Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland that leads to dysfunction.
Description of chronic prostatitis
Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland that leads to dysfunction.This disease is difficult to treat and is characterized by frequent relapses.There are two types of chronic prostatitis:
- Infectious, the result of damage caused by bacteria, infections or fungi.
- Stagnant, it develops with stagnation of prostate secretion and blood in its veins.The causes of congestive prostatitis are an irregular sex life, sedentary work and tight underwear.
Chronic prostatitis is the most common urological disease in men of reproductive age.
Many factors influence the development of prostatitis:
- weakened immunity associated with constant stress, nervous overload, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, regular lack of sleep;
- hormonal disorders;
- previous venereal diseases;
- untreated urinary tract infections;
- sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work (especially for drivers);
- work involving prolonged exposure to vibration, such as using an air hammer or lathe.
The disease significantly impairs the quality of life and leads to social and psychological problems.Potency decreases and reproductive function is also impaired.
Without proper treatment, chronic prostatitis leads to a number of serious complications:
- pyelonephritis and cystitis - due to urinary tract infection;
- vesiculitis - inflammation of the testes and appendages;
- adenoma and prostate cancer;
- inflammatory processes in the nerves responsible for erectile function, which lead to infertility.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis
The development of the disease is mostly asymptomatic.Therefore, the detection of prostatitis is often associated with the suspicion of prostate cancer.
Some symptoms include:
- mild pain and discomfort in the perineal area, with projection to the rectum and sacrum, lasting more than three months;
- painful and premature ejaculation;
- burning in the perineum and urethra;
- discomfort during defecation;
- discharge from the urethra;
- sometimes there is painful difficulty urinating and urinary retention;
- reduced potency, erectile problems and lack of orgasm;
- depressed state;
- high general fatigue.
Not all signs appear immediately.Chronic prostatitis is usually characterized by a wave-like course of the disease, when the symptoms of the disease either intensify, weaken or disappear completely.This significantly complicates diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis
If chronic prostatitis is suspected, the diagnosis includes the following:
- patient assessment;
- general urine and blood test;
- three glasses of urine test;
- examination for the presence of sexually transmitted infections;
- culturing the secretion of the prostate to determine the sensitivity of the microflora to various antibacterial drugs;
- digital rectal examination of the prostate;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and the prostate.
In addition, they may require:
- uroflowmetry (measurement of urine output parameters);
- biopsy of prostate tissue;
- PCR (polymer chain reaction) analysis of urethral smears for the presence of chlamydia and mycoplasma.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
The treatment method depends on many factors and is primarily aimed at eliminating the factors leading to the development of chronic prostatitis:
- age of the patient;
- the stage of the disease;
- type of chronic prostatitis.
The effectiveness of the therapy directly depends on the diagnosis of the disease in the initial stage, adherence to the diet, and the increase and regularity of physical activity.
The main therapeutic method of chronic prostatitis is complex drug therapy based on the results of bacterial culture of prostate secretions and urine.The duration of the treatment should be at least 4 weeks, in the case of positive dynamics, it should be continued until the infection is completely eliminated.
Medicines used to treat chronic prostatitis can be divided into the following groups:
- antibiotics and antibacterial drugs;
- alpha-blockers (drugs that cause dilation of blood vessels and ducts and regulate metabolism in the prostate gland);
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants and antispasmodics;
- immunostimulants;
- antidepressants;
- vitamin complexes;
- plant extracts;
- pain relievers;
- drugs to improve microcirculation and reduce blood clotting.
Prostate massage plays an important role in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, which improves blood and lymph circulation, eliminates congestion, and increases the patency of prostate pathways.
In recent years, the range of therapeutic measures has been expanded to include various methods of physiotherapy:
- UHF therapy.
- Laser therapy (improves microcirculation and eliminates prostate congestion).
- Rectal electrophoresis.
- Microwave hyperthermia.
Spa treatments are also recommended, especially mud therapy and thermal baths.
Surgical treatment methods are used only in the last stage of the disease - sclerosis of the prostate.In this case, transurethral resection of the bladder neck, prostate and testicles is performed.
Due to the lack of a universal approach to the treatment of chronic prostatitis, the main goal of therapy is to eliminate the source of infection, normalize the immune background and restore the normal functioning of the prostate.
Prevention of chronic prostatitis focuses on eliminating the factors that lead to the development of the disease.
The risk of chronic prostatitis is reduced if the following conditions are met:
- regular physical activity;
- healthy sleep pattern;
- good nutrition;
- regular sex life.