Prostatitis in men

30 April 2021

Prostatitis- a common condition in men of childbearing age and elderly.

What is prostatitisThis is inflammation of the prostate in men, this organ is also called the prostate. The prostate is located in close proximity to the bladder neck and is an important part of the male reproductive system. Inflammation of the prostate leads to its enlargement, which compresses the urinary tract, making the process of emptying the bladder difficult, and other unpleasant symptoms. Therefore, in the event of inflammation of the prostate, it is not recommended to be inactive.

Symptoms and signs of prostatitis

Usually men pay attention to the manifestations of prostatitis quite late. The clinical picture for each case is individual, even if it is some form of the disease. However, the first symptoms of prostatitis in men are roughly the same:

Difficulty urinating. . . The urethra, squeezed under the inflamed prostate, does not allow urine to pass well. A feeling of incomplete emptying and a constant need to urinate are also the first signs of prostatitis in men, and their symptoms will get worse in the future.
Sexual disorders. . . These unpleasant signs of prostate inflammation appear in men mainly as a violation of the erection mechanism and a weakening of the orgasm. Premature ejaculation is also one of the symptoms of prostate inflammation.
Pain. . . Signs of inflammation of the prostate in men include painful urination and ejaculation. Also a characteristic symptom is constant pain in the lower back.
Nervous tension. . . Symptoms of inflammation of the prostate include increased nervousness in a man as an enlarged prostate causes some discomfort.

Causes of Prostatitis

Inflammation of the prostate occurs for several reasons:

Poor blood circulation. . . Blood circulation can be affected by physical inactivity (sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity) - this is a very common cause of prostate inflammation in men. Also, the cause of a violation of the blood supply to the organs is a large weight, trauma to the small pelvis and constant hypothermia.
infection. . . Infectious diseases also often cause prostatitis. The prostate is easily infected by venereal and urological diseases, inflammatory processes in the rectum and complications from infectious diseases (tonsillitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis).
Immune failure. . . The weakening of the protective functions of the body due to previous illnesses, stresses, etc. often becomes the cause of prostatitis in men or the exacerbation of an existing disease.

Types of prostatitis

Acute prostatitis develops quickly with the rapid appearance of characteristic symptoms. Chronic prostatitis often occurs with a gradual and almost imperceptible development of symptoms. It is typical for men over 55 years of age.

Prostatitis is also classified according to origin:

Bacteria.Most often it occurs at a young age, but among other types of the disease, such cases are only 5-10%. Usually acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis occurs due to the susceptibility of the body to pathogenic flora.
Contagious. . . Infectious prostatitis occurs not only due to bacteria, but also due to fungi, protozoa, which distinguish them from the type of bacteria. This type of disease can also occur in chronic and acute forms. One of its characteristic varieties is chlamydial prostatitis.
Purulent. . . Purulent prostatitis is one of the most serious types of infectious diseases with purulent discharge and hyperthermia of the body. The course of the disease is acute, and new symptoms appear at each stage.
calculus. . . Calcareous prostatitis is a consequence of a protracted chronic form and is observed mainly in older men. This form of the disease is characterized by the appearance of stones in the prostate.
Stagnates. . . Non-bacterial prostatitis, which is caused by insufficient blood supply to the tissues of the pelvic organs. Congestive prostatitis, as it is also known, is usually chronic. Of all the types, congestive prostatitis is the most common.

Why is prostatitis dangerous?

In any man, without timely treatment, prostatitis quickly becomes chronic and has serious consequences for reproductive health and the general condition of the body. The most common complications of prostatitis are:

Vesiculitis. . . Inflammation of the seminal vesicles is the first thing that makes chronic prostatitis dangerous for men. Vesiculitis may appear without symptoms or may be manifested by pain when urinating, after intercourse, and by the appearance of pus and blood in the semen.
Posterior urethritis and colliculitis. . . The risk of prostatitis lies in the development of posterior urethritis and associated colliculitis. Colliculitis is inflammation of the seminal tubercle through which sperm can pass. One of the symptoms of colliculitis is blood in the semen.
Diseases of the prostate. . . The consequences of prostatitis in men can be other, more serious diseases of the prostate: abscess, sclerosis, cysts and stones, adenoma, cancer. Such complications are treated much more difficult and longer than prostatitis, and the consequences of some of them are irreversible.
Sexual dysfunction. . . The consequences of advanced inflammation of the prostate can be genital problems, including erectile dysfunction. Although the impotence caused by prostatitis can be cured, it is often irreversible.
infertility. . . Since the male reproductive system does not function well with inflammation of the prostate, infertility usually becomes a consequence of chronic prostatitis. It all starts with a deterioration in sperm quality and the patency of the vas deferens.

