Prostatitis is a condition associated with inflammation of the prostate. It can develop in men of any age, carry a chronic or acute course. There are problems with diagnosis, so patients often consult a doctor when prostatitis has progressed and traditional treatment does not help. The danger lies in the high probability of developing prostate cancer and becoming completely infertile.
If prostatitis is diagnosed in time, then the treatment lasts only 2 weeks, after which the man only needs to follow the doctor's recommendations and periodically undergo follow-up examinations. In this case, after the inflammation of the prostate, there are no complications - the ability to reproduce is fully preserved, even if the prostatitis passed with acute symptoms.
Prostatitis does not develop "from scratch", the cause of the beginning of the inflammatory process is Escherichia coli, mycoplasma, streptococci, staphylococci, trichomonads and other pyogenic microorganisms. Their peculiarity lies in the 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 strain hard and prostatitis develops as an organ reaction 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 tissues of the gland;
- frequent hypothermia or, conversely, overheating - can be associated with the characteristics of labor activity;
- lack of regular sexual activity, hypodynamia - prostatitis leads to stagnation of secretion in the tissues of the prostate, more often this is the cause of prostatitis in a 40-year-old man;
- weakened immunity against the background of severe hormonal disorders;
- sexually transmitted infections - gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, chlamydia;
- frequent urinary retention - an enlarged bladder puts strong pressure on the prostate;
- Pelvic trauma.
Most often, prostatitis develops after the infection enters the prostate tissue through the urethra, much less often it occurs through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Prostatitis has a very important provoking factor - a general weakening of the immune system, when it occurs as a reaction of the body to stress, constant fatigue, nervous exhaustion, emotional "outbursts".
Men should have a regular sex life and be active in their lifestyle. Otherwise, there is a stagnation of secretion in the tissues of the prostate, which is an ideal environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms - prostatitis quickly develops. Prostate cells inevitably suffer from a lack of oxygen, which increases the likelihood that prostatitis will spread beyond the organ - the inflammation also affects neighboring organs.
Types of prostatitis in men, features of the course
Depending on the cause of its development, there are several types of prostatitis:
- bacterial prostatitis - begins against the background of penetration into the tissues of the prostate infection, the diagnosis of this type of prostatitis occurs more often in young and older men;
- congestive prostatitis - caused by a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sexual activity in men and injuries to the small pelvis, often accompanied by infections and then prostatitis becomes a mixed type;
- calculous prostatitis - develops as a result of an untreated chronic form of the course of the disease, more often such prostatitis occurs in older men.
Depending on the course, prostatitis is divided into acute and chronic. Diagnosis of the acute form of the disease is rare, treatment should be carried out only in a hospital, since prostatitis occurs with severe symptoms. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a "sluggish" clinical picture, periodic remissions, a complete absence of specific symptoms and rapid transformation into serious problems - the degeneration of healthy prostate cells into malignant ones, the cessation of secretion production and a decrease in sperm secretion.
Symptoms and diagnosis of inflammation of the prostate
The symptoms directly depend on what type of prostatitis begins to develop in the tissues of the prostate:
- bacterial prostatitis - high body temperature, the presence of blood or pus in the urine, problems with urination (thin and weak stream, "drip" urine output), acute pain in the perineum, poor general condition;
- calculous prostatitis - a weak erection or its complete absence, blood in the urine, such symptoms of prostatitis are more common in men over 50 years of age;
- congestive prostatitis - discomfort in the perineum and testicles, partial or complete lack of erection, improper urination.
Prostatitis of the chronic progressive form is characterized by a "blurred" clinical picture, all the symptoms are unspoken and can periodically disturb. But if within 2-3 months men develop pain in the groin and testicles, the overall body temperature rises and sexual desire decreases, this means that you need to see a doctor, confirm the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis and undergo treatmentIt is worth knowing the following nuances:
- Symptoms of prostatitis in men over the age of 50 are a weakening of the erection and a feeling of heaviness in the groin, but the pain syndrome can be completely absent;
- Symptoms of prostatitis in men over the age of 30 are always acute, and the first sign is a violation of urination: an enlarged prostate squeezes the bladder and men simply cannot go to the toilet;
- Symptoms of prostatitis may be absent in men over the age of 60 - at this age prostatitis is often chronic, but a total lack of erection can be bothersome.
The doctor can prescribe effective treatment only after diagnosing the disease - prostatitis often has symptoms of other diseases of the genitourinary system. Therefore, the patient's complaints alone are not enough to make a diagnosis, the following is prescribed:
- rectal examination;
- laboratory examination of prostate secretion;
- Analysis to prove / disprove sexually transmitted infections;
- ultrasound examination of the prostate;
- Computed tomography of the organs.
As additional examinations, ultrasound examinations of the pelvic organs and scrotum may be prescribed. It may be necessary to consult close medical specialists to rule out or confirm comorbidities.
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 begin with painkillers. How to treat prostatitis is determined by a urologist or andrologist, and the following drugs are most often prescribed:
- nonsteroidal 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;
- Supporting prostate function and alpha blockers.
Is the lack of erection treated against the background of prostatitis? Yes, with such ailments, the doctor prescribes certain drugs that improve blood supply to the penis and cleanse the vessels of the prostate from toxins and toxins. If the symptoms of prostatitis in men are detected by the age of 40, then additional drugs are not needed to restore an erection - as soon as the inflammatory process stops, all sexual abilities will be restored. However, if venereal diseases (sexually transmitted infections) in men over the age of 30 became the cause of prostatitis, then additional treatment and the identified infection are required to restore sexual activity.
The best treatment is complex, and therefore you need to follow some doctor's recommendations to stop prostatitis as soon as possible:
- consume at least 2 liters of fluid per day - prostatitis is characterized by stagnation of the secret and it will be necessary to quickly remove it from the tissues in order to reduce the load on the organ and reduce its swelling;
- observe bed rest - the treatment can not be combined with physical activity, since it irritates the organ, prostatitis only progresses, which makes the treatment long and ineffective;
- excluding spicy, acidic, fatty foods, alcohol from the diet - these are also irritants that only aggravate prostatitis.
As soon as the signs of the disease become less pronounced, it is necessary to restore sexual activity. Prostatitis is cured much faster if regular drainage of the prostate gland is ensured and even a slight stagnation of secretion in its tissues is not allowed.
If drug treatment does not give positive results, prostatitis occurs in a chronic form with frequent recurrences, then this is a reason for surgical intervention. The operation can be of two types:
- transurethral resection - the surgeon removes prostate tissue affected by prostatitis;
- Prostatectomy - prostatitis poses a real threat to a man's life, so both the prostate and seminal vesicles with adjacent tissue are completely removed from him.
Operations are not performed at a young age, as this can lead to complete infertility - prostatitis is treated with therapeutic methods, physiotherapeutic procedures can be prescribed in addition to medication. How much prostatitis is treated depends on the stage and form of the disease, the degree of neglect. Usually the treatment lasts 2 weeks, but this number is very average.
It is possible to completely cure prostatitis, it is only important to consult a doctor in time. Treatment should be prescribed individually, alternative methods will absolutely not help to stop prostatitis, but they can bring closer the moment of the beginning of the development of complications.