Prostatitis is the most common urological pathology, which is characterized by an inflammatory process in the prostate.According to statistics, it occurs in almost 40% of men;The main risk group is patients aged 30-45 years.Almost every third visit to the urologist is related to this disease.
Important!
The information from this article cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-medication.To make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
The occurrence of pathology is often promoted by reduced immunity, hypothermia, the presence of bad habits and a sedentary lifestyle, the lack of regular sexual life and sexually transmitted infections.The treatment of prostatitis can be quite lengthy, especially in the later stages of development.The sooner a man seeks medical help, the greater the chances 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 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 responsible for producing secretions to maintain sperm activity.The organ lies beneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra.It may be small - about the size of a walnut, but extremely important for men's health.
The prostate supports the production of sperm, ensures their movement and ejaculation, participates in the emergence of sexual desire and the onset of orgasm, influences the activity of the testicles and the synthesis of androgens (male sex hormones).
Any pathological processes in the prostate influence the composition of the prostate secretion.As a result, the quality of the sperm deteriorates and their ability to fertilize decreases.In addition, the risk of urinary tract infections increases because the prostate normally prevents bacteria from entering the urethra.
Unfortunately, diseases that require prostate treatment are quite common.Usually we are talking about various tumor and hormonal processes.Prostatitis is considered one of the most common diseases of the organ, as it has a different pathogenesis.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of prostatitis can vary depending on the type of disease a man is diagnosed with.Regardless of the form, comprehensive treatment is chosen aimed at eliminating the existing symptoms.
There are 3 groups of symptoms characteristic of prostatitis:
- Pain syndrome.Pain in prostatitis can vary in intensity and location.Sometimes the pain syndrome spreads to the lower abdomen, scrotum, perineum, anus and lower back.The more inflammation develops, the more painful the patient becomes.The pain may become worse during or after sexual activity or when urinating.
- Dysuric syndrome.The enlargement of the prostate creates increased pressure on the ureters, which leads to a gradual reduction in the lumen.The patient has problems urinating and the feeling of a full bladder persists after using the toilet.
- Sexual deviations.In some cases, a man may experience frequent painful spontaneous erections or a complete lack of sexual arousal.With prostatitis, the sensation of orgasm often decreases and sexual intercourse itself becomes short or the erection may disappear completely during sexual intercourse.
One of the first signs of the development of prostatitis in a man is frequent urination and discomfort in the groin area.A burning sensation occurs in the urethra, which increases when you go to the toilet.There is general fatigue, reduced potency, accelerated or painful ejaculation.However, the disease is not always characterized by the appearance of corresponding symptoms.There are forms of prostatitis that are asymptomatic in the early stages.This means that diagnosing pathology in such cases will be difficult.
Causes
Often the disease occurs against the background of reduced immunity, in the presence of sexually transmitted infections or concomitant diseases.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 highlight the main ones:
- Hypothermia.Hypothermia causes severe stress in the body, which can lead to a weakened 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 have a negative effect on blood circulation in the pelvic organs.This leads to stagnation and inflammation.
- Overweight.Obese patients usually lead an inactive lifestyle, which leads to poor blood circulation in the internal organs.Congestion and inflammation occur in the tissue of the prostate.For this reason, normalizing weight is considered one of the most important ways to prevent prostate diseases.
- Presence of chronic pathologies.A chronic source of infection in the body increases the risk of prostate inflammation.
- Chronic constipation.Retention of feces in the intestines puts pressure on the prostate, leading to poor circulation.In addition, constipation often contributes to the proliferation of pathogens.
- Organ injuries.With traumatic damage to the prostate or pelvic organs, blood circulation worsens and local immunity decreases.This increases the risk of developing prostatitis.
- Features of sexual activity.An overly active sex life or prolonged abstinence can also cause the disease.
In addition, any diseases that suppress the immune system can contribute to the development of the disease.We're talking about constant stress, lack of sleep, overwork.
Types of diseases
Often the symptoms of a pathology depend on its nature and course of events.There are several types of prostatitis, each of which has its own characteristics:
- bacteria.The most common type of disease that occurs as a result of a bacterial infection and reduced immunity.There are acute and chronic forms of pathology.As a rule, a man is worried about pain and discomfort in the perineal area, problems with urination, a deterioration in general health and an 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 of the acute stage and relapses of the disease.With chronic prostatitis, the symptoms may be “blurred” or may not appear at all.
- Abbacterial.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 in the muscle tissue of the gland are observed.The pathogens are autoimmune diseases, organ development disorders and chronic bladder infections.
- Stagnant.This condition develops against the background of chronic prostatitis and is accompanied by impaired microcirculation and blood flow to the pelvic organs.In addition, the pathology can manifest itself in the absence of sexual intercourse for a long period of time, as this leads to 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.
- Calculus.The development of this form of prostatitis is facilitated by the appearance of stones (stones) in the tissue of the prostate.The disease usually occurs in patients over 55-60 years of age.The causes of pathology are improper treatment of chronic prostatitis or urolithiasis.The characteristic symptoms of such prostatitis in men include difficulty urinating, 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, acute pain syndrome develops, affecting the entire area of the perineum and groin.The man feels a sharp increase 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
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 takes the patient's medical history, asks about existing complaints and carries out a rectal examination of the prostate.After that, a number of additional examinations are prescribed that are necessary to diagnose the existing type of prostatitis and prescribe competent treatment.
