There are different stages of prostatitis. They differ from each other in clinical symptoms and course features. The most effective is the treatment of the initial stage of the development of inflammation of the prostate. At this stage, the disease does not have time to greatly affect the functioning of the genitourinary system. The later a man with prostatitis sees a doctor for help, the lower his chances of a full recovery.
what is prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that appeared in the prostate. More than half of the older male population is personally familiar with this disease. Doctors distinguish various forms of the disease, each of which proceeds in its own way. When making a diagnosis, urologists specify the type of prostatitis found in a patient. Inflammation can be bacterial or non-bacterial. Both pathologies negatively affect the functioning of the gland and neighboring organs.
The pathological process has 2 types of flow:
- Spicy;
- Chronic.
The initial symptoms of acute prostatitis appear from the first days of the disease. Its severity increases if a man does not try to deal with the inflammation. The chronic course is characterized by the absence of obvious symptoms of malaise. Therefore, this form of prostatitis is usually detected during a routine examination by a urologist.
Acute prostatitis, even in the initial stage, has vivid symptoms, while chronic prostatitis does not manifest itself for a long time.
Stages of chronic illness
Chronic prostatitis is divided into several stages, which follow if a man does not try to fight the disease. It can lie dormant for several years. In this case, the pathology is periodically exacerbated. Remission and relapse of the disease are gradually replaced.
It just depends on the actions of the patient how long he will treat the disease, how far he can get and whether he can fully recover.
1 stage
The early stage of the prostate is considered the safest for health. That's why doctors recommend starting treatment at this stage. But the difficulty lies in the fact that at first the disease does not cause much discomfort. A man does not always know that he is sick. If for various reasons the patient is unable to overcome the pathological process in the prostate, then he will move to a more difficult stage. And so it will continue until the agent causing the infection is stopped by the therapy.
1st degree prostatitis is characterized by such symptoms that will be mild:
- Body temperature rises to 38 degrees. After some time, it may rise to the 40 degree mark;
- Severe pain is felt in the area of the hip joints;
- There is discomfort during bowel movements;
- The limb slows down;
- In the process of urination, you may notice mucus that has no color;
- Pain appears during urination;
- The urethra gets narrower, so you have to work hard to empty your bladder;
- At night, frequent urges to go to the bathroom begin to bother you;
- Sexual intercourse becomes shorter.
All these signs are a good reason to visit a specialist. They will disturb a man up to 3 years. It is during this period that the course of the first stage of the disease is usually observed.
Symptoms of prostate inflammation come and go, as at this stage the disease manifests itself in waves. It will seem to a man that the disease has receded, but after a while it betrays itself again.
Often, patients do not finish the initial stage of inflammation in the prostate. Because of this, the disease becomes chronic. It is very difficult to deal with this form of pathology. The treatment will take a lot of time and will require large sums of money to be invested. At the same time, there is no guarantee that the disease will regress after completion of the therapeutic course.
A urologist can detect the early stage of prostatitis in a patient if he undergoes a series of diagnostic procedures. The disease is detected through such studies:
- Palpation of the rectum;
- Collection of secretions and sperm;
- General analysis of urine and blood;
- Sperm analysis;
- Prostate ultrasound.
Analysis of the research results will allow the specialist to determine the disease and its cause. If the prostatitis is infectious, the man will be given antibiotics and other drugs that help restore the affected prostate tissue and normalize its performance. A non-infectious form of inflammation also needs drug therapy. Such treatment will be based on immunomodulatory drugs, food supplements and rectal suppositories with anti-inflammatory action.
If the initial stage of the disease proceeds unaggravated, the patient will receive physiotherapy additionally along with a diet.
At an early stage, prostate inflammation responds well to treatment.
2 stages
2nd degree prostatitis is accompanied by a temporary weakening of symptoms. Many men perceive this condition as recovery. They put off doctor visits or fail to pay proper attention to therapy. But a decrease in the inflammatory process with this diagnosis is a bad sign. During the first stage of the disease, there was an increase in the size of the prostate due to the active division of its cells. As a result, scars form on the walls. Blood vessel ruptures lead to the interruption of blood supply to the prostate.
The second stage of prostatitis is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Violation of biological rhythms;
- nervousness;
- Pain when urinating;
- heart failure;
- Exacerbation of sciatica;
- The disappearance of orgasm;
- Lack of sexual desire.
