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Causes of prostatitis, types and symptoms of the disease.

Prostatitis in men

One of the most common specific male diseases, without a doubt, is prostatitis.The probability of suffering from it at a younger age is significantly lower than at an older age.Therefore, for this disease, the common truth that health must be protected from an early age is absolutely true.

What is prostatitis?

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland, accompanied by swelling.As the prostate increases in size, it compresses the urethra, around which the gland is located.This interferes with the complete exit of urine from the body, causing characteristic pain and difficulty emptying the bladder.

In addition, with prostatitis, the biochemical properties of prostate juice, one of the most important components of sperm, change.Prostate juice is the secretion of the prostate gland, which is responsible not only for sperm fertility, but also for the antimicrobial protection of this important male organ.Male sexuality directly depends on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the secretion.

Normal and inflamed prostate.

Causes of prostatitis in men

The prevalence of this disease is due to the fact that there are many reasons that can cause it.Causes of prostatitis:

  1. Viral and bacterial infections.The cause of prostatitis can be not only sexually transmitted diseases, but also chronic inflammatory processes in the body (tonsillitis, bronchitis, tuberculosis, sometimes even caries);
  2. fungal diseases;
  3. Stagnation of blood in the pelvic organs.This unfavorable phenomenon can occur in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle (office workers and drivers), have irregular sexual relations (long periods of abstinence or, on the contrary, a promiscuous sexual life), frequent constipation and high weight;
  4. Frequent hypothermia;
  5. Stressful situations;
  6. Injuries to the pelvic area;
  7. Poor circulation in the prostate gland;
  8. Weakening of the body's immune defense.
Lack of sexual desire in a man is an indirect sign of prostatitis.

Types of prostatitis

The popular classification of prostatitis is based on the causes of its appearance:

  1. Infectious (viral, bacterial, fungal);
  2. Non-infectious (stagnant);
  3. Hormonal-dystrophic (disturbances in the body's hormonal system);
  4. Allergic (allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases);
  5. Vegetovascular (alteration of blood circulation in the prostate).

Other classifications are less relevant to the general public and are more designed to make diagnosis easier for doctors.Therefore, depending on the nature of the disease, acute and chronic prostatitis are distinguished, depending on the degree of participation of glandular tissue in the inflammatory process: catarrhal, parenchymal and follicular, etc.

Separately in medicine, the following types of prostatitis are distinguished:

  • Chronic asymptomatic prostatitis which, as its name suggests, occurs without showing any signs.The only symptom of the disease is the periodic detection of bacteria and leukocytes in the urine;
  • Chronic granulomatous prostatitis.A rather rare disease in which the prostate tissue is replaced by fibrous tissue with the formation of many granulomas (small nodules).

How do prostatitis symptoms manifest?

The initial symptoms of prostatitis depend on the nature of the disease.The first symptoms of acute prostatitis are pronounced malaise, headaches and fever.

Specific signs of acute prostatitis:

  • Frequent and painful urination that does not bring relief.In severe cases, acute urinary retention may develop;
  • painful bowel movements;
  • Burning in the perineal area.
A man is worried about the unpleasant symptoms of prostatitis.

Indirect signs of acute prostatitis include painful nocturnal erection, decreased or absent sexual desire, and accelerated ejaculation.Additionally, severe pain during sex can make it difficult for a man to reach orgasm.If you notice these signs, see a doctor immediately!In the initial stage, prostatitis is easily treatable.

Chronic prostatitis is slow and has a fairly mild clinical picture, which is why many people do not pay due attention to their health.Chronic prostatitis actively manifests itself only in the acute stage.On average, it appears 1-2 times a year with symptoms characteristic of the acute form of the disease.

Methods for diagnosing the disease.

A urologist must diagnose prostatitis in a patient.First, conduct a thorough interview with the patient.The doctor may ask the following questions:

  • How long has the patient been suffering from this disease?
  • How often does it break out?
  • What symptoms does the patient notice?
  • What is the nature of the subject's sexual activity (regular/irregular)?
  • What risk factors does the patient have for this disease (previous STIs, surgical operations in the pelvic area, other chronic inflammatory processes)?

After collecting the medical history, the doctor begins to examine the patient, which includes a digital rectal examination and palpation of the scrotum.If palpation does not reveal changes in the prostate, the doctor must exclude other diseases of the genitourinary system.

As a rule, already at this stage an experienced specialist can make the correct diagnosis.But sometimes the doctor prescribes additional tests.As a rule, this is necessary in controversial cases or to select the most effective treatment regimen.

