Prostatitis is the most common urological pathology, which is characterized by an inflammatory process in the prostate gland.According to statistics, it occurs in almost 40% of men;the main risk group are patients aged 30-45.Almost every third visit to the urologist is related to this disease.
Important!
Information from this article cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-medication.To make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
The appearance of pathology is often facilitated by reduced immunity, hypothermia, the presence of bad habits and a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sex life 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 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 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 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 - 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 shedding, participates in the formation of sexual desire and the beginning of orgasm, affects the activity of the testicles and the synthesis of androgens (male sex hormones).
Any pathological process in the prostate affects the composition of the prostate secretion.As a result, the quality of the sperm deteriorates and its fertilizing ability decreases.In addition, the risk of urinary tract infections increases, as the prostate gland normally prevents bacteria from entering the urethra.
Unfortunately, prostate diseases that require treatment are quite common.It is usually about various tumoral and hormonal processes.Prostatitis is considered one of the most common pathologies of the organ, as it has a different pathogenesis.
Symptoms of the disease
Symptoms of prostate inflammation 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 chosen.
There are 3 groups of symptoms characteristic of prostatitis:
- Pain syndrome.Prostate pain can vary 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 becomes.The pain may become worse during or after sexual activity or urination.
- Dysuric syndrome.Due to the increase in the size of the prostate, increased pressure is exerted on the ureters, which leads to a gradual decrease in the lumen.The patient has problems with urination and after visiting the toilet there remains 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 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.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 relevant symptoms.There are forms of prostatitis that are asymptomatic in the early stages.This means that diagnosing the pathology in such cases will be difficult.
Causes
Often the disease appears against a background of decreased immunity, in the presence of sexually transmitted infections or accompanying pathologies.A common cause of prostatitis is a bacterial infection, which causes inflammation of the prostate tissue.
There are many risk factors for the development of pathology, let's highlight the main ones:
- Hypothermia.Hypothermia leads to severe stress on the body, which can cause weakened 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 negatively affect blood circulation in the pelvic organs.This leads to stagnation and inflammation.
- Excess body weight.As a rule, overweight patients lead an inactive lifestyle, which leads to poor circulation of internal organs.Congestion 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 diseases.
- The presence of chronic pathologies.A source of chronic infection in the body increases the risk of prostate inflammation.
- Chronic constipation.Retention of feces in the intestine leads to pressure on the prostate, which provokes blood circulation problems.In addition, constipation often contributes to the spread of pathogens.
- Organ injuries.In case of traumatic damage to the prostate or pelvic organs, blood flow worsens and local immunity decreases.This increases the risk of developing prostatitis.
- Characteristics of sexual activity.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 a pathology depend on its type and the nature of its course.There are several types of prostatitis, each of which has its own characteristics:
- Bacterial.The most common type of disease that appears as a result of bacterial infection and decreased immunity.There are acute and chronic forms of the pathology.As a rule, a man is worried about pain and discomfort in the perineum, problems with urination, deterioration of general health and increased body temperature.In severe cases of the disease, the presence of blood or pus in the urine is observed.However, such symptoms are more typical for the acute phase and relapses of the disease.With chronic prostatitis, symptoms may be "vague" or not present.
- Abacterial.In this case, the disease has an inflammatory and non-inflammatory nature, it is often called chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).With this form of prostatitis, destructive changes are observed in the muscle tissue of the gland.Causative agents are autoimmune diseases, abnormalities of organ development and 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 appear in the absence of sexual relations for a long time, as this provokes stagnation of secretions in the prostate gland.Most often, patients with this form of the disease experience erectile dysfunction, problems with urination and discomfort in the groin area.
- count.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 appears in patients over 55-60 years old.The causes of the pathology are improper treatment of chronic prostatitis or urolithiasis.The characteristic symptoms of such prostatitis in men include difficulty urinating, weakening of the 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.The man experiences 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, since if left untreated it can cause an abscess and lead to death.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
The diagnosis of the disease is carried out by a urologist - it is worth making an appointment with him if characteristic symptoms appear.During the initial consultation, the specialist collects the patient's medical history, asks about existing complaints and performs a rectal examination of the prostate gland.After that, a number of additional examinations are prescribed, which are necessary to diagnose the existing type of prostatitis and prescribe competent treatment.
The examination includes:
- Ultrasound (TRUS) of the pelvic organs.
- Clinical blood test.
- General analysis of urine.
- Microscopic analysis of prostate secretion.
