Prostatitis is a disease associated with inflammation of the prostate gland. It can occur in men of all ages and can be chronic or acute in nature. There are problems with diagnosis, so patients often seek help from a doctor when prostatitis has already progressed and conventional treatment does not help. The danger lies in the high probability of developing prostate cancer and complete infertility.
If prostatitis is diagnosed on time, treatment lasts only 2 weeks. After that, the man only needs to follow the doctor's recommendations and undergo regular follow-up examinations. In this case, no complications arise after inflammation of the prostate - reproductive function is fully preserved, even if prostatitis occurs with acute symptoms.
Prostatitis doesn't develop out of nowhere; the cause of the beginning of the inflammatory process is E. coli, mycoplasma, streptococci, staphylococci, trichomonas and other pyogenic microorganisms. Their peculiarity is very rapid reproduction and rapid destruction of prostate tissue. The main causes of the disease are:
- any inflammatory diseases of the urinary system - cystitis, pyelonephritis, urethritis;
- chronic stool disorders - especially constipation, in which men have to push hard and prostatitis develops as an organ reaction to pressure;
- Infections from distant foci – severe forms of tonsillitis, pneumonia, flu, when prostatitis is directly related to the penetration of infectious agents into the glandular tissue;
- frequent hypothermia or, conversely, overheating may be associated with the characteristics of labor activity;
- Lack of regular sexual activity, physical inactivity – prostatitis leads to stagnation of secretions in the tissues of the prostate and is often the cause of prostatitis in a 40-year-old man;
- weakened immunity due to serious hormonal imbalances;
- sexually transmitted infections - gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, chlamydia;
- frequent urinary retention – an enlarged bladder puts strong pressure on the prostate;
- Injuries in the pelvic area.
Most often, prostatitis occurs after an infection enters the prostate tissue through the urethra, although it occurs much more rarely through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Prostatitis has a very important provoking factor - a general weakening of the immune system, when this occurs as a reaction of the body to stress, constant fatigue, nervous exhaustion and emotional outbursts.
Men should have a regular sex life and be active in their lifestyle. Otherwise, stagnation of secretion occurs in the tissues of the prostate, which represents an ideal environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms - prostatitis develops quickly. There is inevitably a lack of oxygen in the prostate cells, which increases the likelihood that prostatitis will spread beyond the organ - inflammation also affects neighboring organs.
Types of prostatitis in men, features of the course
Depending on the cause, there are different types of prostatitis:
- bacterial prostatitis – begins against the background of an infection that penetrates the prostate tissue; the diagnosis of this type of prostatitis is more often made in young and older men;
- congestive prostatitis - caused by a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sex life in men and pelvic injuries, often accompanied by infection, and then prostatitis becomes a mixed type;
- Calcific prostatitis – develops as a result of an untreated chronic form of the disease; Such prostatitis occurs more often in older men.
Depending on the form of its occurrence, prostatitis is divided into acute and chronic. Diagnosis of an acute form of the disease is rare; treatment should only be carried out in the hospital, as prostatitis occurs with severe symptoms. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a "sluggish" clinical picture, periodic remissions, the complete absence of specific symptoms and rapid transformation into serious problems - the degeneration of healthy prostate cells into malignant cells, the cessation of secretion production and a decrease in the secretion of sperm.
Symptoms and diagnosis of prostate inflammation
Symptoms directly depend on what type of prostatitis begins to develop in the tissues of the prostate gland:
- bacterial prostatitis – high body temperature, presence of blood or pus in urine, problems with urination (thin and weak stream, "drip" urine output), acute pain in the perineum, poor general condition;
- Calcareous prostatitis – weak erection or its complete absence, blood in the urine; Such symptoms of prostatitis occur more often in men over 50 years old;
- Congestive prostatitis – discomfort in the perineum and testicles, partial or complete absence of an erection, improper urination.
Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a "blurred" clinical picture; all symptoms are unexpressed and can be periodically disturbing. However, if within 2-3 months men feel pain in the groin and testicles, the general body temperature rises and libido decreases, This 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 men over the age of 50 are weakened erections and a feeling of heaviness in the groin, but pain may be completely absent;
- The symptoms of prostatitis in men over the age of 30 always manifest themselves acutely and the first sign is a violation of urination: an enlarged prostate puts pressure on the bladder and men simply cannot go to the toilet;
- In men over the age of 60, symptoms of prostatitis may be absent - at this age, prostatitis is often chronic, but the complete absence of an erection can be disturbing.
A doctor can prescribe effective treatment only after diagnosing the disease - prostatitis often has symptoms of other diseases of the genitourinary system. Therefore, patient complaints alone are not enough to make a diagnosis; The following is prescribed:
- rectal examination;
- Laboratory examination of prostate secretion;
- Analysis to identify/refute sexually transmitted infections;
- Ultrasound examination of the prostate;
- Computed tomography of the organ.
Ultrasound examinations of the pelvic organs and scrotum may be prescribed as additional examinations. The involvement of specialists may be necessary to rule out or confirm concomitant illnesses.
Treatment – general principles, course duration
The symptoms of prostatitis in a man and its treatment are directly related, because when prescribing therapy, the doctor must first alleviate the general condition of the patient. Men often experience severe pain, which is why treatment should start with painkillers. How to treat prostatitis is determined by a urologist or andrologist. In most cases, the following medications are prescribed:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and diuretics – prostatitis is manifested by a violation of the urinary process;
- antispasmodics and muscle relaxants – prostatitis is accompanied by severe pain in the groin;
- Prostate function support and alpha blockers.
Is the lack of erection due to prostatitis treated? Yes, for such complaints, the doctor prescribes special medications that improve the blood supply to the genital organ and cleanse the prostate vessels of toxins and toxins. If symptoms of prostatitis are detected in men at the age of 40, additional medications to restore erection are not required - as soon as the inflammatory process is stopped, all sexual abilities are restored. However, if the cause of prostatitis in 30-year-old men is sexually transmitted diseases (sexually transmitted infections), then to restore sexual activity, you will need to undergo additional treatment of the detected infection.
The best treatment is comprehensive. Therefore, in order to stop prostatitis as quickly as possible, you need to follow some doctor's recommendations:
- drink at least 2 liters of fluid per day - prostatitis is characterized by stagnation of secretions and must be quickly removed from the tissues to reduce the load on the organ and its swelling;
- Observe bed rest - treatment cannot be combined with physical activity, as it irritates the organ, prostatitis only progresses, which makes treatment long and ineffective;
- Exclude spicy, sour, fatty foods and alcohol from the diet - these are also irritants that only aggravate prostatitis.
As soon as the signs of the disease subside, sexual activity must be restored. Prostatitis will be cured much faster if you provide regular drainage of the prostate and do not allow even a slight stagnation of secretions in the tissues.
If drug treatment does not give positive results and prostatitis occurs in a chronic form with frequent relapses, this is a reason for surgical intervention. There are two types of operations:
- transurethral resection – the surgeon removes prostate tissue affected by prostatitis;
- Prostatectomy – Prostatitis poses a real threat to a man's life, so his prostate and seminal vesicles with adjacent tissue are completely removed.
Operations are not performed at a young age, as this can lead to complete infertility - prostatitis is treated with therapeutic methods, in addition to medications, physiotherapeutic procedures can be prescribed. How long prostatitis is treated 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.
It is possible to completely cure prostatitis. The only important thing is to see a doctor in good time. Treatment must be prescribed individually; Although conventional methods do not help to stop prostatitis, they can accelerate the onset of complications.