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 30-45 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. The treatment of prostatitis can be quite long, especially in the later stages of development. The sooner a man seeks medical help, the greater his chances of recovery. Without prompt 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 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 spermatozoa, ensures their movement and their ejaculation, participates in the formation of sexual desire and the onset of orgasm, acts on the activity of the testicles and the synthesis of androgens (male sex hormones).
Any pathological process in the prostate affects the composition of prostatic secretion. As a result, the quality of sperm deteriorates and its ability to fertilize decreases. Additionally, the risk of urinary tract infections increases because the prostate normally blocks bacteria from entering the urethra.
Unfortunately, diseases requiring prostate treatment are quite common. Usually we are talking about various tumor and hormonal processes. Prostatitis is considered one of the most common pathologies of the organ, since it has a different pathogenesis.
Disease symptoms
Symptoms of prostate inflammation can vary depending on the form of the disease diagnosed in a man. Regardless of the form, a comprehensive treatment is selected to eliminate the existing symptoms.
There are 3 groups of characteristic symptoms of prostatitis:
- pain syndrome. Pain in prostatitis 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 the inflammation develops, the more the 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, the pressure on the ureters increases, which leads to a gradual decrease in lumen. The patient has problems with urination, while after going to the toilet he has 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 the sexual intercourse itself becomes short, or the erection may completely disappear during sexual 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 on a trip to the toilet. There is a general fatigue, a decrease in 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 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 tissues of the prostate begins.
There are many risk factors for the development of pathology, we will highlight the main ones:
- hypothermia. Hypothermia leads to severe stress in the body, which can cause a weakening of the immune system. As a result, 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 the pelvic organs. This leads to congestion and inflammation.
- Overweight. As a rule, overweight patients lead an inactive life, which leads to impaired blood circulation in the internal organs. Stagnant processes and inflammation develop in the tissues of the prostate. For this reason, weight normalization is considered one of the main ways to prevent prostate diseases.
- The presence of chronic diseases. A chronic focus of infection in the body increases the risk of inflammation of the prostate.
- Chronic constipation. The retention of feces in the intestine leads to pressure on the prostate, which causes circulatory disorders. In addition, constipation often contributes to the reproduction of pathogens.
- Organ injury. In case of traumatic lesion of 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 provoke the onset of the disease.
Additionally, 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 diseases
Often, the symptoms of pathology depend on its type and the nature of the course. There are several types of prostatitis, each with its own characteristics:
- Bacterial. The most common type of disease that occurs as a result of bacterial infection and decreased immunity. There are acute and chronic forms of pathology. As a rule, a man is concerned 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 noted. However, these symptoms are more typical of the acute phase and relapses of the disease. In chronic prostatitis, symptoms may be "fuzzy" or not appear.
- abacterial. In this case, the disease is 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, abnormalities in the development of the organ, 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 be manifested by a long absence of sexual intercourse, as this causes stagnation of secretions in the prostate. Most often, patients with this form of the disease suffer from erectile dysfunction, problems with urination and discomfort in the groin area.
- calculator. The development of this form of prostatitis contributes to the appearance of stones (stones) in the tissues of the prostate. 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. Characteristic symptoms of such prostatitis in men include impaired urination, weakening of 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, because 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. During the initial consultation, the specialist collects the patient's history, asks about existing complaints and conducts a rectal examination of the prostate. After that, a number of additional examinations are prescribed, which are necessary to diagnose the existing type of prostatitis and prescribe competent treatment.
The survey includes:
- Ultrasound (TRUS) of the pelvic organs.
- Clinical blood test.
- General urine analysis.
- Microscopic analysis of prostatic secretion.
- A swab from the urethra and bacterial seeding of the secret of the presence of sexually transmitted infections.
If necessary, the patient can be referred for additional examinations: spermogram, scanner (or MRI) of the 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
Lack of proper treatment for prostatitis can lead to serious health problems. Often patients are diagnosed with complications such as cystitis, vesiculitis, pyelonephritis, infertility and erectile dysfunction. This is why the right choice of therapy is extremely important.
Typically, treating prostate inflammation involves an integrated approach, including medication and supportive care. In difficult cases, the patient undergoes surgery.
As part of drug treatment, antibiotics are prescribed to stop the inflammatory process. If the disease has an infectious bacterial nature, antibacterial treatment is also carried out.
In addition, as part of pharmacotherapy, drugs are used to eliminate existing symptoms. It can be:
- Analgesics.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.
- Diuretics.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Drugs to normalize prostate function.
- Preparations to restore erection.
It is mandatory to follow a number of recommendations:
- Drink enough water throughout the day (1. 5 to 2 liters).
- Weight loss diet, exclusion from the diet of spicy, fatty and salty foods.
- Excluding alcohol.
Sometimes medicinal herbal 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 panacea for the disease and only alleviate the symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause.
An important component of 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 patency 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 resorting to complex physiotherapy. With its help, it is possible to restore blood circulation in the pelvic organs, improve the effect of medications and eliminate congestion. As part of the therapy, ultrasonic, laser, thermal or electromagnetic effects are used.
With a long inflammatory process and a decrease in immunity, the patient is prescribed immunotherapy. It includes taking immunomodulators and multivitamin complexes aimed at improving the protective functions of the body 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 surgery requires a long recovery and often causes a number of complications, including infertility. This is why it is not practiced on young men of childbearing age.
Symptoms and treatment of acute prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is characterized by rapid onset and development. It should be noted that this happens quite rarely - in about 5% of cases.
The inflammatory process in the prostate develops gradually, 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.
- parenchymal. There is a multiple lesion of the organ, 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 pathology should be started immediately after the first symptoms appear. As a rule, in such cases, complications and health consequences can be avoided. The patient is given a combination of antibiotics that is effective against the existing pathogen. In this case, the effect of treatment is observed after 2-3 days. In a man, almost all symptoms disappear, the urination process normalizes, and signs of infection disappear.
In the absence of the necessary treatment, urinary tract obstruction and abscess may develop. Such conditions will require urgent hospitalization and often surgery.
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 are unaware of their presence for years and do not seek medical attention.
At the same time, at the beginning of the development of pathology, patients note 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 in well-being increases. Many complain about lack of morning erection, decreased libido and increased groin sweating.
During an exacerbation of prostatitis in a man, there are pains in the genital area, impaired urination and fever. However, other symptoms of pathology may be absent, often complicating the diagnosis.
An accurate diagnosis requires a thorough examination, which will include a history, rectal examination of the prostate, and a series of laboratory tests. In some cases, additional instrumental methods are used.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis in chronic form takes from 3-4 weeks to 6-12 months. Eliminating the causes of the inflammatory process in the prostate is of paramount importance. 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 while maintaining the factors conducive to the development of the disease, its recurrence is possible. Good nutrition, good sleep and physical activity, regular sex life play a key role in prevention.
In addition, urologists advise to follow the following recommendations in order not to encounter inflammation of the prostate:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- When working sedentarily, take regular short breaks and light workouts.
- Make exercise and walking part of 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 40 years, annual preventive examinations by a urologist.
And, of course, it is worth remembering that if signs of prostatitis appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. This is the only way to avoid dangerous health consequences.