The exam includes:
- Ultrasound (TRUS) of the pelvic organs.
- Clinical blood test.
- General urinalysis.
- Microscopic analysis of prostate secretion.
- A swab from the urethra and a bacterial culture of the secretion to detect sexually transmitted infections.
If necessary, the patient can be referred for further examinations: spermogram, CT (or MRI) of the pelvic organs.
Important!
The information from this article cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-medication.To make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
Treatment methods
Inadequate treatment of prostatitis can lead to serious health problems.Patients are often diagnosed with complications such as cystitis, vesiculitis, pyelonephritis, infertility and erectile dysfunction.Therefore, the correct selection of therapy is extremely important.
Treating prostate inflammation usually requires a holistic approach that includes medication and supportive measures.In difficult cases, the patient undergoes surgery.
As part of drug therapy, antibiotics are prescribed to stop the inflammatory process.If the disease is of an infectious-bacterial nature, additional antibacterial treatment is carried out.
Medications are also used as part of drug therapy to eliminate existing symptoms.These could be:
- Painkillers.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.
- Diuretics.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Medicines to normalize prostate function.
- Drugs to restore erection.
It is imperative to follow a number of recommendations:
- Drink enough water (1.5-2 liters) throughout the day.
- Follow a diet, exclude spicy, fatty and salty foods from the diet.
- Elimination of alcohol.
Sometimes medicinal herbal preparations with bactericidal effects are used to relieve inflammation.However, taking infusions and decoctions is permissible only in consultation with a urologist.Remember that folk remedies are not a panacea for the disease and only relieve the symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause.
An important part of the treatment is prostate massage.It is carried out if there are no contraindications.The essence of this procedure is to remove the accumulated inflammatory secretion from the organ.This makes it possible to improve blood circulation in tissues, eliminate congestion, stimulate local immunity and restore patency of secretory channels.
Another popular option is 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, enhance the effect of medications and eliminate congestion.The therapy uses ultrasound, laser, thermal or electromagnetic effects.
With a prolonged course of the inflammatory process and a decrease in immunity, 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 conservative treatment of prostatitis does not bring the desired results, so the patient needs surgical intervention.
Of course, surgery requires a long recovery time and often leads to a number of complications, including infertility.Therefore, it is not performed on young men of childbearing age.
Symptoms and treatment of acute prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is characterized by rapid onset and development.It is worth noting that it occurs quite rarely - about 5% of cases.
The inflammatory process in the prostate develops gradually, so several stages of the acute form can be distinguished:
- Catarrhal.The inflammatory process affects individual organ lobes and affects the structure of the mucous membranes and the submucosa layer.As a result, blockage of the follicles of the gland occurs.
- Follicular.Focal suppuration of the affected lobes occurs.
- Parenchymatous.There is multiple damage to the organ;Almost all tissues are involved in the inflammatory process.An abscess forms, which may rupture and release purulent contents into the bladder, urethra, or rectum.
Symptoms of acute prostatitis include: severe pain, increased body temperature, chills, profuse sweating and weakness.This condition can be caused by various microorganisms.The most common causes are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter.
Treatment of pathology must begin immediately after the first symptoms appear.In such cases, complications and health consequences can usually be avoided.The patient is prescribed a combination of antibiotics that are effective against the causative microorganism present.In this case, the effect of therapy is observed after 2-3 days.In a man, almost all symptoms disappear, the urge to urinate returns to normal, and signs of infection disappear.
Without necessary therapy, urinary tract obstructions and abscesses can occur.Such conditions require urgent hospitalization and often surgical intervention.
Symptoms and treatment of chronic prostatitis
The chronic form of the disease is characterized by sluggish development.Symptoms are inconsistent or absent, causing many men to ignore its presence for years and not seek medical help.
At the same time, at the beginning of the development of the pathology, patients note an increase in sexual desire and spontaneous erections.However, at the same time, signs of chronic prostatitis appear, such as:B. a shortening of the duration of sexual intercourse and painful ejaculation.As the disease progresses, the symptoms become less severe, but the deterioration in well-being increases.Many people complain about lack of morning erection, decreased libido and increased sweating in the groin area.
During an exacerbation of prostatitis, a man experiences pain in the genital area, difficulty urinating, and fever.However, other symptoms of the pathology may be absent, 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 and a series of laboratory tests.In some cases, instrumental methods are also used.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis in its chronic form takes 3-4 weeks to 6-12 months.The focus is on eliminating the causes of the inflammatory process in the prostate.Otherwise, recurrence of the pathology cannot be ruled out.
Preventive measures
To prevent prostatitis in men, it is recommended to correct lifestyle and give up bad habits.This is because if the factors predisposing to the development of the disease persist, recurrence is possible.Proper nutrition, sufficient sleep and physical activity, and a regular sex life play a key role in prevention.
In addition, urologists advise following the following recommendations to avoid inflammation of the prostate:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- When sitting, take regular short breaks and light warm-up exercises.
- Incorporate physical activity and walks into your routine.
- Normalize your diet and eliminate constipation (it is better to consult a specialist about the existing problem).
- Have a regular sex life with a steady partner.
- After 40 years, undergo an annual check-up with a urologist.
And of course, you should remember that if you have any signs of prostatitis, you should immediately consult a doctor.This is the only way to avoid dangerous health consequences.