The problem of chronic prostatitis worries not only old men, but also young men who have just started having sex. In the first months, inflammation of the prostate gland can manifest itself as a slight burning sensation and itching, which the patient does not pay attention to. But when inflammation becomes a part of everyday life, it can no longer be ignored. Fatigue pain, fatigue, decreased sexual activity are chronic companions of prostatitis.
What is chronic prostatitis?
Prostatitis is one of the most common diseases of the genitourinary system in middle-aged and elderly men. Treatment of chronic prostatitis consists of minimizing symptoms and achieving a state where prostatitis does not affect reproductive function.
Prostatitis is characterized by inflammation of the prostate gland: an important organ of the reproductive system located above the beginning of the urethra. When healthy, the prostate is responsible for producing a secretion that keeps sperm alive and creates an environment for them to survive until ejaculation. In chronic prostatitis, this function is disturbed in an average of 70% of cases, so sperm in most cases become sluggish and lose their viability. The chance of successful fertilization is also significantly reduced in the absence of other obvious problems with the reproductive system. Complex treatment is required.
Chronic prostatitis develops in three forms:
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis.Painful symptoms either disappear completely or return with a vengeance. Even at its peak, inflammation does not reach the intensity of acute prostatitis. Prostate irritation is caused by a third-party factor - pathogenic bacteria. Such prostatitis can disappear without diagnosis and comprehensive treatment: for example, if a man had a cold or a seasonal illness at the same time as inflammation. Antibiotics will suppress the activity of the bacterial colonies and the disease will go away. But the next time the immune system fails, chronic prostatitis will return and you will need to be treated.
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis.According to research, chronic abacterial prostatitis remains one of the most common forms in men under the age of 50. The disease often begins with a bacterial invasion: bacteria develop activity against the background of weakened immunity and are defeated. The result is the exhaustion of the body's resources, so the inflammation returns in the future without the presence of bacteria. Bacterial chronic prostatitis is characterized by long phases with short, almost noticeable remission. A man with abacterial prostatitis can be sure that the disease is constantly worsening. The burning sensation is brighter than bacterial forms - due to the fact that the disease does not allow relaxation and a break from pain. Treatment is carried out with minimally invasive means. Advanced chronic prostatitis of a non-bacterial nature is treated in the surgeon's office.
- Chronic asymptomatic (symptomatic) prostatitis.This form of prostatitis does not hurt the man, it is dangerous as a hidden threat. Asymptomatic prostatitis occurs without obvious symptoms. Burning, itching, release of moisture and other signs of inflammation are not visible in the prostate gland. At the same time, the inflammatory process affects the reproductive function, so a man may consider himself infertile. Chronic asymptomatic prostatitis can only be detected using laboratory diagnostics. Tests will show the increased bacterial activity associated with the development of prostatitis in men. Together with the release of white blood cells during urination, this will allow you to make a diagnosis. Please note: a preventive examination by a urologist once a year may not be enough. Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis also has stages of activity, so it can be difficult to diagnose.
- Chronic granulomatous prostatitis.The rarest form of the disease develops as a side effect of drug treatment for other diseases or long-term radiation. In this case, the inflammatory process is only a secondary symptom. Painful sensations are associated with the gradual destruction of prostate tissue, which is replaced by connective tissue. Degradation of the organ leads to the weakening of the function of the prostate gland until it stops completely. If not treated, the process becomes irreversible.
Although chronic prostatitis is qualitatively different from the acute form of the disease, its complications can turn into an acute phase, which is dangerous for the reproductive system. Acute pain with a burning sensation in the prostate, high temperature, decreased immunity are signs that the treatment of chronic prostatitis should be postponed. Call an ambulance or go to the hospital. First, you need to stop the acute inflammatory process.
Reasons
The trigger for the development of chronic prostatitis is usually a combination of factors, including the condition of the body, the environment and heredity. If acute prostatitis can be prevented, the development of chronic prostatitis is not so simple. Men who are naturally predisposed to prostate disease will experience exacerbations of the disease in situations that do not affect men with a more favorable heredity.
If you want to reduce the risk of developing chronic prostatitis, pay more attention to your health. Prostatitis is a disease that occurs against the background of weakness of the body. Common causes of chronic prostatitis include:
- Sexual infections.They directly affect the prostate gland or weaken the immune system enough that the slightest irritation causes an inflammatory process. Infections are transmitted sexually during unprotected contact. Carriers may not know they are infected: some infections appear only in men, although they are carried by women, and vice versa. The best preventive measure is hygienic contraceptives. Urologists recommend using condoms even during non-penetrative sex - for example, during prostate stimulation.