Laboratory diagnostic methods.

  1. General urine and blood analysis;
  2. Urethral swab;
  3. Spermogram;
  4. PCR analysis (detects hidden infections);
  5. Study of prostate juice (for chronic prostatitis).For men over 50, a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level test is required if prostate cancer is suspected.

Instrumental diagnostic methods.

  • Prostate ultrasound.This is the most accessible and informative way to examine the prostate.It can be performed externally through the abdominal wall or transrectal.The last method is extremely unpleasant, but the most informative.Ultrasound can detect the presence of abscesses and stones in the affected organ, as well as the degree of narrowing of the urethra;
  • Uroflowmetry.Allows you to determine the speed of urine flow.With this study, the doctor can evaluate the patency of the urinary canal and the contractility of the bladder.

There are several more auxiliary diagnostic methods that a doctor prescribes in special cases (cystoscopy, computed tomography of the pelvic organs, biopsy, transurethral examination).

Prostatitis treatment methods

As with any other disease, prostatitis is only effectively treated in its acute form.Chronic prostatitis is extremely difficult to treat and often only significant remission can be achieved.

Treatment of acute prostatitis

A patient with acute prostatitis must be hospitalized, since such a condition is dangerous due to its complications, including the development of sepsis.

The main point in the treatment of acute prostatitis isantibiotic therapy.An acute condition requires immediate therapeutic measures, so medications are prescribed before testing to identify the causative agent of the disease.According to WHO recommendations, the patient is usually prescribed fluoroquinolones.If the analysis reveals a causative agent of acute prostatitis that is not sensitive to this antibiotic, treatment is reconsidered.

Treatment of prostatitis with antibiotics.

In addition to antibiotics, the patient is prescribed strict bed rest and prostate massage is prohibited, as it can provoke the development of sepsis.Analgesics and NSAIDs (eliminate pain), rheological solutions (in case of severe intoxication of the body) and drugs that normalize blood microcirculation will help relieve the symptoms of prostatitis.

Surgical intervention is necessary only in case of total inability to empty the bladder and in the presence of abscesses.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis.

In the treatment of chronic prostatitis, the use of antibiotics remains controversial.Some doctors believe that they should be prescribed without fail, others - only if bacterial flora is detected in the secretion of the prostate.

Prostate massage is also a dubious procedure.This procedure involves only the lower part of the prostate gland.Massage, of course, will not cause any harm, but its benefits cannot compensate for the physical and psychological discomfort that the patient feels during rectal manipulation.Therefore, today the optimal treatment regimen for chronic prostatitis is as follows:

  1. Taking NSAIDs, immunomodulators and drugs that improve blood circulation;
  2. Take sedatives and antidepressants if you have erection problems;
  3. Exercise therapy and physiotherapy (electrophoresis, UHF, magnetic laser therapy, etc.).These therapeutic methods play an important role in the treatment of chronic prostatitis.

Traditional medicine for the fight against prostatitis offers infusions of hazelnut and poplar bark, pumpkin seeds and parsley juice.It is worth mentioning that natural remedies should only be used in combination with the treatment prescribed by the doctor.Otherwise, the disease can progress and have dire consequences.

Popular remedies to combat prostatitis poplar bark, pumpkin seeds, parsley and hazelnuts.

Consequences of prostatitis

The complications of this disease are quite serious.Here are the main ones:

  • Loss of sexual desire and erection.Against the background of these deviations, men often develop impotence, which usually has a psychological cause;
  • Sterility;
  • Formation of cysts and stones in the prostate;
  • Prostate sclerosis is the replacement of the functional tissue of the scar gland, which causes an alteration in its functioning;
  • Prostate adenoma is a benign tumor of the prostate gland that can only be removed surgically;
  • Prostate cancer.It is a consequence of an untreated adenoma.
Considering how easily prostatitis is treated in the early stages and the severity of its consequences, men should put aside false modesty and consult a doctor before it is too late.
A man with prostatitis at a urologist.

Prostatitis prevention

Simple recommendations will help prevent prostatitis:

  1. Lead an active lifestyle.Morning exercises are the best option, squats are especially useful;
  2. Take a contrast shower, visit a bathhouse, ideally before sexual intercourse;
  3. Establish a regular sex life;
  4. Avoid stressful situations;
  5. Don't be too cold.It is better to equip the car seat with heating;
  6. Avoid cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, which increase blood pressure.

A healthy lifestyle has never harmed anyone and also plays an important role in preventing prostatitis.

Timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of prostatitis is a guarantee of a successful recovery.Be healthy!