At this stage of prostatitis in men, it is difficult to correctly determine the specific location of the pain syndrome. Initially, pain is felt at the prostate site. It then spreads to all areas of the small pelvis.
It is recommended that patients with stage 2 prostatitis take immunostimulating medications and participate in physical therapy procedures. So that the situation does not get complicated, they need to avoid hypothermia, abandon bad habits and normalize eating.
It is very important to have a healthy lifestyle.
3 stages
The third stage of the development of inflammation in the prostate brings more problems. In this case, a man is diagnosed with a chronic form of prostatitis. At this stage, there is a serious change in the prostate tissues. They start to die quickly. The scars formed in the earlier stages put strong pressure on the bladder. This causes the development of urinary retention, which is an extremely dangerous complication.
Prostatitis in 3 degrees of development leads to the appearance of pathological changes in the kidneys and bladder. The danger lies in the fact that they are irreversible. At this stage, men often complain of sciatica.
The last stage of the development of the disease has the following symptoms:
- Frequent urge to urinate;
- Severe pain when urinating;
- Weak urine flow;
- Cut in the region of the kidneys;
- Lack of sensation of complete emptying of the bladder after going to the bathroom.
The last stage of chronic prostatitis is considered the most dangerous. At this stage, dead cells are replaced by connective tissue. This change leads to a decrease in the size of the prostate and a narrowing of the urinary tract. Due to the fact that the system does not work properly, a man develops cystic formations. He also develops impotence.
Since in the later stages of the disease its symptoms are very pronounced, the patient's life is very complicated. The constant pain haunts him day and night. Often, for the first time, men turn to a urologist precisely because of such obvious symptoms of prostatitis. But, as irreversible processes have occurred in the gland until this moment, doctors do not guarantee the elimination of the pathology, even if the patient fulfills all its requirements. It is difficult for them to predict how inflammation will behave at a given stage of development.
If the case is severe and antibiotics do not bring significant relief, the patient is referred to surgery for partial or complete removal of the prostate.
In stage 3, the pain becomes intense and the organ changes become irreversible.
Stages of acute illness
It is with acute inflammation in the glandular organ that prostatitis begins. It gradually increases. The prostate is affected by an infection that safely develops with a weakened immune system. Chronic prostatitis is observed in those who could not cope with the acute form of the pathology. In this case, the man will not experience the special symptoms of the disease until he is in the acute stage.
Inflammation of the prostate, which is caused by an infectious agent, manifests itself from the first days of the disease. Therefore, this form of pathology is diagnosed earlier than chronic. Acute prostatitis is characterized by slightly different stages of development. Doctors distinguish 4 degrees of the disease, which follow one another.
catarrhal stage
At this stage, the inflammatory process in the prostate begins. It spreads in the ductal tissues of the glandular lobes. There is swelling of the prostate, which continues to progress. At this stage, the man does not have purulent discharge, which may indicate an infection in the gland. He will be disturbed by other symptoms:
- Frequent urge to go to the bathroom;
- Pain when urinating;
- General weakness in the body;
- Variable psycho-emotional state;
- apathetic mood;
- Irritability.
Another distinguishing feature of acute prostatitis in stage 1 of development is an enlarged prostate. Although this symptom is also characteristic of the chronic course of the pathology. The doctor may notice this feature during palpation of the problem area. Special analyzes allow you to confirm an expert's fears. He must obligatorily refer the patient for the delivery of prostatic secretion to study its composition. With prostatitis, an increased number of leukocytes will be found in the fluid. Also in the sample, the doctor will detect pus and mucus impurities.
Treatment of the catarrhal stage of acute prostatitis consists of taking a group of drugs that suppress inflammation and reduce the severity of the main symptoms of the disease.
Massage with such a course of pathology is strictly prohibited, like many other similar physiotherapeutic procedures.
On average, treating the initial stage of acute prostate inflammation takes about 2 weeks. During this time, the patient completely gets rid of the disease. The positive result of the therapy is due to the fact that it was started before the moment when the pathology had not yet managed to lead to the development of irreversible processes in the organs of the genitourinary system.
follicular phase
As this stage of prostatitis develops, the swelling spreads to the follicles and excretory ducts of the prostate. Their structures begin to compress neighboring tissues, which causes severe suppuration. The symptoms of the disease intensify and become more pronounced and noticeable. In this condition, men complain of the following signs of malaise:
- Body temperature rises to 38 degrees and does not fall;
- apathetic mood;
- The appearance of pain in the groin area;
- Spread of pain to genitals, anal region and hip joint;
- pain when urinating;
- Pain in the head of the penis;
- Defecation becomes more difficult;
- Excretion of a minimal amount of urine.