- Passive lifestyle.Lack of physical activity causes chronic blood circulation problems not only in the prostate, but in the entire pelvic area. If you have to spend most of the day sitting at your desk, don't forget to get up and stretch at least once every 1-2 hours. Light exercise, walking around the office or stretching will restore normal blood circulation. On weekends, you can compensate for the burden of the working week with long walks or sports activities.
- Incomplete sexual intercourse, artificial prolongation of arousal or prolonged abstinence.The male reproductive system requires regular ejaculation. This is how the sperm is renewed, and thanks to this, all the organs are constantly ready for the reproductive process. What happens if a man regularly delays orgasm or forbids himself? The body accumulates more sperm and byproducts than it needs. The prostate gland also suffers: it produces unnecessary secretions that have no place. If the condition is repeated continuously, the result may be chronic prostatitis.
- Permanent hypothermia.It is believed that freezing is useful for men - it strengthens the body. In fact, by becoming hypothermic while hiking, riding a motorcycle, or skiing, a man overloads his immune system. It is more difficult for the body to cope with bacterial activity, and the sensitivity of the prostate increases many times. In such conditions, it is easy to become a carrier of bacterial prostatitis, which will later turn into a non-bacterial or asymptomatic form.
- Chronic lack of sleep, depression, stress.Psychological factors combined with fatigue weaken the immune system and open the body to a whole host of chronic diseases. A man who does not rest enough at night or is stressed after work is 2-3 times more likely to get prostatitis than a man who sleeps 8-10 hours a day and has a good rest with his family. At the first manifestations of the disease, it is important not to blame yourself and not to give in to gloomy thoughts: they will only make the situation worse. See a doctor immediately - and if not the disease itself, you will get rid of unpleasant symptoms.
- Disruption of hormonal activity.In chronic prostatitis, the functions of the prostate gland are disturbed. Hormones are responsible for regulating the prostate gland and coordinating secretion with the functioning of the reproductive system. Even a small hormonal imbalance can cause inflammation. In this case, the treatment of chronic prostatitis should be completed with hormonal therapy.
- Neglect of personal hygiene rules.Be careful: once is enough for bacteria to settle in tissues. While the immune system protects the body from bacterial invasions, you may not feel the effects of years of poor personal care. But an exacerbation against the background of a seasonal disease is enough for the problem of chronic prostatitis to enter a person's life for several months.
The development of chronic prostatitis is often accompanied by a weakened immune system, improper nutrition, lack of vitamins and minerals in the body. A man with a healthy lifestyle has a low risk of chronic prostatitis, even if he has a high genetic predisposition.
How to treat chronic prostatitis in men and what to do
If you suspect the development of chronic prostatitis, you should schedule a comprehensive examination with a urologist. In some cases, the doctor makes a diagnosis at the first visit based on the nature of the disease and the patient's indications. If prostatitis has not shown itself before, the urologist will prescribe diagnostic procedures: ultrasound examination of the prostate, urodynamic examination. Laboratory tests include analysis of urine, ejaculation, urethral swab and prostate secretions.
After clarifying the diagnosis, the doctor will determine the course of treatment. There is no single correct way to treat chronic prostatitis. Methods are selected according to the type of chronic prostatitis, medical history and personal characteristics of the course of the disease.
Drug treatment
In most cases, it is prescribed for home treatment; If prostatitis is accompanied by acute exacerbations, a man may be hospitalized. Antibiotics for bacterial forms of prostatitis are selected according to the bacterial group - determined during laboratory examination. Penicillins and fluoroquinolones remain the most popular antibacterial drugs in the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Drugs from the group of alpha-blockers are prescribed for any form of chronic prostatitis. They eliminate swelling, pressure and unpleasant itching caused by prostatitis. These drugs also have a strong analgesic effect: the man stops suffering from pain and burning, physical activity and night rest are normalized. Prostatitis occurs without pain and physical fatigue.
When chronic prostatitis turns into an acute form, strong non-steroid drugs are prescribed. They act directly on the inflammatory process and relieve the symptoms, but do not treat the root cause of the disease.
Surgical methods
In recent years, doctors have less and less involved men with symptoms of chronic prostatitis to see a surgeon. The reason is the mixed effect of surgical manipulations and a long recovery period. Prostatitis stops, but the patient suffers from adverse effects, including impotence. At the same time, there are forms of chronic prostatitis in which surgical intervention is necessary.
