Prostatitis is the most common urological pathology characterized by an inflammatory process in the prostate gland.According to statistics, it occurs in almost 40% of men;the main risk group is patients aged 30-45.Almost every third visit to the urologist is related to this disease.
It is important!
The information in this article cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.You should always consult a doctor to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
The occurrence of pathology is often facilitated by reduced immunity, hypothermia, bad habits and a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sex, and sexually transmitted infections.Treatment of prostatitis can be quite long, especially in the later stages of development.The sooner a man seeks medical help, the greater the chance of a successful recovery.Without timely treatment, 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 responsible for producing secretions to maintain sperm activity.The organ is located below the bladder and surrounds the urethra.Its size is small - about 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 discharge, participates in the formation of sexual desire and the initiation of orgasm, affects the activity of the testicles and the synthesis of androgens (male sex hormones).
Any pathological processes in the prostate affect the composition of prostate secretion.As a result, sperm quality deteriorates and fertilization ability decreases.In addition, the risk of urinary tract infection increases because normally the prostate gland prevents bacteria from entering the urethra.
Unfortunately, prostate diseases that require treatment are quite common.We are usually talking about various tumor and hormonal processes.Prostatitis is considered one of the most common pathologies of the body due to its various pathogenesis.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of inflammation of the prostate gland can vary depending on the form of the disease diagnosed in a man.Regardless of the form, a comprehensive treatment aimed at eliminating the existing symptoms is selected.
There are 3 groups of symptoms characteristic of prostatitis:
- Pain syndrome.Pain with prostatitis can be different in intensity and location.Sometimes the pain syndrome spreads to the lower abdomen, scrotum, perineum, anus and lower back.The more the inflammation develops, the more painful the patient is.The pain may be worse during or after sexual activity or urination.
- Dysuric syndrome.Due to the increase in the size of the prostate, increased pressure is placed on the ureters, which causes a gradual decrease in the lumen.The patient has problems with urination, and after visiting the toilet, the feeling of a full bladder remains.
- 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 are reduced and sexual intercourse itself is short, or the erection during intercourse may disappear completely.
One of the first signs of the development of prostatitis in men is frequent urination and discomfort in the groin area.There is a burning sensation in the urethra, which intensifies when going to the toilet.There is general fatigue, decreased potency, accelerated or painful ejaculation.However, the disease is not always characterized by the appearance of the corresponding symptoms.There are forms of prostatitis that are asymptomatic in the early stages.This means that it will be difficult to diagnose the pathology in such cases.
Reasons
Often, the disease occurs against the background of reduced immunity, sexually transmitted infections or accompanying pathologies.A common cause of prostatitis is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the prostate tissue.
There are many risk factors for the development of pathology, let's mention the main ones:
- Hypothermia.Hypothermia leads to strong stress in the body, which can lead to weakening of immunity.As a result, pathogenic microflora begins to multiply actively, which leads to an inflammatory process.
- Inactive lifestyle.Sedentary work and lack of physical activity have a negative effect on blood circulation in the pelvic organs.This causes stagnation and inflammation.
- Excessive body weight.As a rule, overweight patients lead an inactive lifestyle, which leads to poor circulation of internal organs.Blockage 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 gland diseases.
- The presence of chronic pathologies.A source of chronic infection in the body increases the risk of inflammation of the prostate.
- Chronic constipation.Retention of feces in the intestines causes pressure on the prostate, which provokes circulatory problems.In addition, constipation often promotes the spread of pathogens.
- Organ injuries.In the case of traumatic damage to the prostate or pelvic organs, blood flow deteriorates and local immunity decreases.This increases the risk of developing prostatitis.
- Characteristics of sexual activity.An excessively active sex life or prolonged abstinence can also cause the disease.
In addition, any condition that suppresses 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 its course.There are several types of prostatitis, each of them has its own characteristics:
- Bacterial.The most common type of disease caused by bacterial infection and decreased immunity.There are acute and chronic forms of pathology.As a rule, a man is worried about pain and discomfort in the perineum, urinary problems, deterioration of general health and increased body temperature.In severe cases of the disease, the presence of blood or pus in the urine is noted.However, such symptoms are more typical for the acute stage and relapses of the disease.With chronic prostatitis, the symptoms may be "blurry" or may not appear.
- Bacterial.In this case, the disease has an inflammatory and non-inflammatory nature, often called chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).With this form of prostatitis, destructive changes in the muscle tissue of the gland are observed.The causative agent of the disease is autoimmune diseases, organ development anomalies and chronic cystitis.
- Stagnant.This condition develops against the background of chronic prostatitis and is associated with microcirculation and blood circulation disorders in the pelvic organs.In addition, the pathology can manifest itself in the absence of sexual intercourse for a long time, because this causes stagnation of secretions in the prostate gland.Often, patients with this form of the disease develop erectile dysfunction, problems with urination, and discomfort in the groin area.
- Calculator.The development of this form of prostatitis is facilitated by the appearance of stones (stones) in the tissues of the prostate gland.As a rule, the disease occurs in patients older than 55-60 years.The causes of pathology are improper treatment of chronic prostatitis or urolithiasis.In men, the characteristic symptoms of prostatitis include difficulty urinating, weak erections, 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 affecting the entire area of the perineum and groin.A man experiences a sharp increase in temperature, serious problems with urination and the presence of purulent inclusions in the urine.Purulent prostatitis is considered the most dangerous, because if not treated, it can lead to abscess and death.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
The disease is diagnosed by a urologist - if characteristic symptoms appear, it is worth making an appointment with him.During the initial consultation, the specialist collects the patient's medical history, asks about existing complaints and conducts a rectal examination of the prostate gland.After that, a number of additional examinations necessary to diagnose the existing prostatitis and prescribe the competent treatment are prescribed.