Diagnosis of prostatitis

The diagnosis of prostatitis in men begins in the first few minutes at the doctor's appointment, as the patient's complaints are an important part of it. To identify the disease and its features, other types of diagnostics are also used:

Medical examination. . . During the medical exam, a digital rectal exam is performed, which is done over the anus and allows you to identify the size, shape, surface condition and other features of the prostate. Because it is extremely easy to diagnose prostatitis in this way, it is actually the first and foremost method of confirming the diagnosis.
Laboratory research. . . Prostatitis tests in men are used to check blood, urine, semen, as well as examining prostate secretions. One of the most effective methods is urinalysis for prostatitis (general, bacteriological, cytological). A general blood test is also prescribed for prostatitis. In any case, the doctor will determine what tests will be done for prostatitis and whether deeper research methods will be needed.
Non-invasive methods. . . These are ultrasound, X-ray diagnostics and MRI.

Treatment of prostatitis

Self-medication for prostatitis is strongly discouraged. If a man doesn't know which doctor is treating prostatitis, you can ask your therapist about it. But usually all patients know that a urologist specializes in the treatment of prostatitis in men. It is also permissible to contact a therapist or surgeon, but only for the first appointment.

Many patients are faced with a natural question: is it possible to cure prostatitis? It all depends on the form of the disease. In any case, diagnosis and treatment of inflammation of the prostate in men is necessary at the first warning signs, as chronic prostatitis requires more time and financial costs. Modern methods of treating prostatitis allow you to cope with any form and stage of the disease with minimal consequences for the body.

How long is prostatitis treated?

How much prostatitis is treated and whether it can be cured without consequences depends on the complexity of the individual case. The sooner a man turns to a specialist, the greater the likelihood of effective treatment for prostatitis. The duration of treatment for prostatitis can be from 1 to 6 months, depending on the form of the disease. It is worth taking into account the time spent on diagnosis, which will also affect the duration of prostatitis treatment.

How and what to treat

There is no single treatment regimen for prostatitis because this disease is very diverse and requires an individual approach. However, regardless of the form, the following methods of treating prostatitis are used:

Drug therapy. . . Antibiotics are used to treat chronic and acute prostatitis. This is a mandatory and essential part of treating all types of prostate inflammation. In the acute course of the disease, the use of analgesics is permissible, since the treatment of prostatitis usually takes a long time.
physical therapy. . . The treatment regimen for prostatitis certainly includes physiotherapy as a method of gently massaging the prostate. In addition, herbal enemas and other procedures can be prescribed.
diet. . . Since it is difficult to cure chronic prostatitis or its acute form with an unhealthy bowel, diet or change in diet is prescribed.
Sports exercise. . . This method of treating prostatitis is necessary to improve blood flow to internal organs.

Prevention of prostatitis

To avoid prostatitis, both after a previous illness and without such experience, you need to follow simple recommendations:

Stable sex life. . . Having sex with a healthy partner avoids not only sexually transmitted diseases, after which prostatitis often occurs, but also their stagnant form.
Rejection of bad habits. . . An unhealthy lifestyle reduces the body's defenses, so smoking, alcohol, and unhealthy foods are best avoided.
Sports. . . Exercise keeps the body in good shape and improves blood flow to the prostate, which reduces the risk of prostatitis.
Prostate massage. . . This is a measure of secondary prevention of prostatitis in men for those who have already had the disease.
Preparations for prophylaxis. . . These are vitamin complexes that help both to prevent prostatitis and to strengthen the immune system. Used as directed by a doctor.

Prostatitis and conception of a child

Whether it is possible to get pregnant from a husband with chronic prostatitis is a question that worries many families. It must be understood that the prostate is responsible for many of the most important functions related to conception. Therefore, prostatitis increases the likelihood of male infertility. The presence of infection and inflammation in the prostate will affect the quality of the ejaculate, and while it is possible to conceive a child with prostatitis, the chances of success are reduced.

Prostatitis and infertility are closely related because if the vas deferens is blocked, pregnancy after intercourse may not occur. The presence of purulent and bloody discharge in male sperm with prostatitis significantly affects its quality and reduces the likelihood of conception.

With prostatitis, you can conceive a child, but for the best result you must first cure the disease and prevent possible infertility. Only after a man has cured prostatitis is it time to think about planning a pregnancy. For the treatment of prostatitis and planning childbirth, it is best to turn to specialized centers, which will definitely help solve all problems.