Transurethral prostate resection (TUR) is the partial or complete removal of prostate tissue to relieve stress on the urinary system. With partial resection, the prostate retains all its functions, and the inflammatory process is irreversible, and prostatitis does not return. The operation is performed without opening, regardless of the severity of the inflammation. The resectoscope is directed to the inflamed organ without affecting other pelvic organs.
Adenomectomy is the "open" removal of the gland for prostatitis, also known as prostatectomy. A developed inflammatory process leads to the impossibility of obtaining it without opening the inflamed gland. At this time, conventional surgical instruments are used to completely remove the prostate. This is an extreme measure prescribed only when other methods of treatment are impossible and there is a danger to the body. After a long rehabilitation, the man returns to a normal lifestyle with unlimited physical activity. Adenomectomy always ends in complete impotence. Prostatitis never recurs.
Minimally invasive treatment methods
In modern medicine, there are many ways to treat prostatitis in chronic forms that do not require surgical intervention. New methods have proven to be more effective than traditional surgery, so they are used everywhere. Official medicine recognizes the following treatment methods:
- Exposure to ultrasound waves.Prostatitis only affects the prostate gland, so UV treatment focuses radiation on this organ. Regular procedures reduce symptoms, relieve swelling and pain. The process is not accompanied by pain, does not cause irritation and is harmless to the genitourinary system.
- Thermal treatment.Prostatitis and its manifestations can be reduced to "no" by microwave thermotherapy. High temperature is applied directly to the prostate, causing it to shrink in size. If prostatitis enters the acute stage, the method is not used: in this case, heat aggravates the condition.
- Cryodestruction.Painless partial removal of inflamed gland tissue with liquid nitrogen with minimal recovery time. If antibacterial treatment is carried out in parallel with the strengthening of the immune system, chronic prostatitis disappears completely. Reproductive function is not affected, the chance of recurrence of prostatitis is minimal.
- Inductotherapy.Complex treatment with lasers and magnetic field normalizes blood circulation, triggers regeneration processes and relieves pain due to inflammation. In case of prostatitis, the technique has an auxiliary effect: induction therapy increases the effect of drugs one and a half to two times, but gives a short-term result without drugs.
- Laser processing.If chronic prostatitis is accompanied by long exacerbation phases, laser therapy is prescribed. The laser evaporates excess moisture, stopping the growth of tissue damage with prostatitis. The treatment has a stimulating effect: the body's cells are activated, natural defenses are awakened, and tissue regeneration occurs.
One of the new methods is the mechanical expansion of the walls of the urethra. This method does not cure chronic prostatitis, but helps to make its symptoms disappear almost completely. Reducing the contact area promotes faster healing and prevents the spread of the lesion. To increase the space between the walls of the urethra, an inflated balloon catheter (balloon dilatation) or a cylindrical polymer frame (stenting) is placed. Methods can be combined to achieve the desired result. The technique is not used when prostatitis reaches an acute stage.
How to treat
If you suspect prostatitis, you should first consult a doctor. Only on the basis of examinations, a urologist can confirm the chronic nature of the disease and prescribe treatment. Symptoms of inflammation of the prostate gland are similar to other diseases of the pelvic organs, so you should not self-medicate.
After diagnosis, follow your doctor's recommendations and undergo regular examinations with a urologist. Treatment of prostatitis can be done carefully and patiently: do not neglect hygiene procedures during the acute period of the disease, take medicine for hours and the disease will recede.
If prostatitis causes severe pain, ask your doctor to refer you for prostate massage or recommend a private clinic that provides this service. Massage increases the effect of treatment. After the first session, you will notice that prostatitis is felt less acutely: massage movements relax the pelvic organs, bring comfort and start the natural tissue regeneration processes. The chronic nature of prostatitis will decrease significantly: symptoms of inflammation will bother you less.
Men suffering from prostatitis should refuse traditional medicine for the entire course of treatment. Decoctions, poultices, compresses and other folk remedies do not treat prostatitis in special forms. They can relieve discomfort or worsen the inflammatory process overnight.
The same applies to self-prescribed drugs. Prostatitis is treated with drugs selected after comprehensive laboratory examinations. A random remedy, although it has helped hundreds of thousands of men with prostatitis, will not have the desired effect - simply because you are in a different situation. The dosage, duration and even methods of use of drugs for chronic prostatitis are selected individually. If you are offered to buy a drug that can treat any form of prostatitis, regardless of the cause, you should know: it is fake. Follow your doctor's advice and stay healthy!