Prostatitis is a disease associated with inflammation of the prostate.It can develop in men of any age, of a chronic or acute nature.There are problems with diagnosis, so patients often turn to a doctor if prostatitis is in an advanced form and traditional treatment does not help.The danger lies in the high probability of developing prostate cancer and complete infertility.
If prostatitis is diagnosed in time, the treatment lasts only 2 weeks, after which the man only needs to follow the doctor's recommendations and have regular check-ups.In this case, there will be no complications after prostatitis - reproductive abilities are fully preserved, even if prostatitis presents with acute symptoms.
Prostatitis does not develop out of nowhere;the cause of the inflammatory process is E. coli, mycoplasma, streptococci, staphylococci, trichomonas and other pyogenic microorganisms.They are characterized by very rapid proliferation and rapid destruction of prostate tissue.The main causes of the disease are:
- any inflammatory disease of the urinary system - cystitis, pyelonephritis, urethritis;
- chronic stool disorders - especially constipation, in which men need strong pressure, and prostatitis develops as an organ response to pressure;
- infections from distant foci - severe forms of tonsillitis, pneumonia, influenza, when prostatitis is directly related to the penetration of infectious agents into the glandular tissue;
- frequent hypothermia or, on the contrary, overheating - can be associated with the characteristics of work activity;
- lack of regular sexual activity, physical inactivity - prostatitis causes stagnation of secretions in the tissues of the prostate gland and is often the cause of prostatitis in a 40-year-old man;
- weakened immunity due to severe hormonal imbalance;
- sexually transmitted infections - gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, chlamydia;
- frequent urinary retention - the enlarged bladder exerts strong pressure on the prostate gland;
- injuries in the pelvic area.
Most often, prostatitis develops after the infection enters the prostate tissue through the urethra, much less often through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.Prostatitis has a very important provoking factor - a general weakening of the immune system, if it occurs as a response to stress in the body, constant fatigue, nervous exhaustion, emotional outbursts.
Men should have a regular sex life and make their lifestyle active.Otherwise, stagnation of secretion occurs in the tissues of the prostate gland, which is an ideal environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms - prostatitis develops rapidly.Prostate cells inevitably experience oxygen starvation, which only increases the chance that prostatitis will spread outside the organ - the inflammation will also affect nearby organs.
Types of prostatitis in men, characteristics of the course
Depending on the cause of origin, there are several types of prostatitis:
- bacterial prostatitis - the infection begins against the background of penetration into the tissue of the prostate;the diagnosis of this type of prostatitis often occurs in young and old men;
- congestive prostatitis - caused by a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sex in men and pelvic injuries, which are often accompanied by infection, then prostatitis will be of a mixed type;
- calculous prostatitis - develops as a result of an untreated chronic form of the disease;such prostatitis is more common in older men.
According to the form of its occurrence, prostatitis is divided into acute and chronic.Diagnosis of the acute form of the disease is rare;The treatment should only be carried out in a hospital setting, as prostatitis is associated with serious symptoms.Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a "sluggish" clinical picture, periodic remissions, the complete absence of specific symptoms and the rapid transformation of serious problems - the degeneration of healthy prostate cells into malignancy, the cessation of secretion production and the reduction of sperm secretion.
Symptoms and diagnosis of prostatitis
The symptoms depend directly on the type of prostatitis that begins to develop in the tissues of the prostate:
- bacterial prostatitis - high body temperature, presence of blood or pus in the urine, problems urinating (thin and weak urine flow, "dripping" urine), acute pain in the perineum, poor general health;
- calculous prostatitis - weak erection or its complete absence, blood in the urine, such symptoms of prostatitis occur more often in men aged 50 and older;
- congestive prostatitis - discomfort in the perineum and testicles, partial or complete absence of erection, improper urination.
Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a "blurred" clinical picture;all symptoms are unexpressed and can be confusing at times.But if men experience pain in the groin and testicles within 2-3 months, the general body temperature rises and libido decreases, it means that you need to see a doctor, confirm the diagnosis of "chronic prostatitis" and undergo treatment.It is worth knowing the following nuances:
- symptoms of prostatitis in 50-year-old men include weakening of the erection and a feeling of heaviness in the lower back, but pain may be completely absent;
- symptoms of prostatitis in 30-year-old men always appear acutely, and the first sign is a violation of urination: the enlarged prostate puts pressure on the bladder, and men simply cannot go to the toilet;
- Men in their 60s may not have symptoms of prostatitis – at this age, prostatitis is often chronic, but the complete absence of an erection can be bothersome.
The doctor can prescribe effective treatment only after diagnosing the disease - prostatitis is often accompanied by symptoms of other diseases of the urogenital system.Therefore, the patient's complaints alone are not sufficient to establish a diagnosis;the following are prescribed:
- rectal examination;
- laboratory examination of prostate secretion;
- analysis to identify/disprove sexually transmitted infections;
- ultrasound examination of the prostate;
- computerized tomography of the organ.
An ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs and the scrotum may be prescribed as an additional examination.It may be necessary to involve special specialists in order to exclude or confirm concomitant diseases.
Treatment - general principles, course duration
The symptoms and treatment of prostatitis in men are directly related, since when prescribing therapy, the doctor must first alleviate the general condition of the patient.Men often have severe pain, which means that treatment should be started with painkillers.The treatment of prostatitis is determined by a urologist or andrologist, and the following drugs are most often prescribed:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and diuretics - inflammation of the prostate is manifested by a violation of the urination process;
- antispasmodics and muscle relaxants - prostatitis is accompanied by severe pain in the groin;
- supports prostate function and alpha blockers.
Is impotence due to prostatitis treated?Yes, for such complaints, the doctor prescribes specific drugs that improve blood supply to the genitals and clean the vessels of the prostate gland of waste and toxins.If the symptoms of prostatitis are detected in 40-year-old men, no additional drugs are needed to restore the erection - as soon as the inflammatory process stops, all sexual abilities are restored.But if the cause of prostatitis in 30-year-old men is sexually transmitted diseases (sexually transmitted infections), then further treatment of the identified infection should be carried out in order to restore sexual activity.
The best treatment is comprehensive, so in order to stop prostatitis as soon as possible, you should follow some medical recommendations:
- drink at least 2 liters of fluid per day - prostatitis is characterized by stagnation of secretions, and it must be quickly removed from the tissues in order to reduce the load on the organ and reduce its swelling;
- observe bed rest - the treatment cannot be combined with physical activity, because it irritates the organ, prostatitis only progresses, which makes the treatment long and ineffective;
- exclude spicy, sour, fatty foods and alcohol from your diet - these are also irritating substances that only worsen prostatitis.
As soon as the signs of the disease are less pronounced, sexual activity should be restored.Prostatitis heals much faster if you ensure regular drainage of the prostate gland and do not allow a slight stagnation of secretions in the tissues.
If drug treatment does not give positive results, prostatitis occurs in a chronic form with frequent relapses, then this is a reason for surgical intervention.The operation can be of two types:
- transurethral resection - the surgeon removes the prostate tissue affected by prostatitis;
- prostatectomy - prostatitis is a real threat to a man's life, so the prostate and seminal vesicles can be completely removed with the adjacent tissues.
The operation is not performed at a young age, because it can lead to complete infertility - prostatitis is treated with therapeutic methods, in addition to drugs, physiotherapy procedures can also be prescribed. The duration of prostatitis treatment depends on the stage and form of the disease, as well as the degree of neglect.Treatment usually lasts 2 weeks, but this number is very average.
Prostatitis can be completely cured, but it is important to consult a doctor in time.Treatment should be prescribed individually;traditional methods do not help stop prostatitis at all, but can accelerate the development of complications.