good. Before taking any of these drugs, you should consult a urologist.
Use of physiotherapy
Prostatitis is characterized by great congestion in the pelvic area, which significantly complicates therapy. Taking medication turns out to be ineffective, since the active ingredients simply cannot be sent from the blood vessels to the prostate gland.
To increase the effectiveness of drug therapy, immediately after the relief of the aggravation, physiotherapy is included in the course of treatment of prostatitis in men.
In addition to traditional electrophoresis, the following techniques are described:
- UHF and microwave.
- Magnetotherapy.
- Mud therapy.
- Galvanization.
- Ultraphonophoresis.
- Laser treatment.
- Heat therapy.
Most of the listed procedures are included in the complex of techniques used in spa treatment. Contraindications to physiotherapy remain: the acute period of inflammation, the development of tumors, individual intolerance in the patient.
Natural remedies
Modern methods of treating prostatitis increasingly combine official methods with alternative medicine. In ancient times, our ancestors treated prostatitis with herbal infusions, decoctions and bee products. The disease itself did not go away, but the unpleasant symptoms eased.
Some methods have survived to this day:
- Apitherapy— Beekeeping products are used to eliminate inflammation and strengthen the immune system. Honey is a natural antibiotic. Used in medicine: death, propolis, wax, pollen, poison. Compresses and massage with honey, tinctures are done.
- Plant collections- Urological compounds are sold in pharmacies and you can prepare them yourself. Herbs treat urinary disorders, relieve inflammation and relieve pain. Some plants are good antiseptics. Decoctions and teas are prepared from the collections and added during the preparation of compotes and tinctures.
In the old days there were no hospitals or pharmacies. Diseases were treated using the gifts of "Mother Nature". After prescribing a course of medications, the urologist will definitely recommend one of the alternative medicine prescriptions: herbal medicine or apitherapy.
Only an integrated approach to the fight against prostatitis will help to get rid of the disease once and for all. The success of treatment depends on early diagnosis and careful adherence to the urologist's recommendations.