- A stain from the urethra and bacterial culture of the discharge for the presence of sexually transmitted infections.
If necessary, the patient can be referred for additional studies: spermogram, CT (or MRI) of the pelvic organs.
Important!
Information from this article cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-medication.To make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
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.That is why the correct choice of therapy is extremely important.
As a rule, the treatment of inflammation of the prostate involves a comprehensive approach, including medication and supportive care.In difficult cases, the patient undergoes an operation.
As part of drug therapy, antibiotics are prescribed to stop the inflammatory process.If the disease is of an infectious-bacterial nature, then additional antibacterial treatment is carried out.
Also, as part of drug therapy, medications are used to eliminate existing symptoms.These can be:
- Painkillers.
- Antispasmodics and muscle relaxants.
- Diuretics.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Medicines for the normalization of prostate function.
- Medicines to restore erection.
It is mandatory to follow a number of recommendations:
- Drinking enough water throughout the day (1.5-2 liters).
- Following a diet, excluding spicy, fatty and salty foods from the diet.
- Elimination of alcohol.
Sometimes herbal medicinal preparations that have a bactericidal effect are used to relieve inflammation.However, taking infusions and decoctions is allowed only in consultation with a urologist.Remember that folk remedies are not a cure for the disease and help only with the symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause.
An important component of treatment is prostate massage.It is performed in the absence of contraindications.The essence of this procedure is the removal of accumulated inflammatory secretion from the organ.Due to this, it is possible to improve blood circulation in tissues, eliminate congestion, stimulate local immunity and restore the permeability of secretory channels.
Another popular way is to use physical therapy.In the 21st century, it is difficult to imagine modern quality treatment of chronic prostatitis without the use of complex physiotherapy.With its help, it is possible to restore blood circulation in the pelvic organs, improve the effect of medicines 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.It includes taking immunomodulators and multivitamin complexes aimed at improving the body's protective functions and general well-being.
Sometimes a conservative treatment regimen for prostatitis does not bring the necessary results, so the patient requires surgical intervention.
Of course, the operation requires a long recovery and often provokes a number of complications, including infertility.This is why it is not performed on young people of reproductive age.
Symptoms and treatment of acute prostatitis
Acute prostatitis is characterized by rapid onset and development.It is worth noting that it happens quite rarely - in about 5% of cases.
The inflammatory process in the prostate gland develops progressively, so several stages of the acute form can be distinguished:
- Catarrhal.The inflammatory process affects the individual lobes of the organ and affects the structure of the mucosa and submucous layer.As a result, blockage occurs in the follicles of the gland.
- Follicular.Focal suffocation of the affected lobes occurs.
- Parenchymatic.There are multiple organ injuries;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 causative agents are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter.
Treatment of the pathology should begin immediately after the appearance of the first symptoms.As a rule, in such cases it is possible to avoid complications and health consequences.The patient is prescribed a combination of antibiotics that is 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 urination process normalizes and signs of infection disappear.
In the absence of the necessary therapy, urinary tract obstruction and abscess may develop.Such conditions will require emergency 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 seek medical help.
At the same time, at the beginning of the development of the pathology, patients notice an increase in sexual desire and spontaneous erections.However, at the same time, signs of chronic prostatitis also appear, such as a reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse and painful ejaculation.As the disease progresses, the symptoms become less pronounced, but the deterioration of well-being increases.Many people complain of lack of erection in the morning, decreased sexual desire 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 will include a medical history, rectal examination of the prostate gland and a series of laboratory tests.In some cases, additional instrumental methods are used.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis in its chronic form lasts from 3-4 weeks to 6-12 months.Of primary importance is the elimination of 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
To prevent prostatitis in men, it is recommended to correct the lifestyle and give up bad habits.This is due to the fact that if the predisposing factors for the development of the disease continue, its reappearance is possible.A key role in prevention is played by proper nutrition, adequate sleep and physical activity and a regular sex life.
In addition, urologists advise to follow the following recommendations to avoid inflammation of the prostate gland:
- Avoid hypothermia.
- When sitting, take regular short breaks and light warm-ups.
- Include physical activity and walking in your routine.
- Normalize your diet and get rid of constipation (it is better to consult a specialist about the existing problem).
- Have a regular sex life with a regular partner.
- After 40 years, have annual preventive examinations with a urologist.
And, of course, it is worth remembering that if any signs of prostatitis appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.This is the only way to eliminate dangerous health consequences.