The exam includes:
- Pelvic ultrasound examination (TRUS).
- Clinical blood test.
- General urinalysis.
- Microscopic analysis of prostate secretion.
- A smear of bacterial culture from the urethra and secretions for the presence of sexually transmitted infections.
If necessary, the patient can be sent for additional studies: spermogram, CT (or MRI) of the pelvic organs.
It is important!
The information in this article cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.You should always consult a doctor to make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Treatment methods
Lack of proper treatment for prostatitis can lead to serious health problems.Patients are often diagnosed with complications such as cystitis, vesiculitis, pyelonephritis, infertility and erectile dysfunction.Therefore, choosing the right therapy is extremely important.
As a rule, the treatment of inflammation of the prostate gland involves a comprehensive approach, including drug therapy and supportive care.In difficult cases, the patient is operated.
As part of drug therapy, antibiotics are prescribed to stop the inflammatory process.If the disease is infectious-bacterial in nature, additional antibacterial treatment is carried out.
Also, as part of drug treatment, drugs are used to relieve existing symptoms.These can be:
- Pain relievers.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.
- Diuretics.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Medicines that normalize the activity of the prostate.
- Medicines that restore erection.
It is mandatory to follow a number of recommendations:
- Drink enough water during the day (1.5-2 liters).
- After the diet, exclude spicy, fatty and salty foods from the diet.
- Elimination of alcohol.
Sometimes medicinal herbal preparations with bactericidal effect are used to eliminate inflammation.But taking infusions and decoctions is allowed only after consulting a urologist.Remember that folk remedies are not a panacea for the disease and only help the symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause.
An important component of treatment is prostate massage.It is carried out if there are no contraindications.The essence of this procedure is to remove accumulated inflammatory secretion from the body.Thanks to this, it is possible to improve blood circulation in the tissues, remove congestion, stimulate local immunity and restore the openness of excretory channels.
Another popular method is to use physical therapy.In the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine high-quality modern treatment of chronic prostatitis without the use of complex physiotherapy.With its help, it is possible to restore blood circulation in the pelvic organs, increase the effect of drugs and eliminate congestion.Therapy uses ultrasound, laser, thermal or electromagnetic effects.
When the inflammatory process lasts for a long time and the immunity decreases, the patient is prescribed immunotherapy.This includes taking immunomodulators and multivitamin complexes aimed at improving the body's protective functions and general well-being.
Sometimes the conservative treatment regimen for prostatitis does not give the necessary results, so the patient requires surgical intervention.
Of course, surgery requires a long recovery and often causes a number of complications, including infertility.Therefore, it is not performed on young people of childbearing age.
Symptoms and treatment of acute prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is characterized by rapid appearance and development.It should be noted that this happens very rarely - about 5% of cases.
The inflammatory process in the prostate gland develops gradually, so several stages of the acute form can be distinguished:
- catarrhal.The inflammatory process affects the individual lobes of the body and affects the structure of the mucous membranes and submucosal layer.As a result, blockage occurs in the follicles of the gland.
- Follicular.Focal suppuration of the affected lobes occurs.
- Parenchymatous.The organ is damaged a lot;almost all tissues are involved in the inflammatory process.An abscess forms, which can release purulent contents into the bladder, urethra, or rectum.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis include: severe pain, increased body temperature, shivering, profuse sweating and weakness.Various microorganisms can cause this condition.The most common causes are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter.
Treatment of pathology should begin immediately after the first symptoms appear.As a rule, in such cases, it is possible to prevent complications and health consequences.The patient is prescribed a combination of antibiotics that are effective against the existing causative microorganism.In this case, the effect of therapy is observed after 2-3 days.In a man, almost all symptoms disappear, the urinary process normalizes, and the signs of infection disappear.
In the absence of appropriate therapy, urinary tract obstruction and abscess may develop.Such conditions will require immediate hospitalization and often surgical intervention.
Symptoms and treatment of chronic prostatitis
The chronic form of the disease is characterized by slow development.Symptoms are unstable or absent, so many men ignore their presence for years and do not consult a doctor.
At the same time, at the beginning of the development of the pathology, patients pay attention to the increase in sexual desire and spontaneous erection.However, at the same time, symptoms of chronic prostatitis appear, such as a decrease in the duration of sexual intercourse and painful ejaculation.As the disease progresses, the symptoms are less pronounced, but the deterioration of well-being increases.Many people complain of lack of morning erection, decreased libido and increased sweating in the groin area.
During exacerbation of prostatitis, a man feels pain in the genitals, difficulty urinating and fever.However, other symptoms of the pathology may not be present, which often complicates the diagnosis.
To make an accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive examination is required, which includes a medical history, a rectal examination of the prostate gland and a number of laboratory tests.In some cases, additional instrumental methods are used.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis in chronic form lasts from 3-4 weeks to 6-12 months.The main importance is 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.
Preventive measures
In order to prevent prostatitis in men, it is recommended to correct the lifestyle and give up bad habits.This is due to the possibility of its recurrence if the factors tending to the development of the disease continue.The main role in prevention is played by proper nutrition, adequate sleep and physical activity, regular sexual life.
In addition, urologists advise to follow the following recommendations to prevent inflammation of the prostate gland:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Take regular short breaks and light warm-ups when working in a sedentary position.
- Include physical activity and walking in your daily routine.
- Normalize your diet and get rid of constipation (it is better to consult a specialist about the existing problem).
- Have regular sex with a regular partner.
- After 40 years, undergo annual preventive examinations with a urologist.
And, of course, it is important to remember that if any signs of prostatitis appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.This is the only way to avoid dangerous health consequences.