By probing the problem area, you may detect an asymmetrical enlargement of the prostate tissue. When examining the results of a urine test, the doctor will detect the presence of an excessive amount of pus and white blood cells in the sample.
It is very important to start urgent treatment of the follicular stage of acute prostatitis, otherwise a malignant process may develop in the structures of the glandular organ.
If therapy is ignored, there is a risk of developing cancer
parenchymal stage
Prostate tissues are subject to constant damage. Because of this, a large number of small pustules form on them. The urinary tract is even more compressed. As a result, there is acute urinary retention. Other symptoms of the parenchymal stage are the following conditions:
- Painful defecation;
- An increase in body temperature to 39 degrees or more;
- Constant feeling of intense thirst;
- loss of appetite;
- severe weakness;
- Chronic fatigue;
- Difficulty urinating;
- Severe pain in the pelvis, anus and lower back;
- Flatulence and constipation.
Abnormal mucus impurities begin to appear in the stool as the inflammation affects the intestines. The gland becomes quite large and its contours are blurred.
Stage of abscess formation
This stage of acute prostatitis is accompanied by various painful symptoms that prevent a man from leading a full life. They are more pronounced than at the initial stage of the development of the inflammatory process. At this stage, small pustules merge into an entire formation. Purulent masses quickly accumulate inside it. When it gets too big, it bursts. As a result, accumulated pus comes out through the urethra. In the abscess stage, the patient is plagued by the following symptoms:
- severe malaise;
- Increase in body temperature up to 40 degrees;
- Passivity to any actions;
- Severe pain in the anus and genitals;
- Difficulty defecating and urinating.
If a man in this condition does not receive proper treatment, he may die. It is very important to eliminate the abscess so that the patient feels better. Only then will the main signs of the disease begin to subside.
complications
The sooner the treatment of prostatitis is started, the less damage the inflammatory process will bring to the body. That's why it's best to deal with the disease at an early stage. But not all men adhere to this recommendation, as many expect the disease to go away on its own. Because of this, the disease progresses and leads to the development of unpleasant complications. Neglecting the help of a specialist, a person faces the following consequences of untreated prostatitis:
- The appearance of various inflammatory processes in the organs of the genitourinary system;
- Decreased sexual desire;
- Psychological disorders;
- Infertility;
- Impotence.
It is not uncommon for men who have had prostatitis to have a normal erection. That is why the patient's sexual activity is significantly reduced. In some cases, the absence of ejaculation is considered a complication. A man's penis can fall off sharply. If such deviations are found, it is necessary to visit a specialist to find out the nature of the violation and find ways to get rid of it.
Do not forget that the inflammatory process can actively spread to neighboring tissues and organs. That is why, in the context of prostatitis, men also develop cystitis and urethritis. These diseases lead to a violation of the flow of urine. The appearance of chronic incontinence is not excluded.
Impotence is perceived by men as one of the most serious complications of acute or chronic prostatitis. With such a deviation, the ability to excite disappears. This is due to inflammation, which interferes with the tissue nutrition process. Edema does not allow the corpora cavernosa to fill completely with blood. Medicine has learned to treat this complication with long-term drug therapy. However, not all patients who have completed this course are satisfied with the result.
It is prostatitis that is called the main cause of the development of 1st degree infertility. In this case, it is considered a variant of the disease, in which the composition of the seminal fluid changes. The secret changes its acidity and viscosity level. All these deviations are detected during the study of the sperm sample, which has been subjected to analysis.
With the problem of infertility, men should contact an andrologist. He will help you choose the best treatment.
If prostatitis is severe, it will lead to the appearance of 2nd degree infertility. This condition is not amenable to therapeutic treatment.
A man's psycho-emotional mood suffers greatly due to prostate inflammation. Frequent failures in the intimate sphere worry him. In this context, depressions appear, which further worsen the general condition of the patient.
More than 30% of patients diagnosed with prostatitis face psycho-emotional experiences. A psychologist helps them restore male libido, which has been reduced due to stress.
Impotence and infertility are common complications of the disease.
Remission of chronic prostatitis
If treatment of prostatitis has been started, the patient can achieve remission. This is the name of the condition in which there is a significant weakening of the symptoms of the disease or its complete disappearance. Remitting prostatitis is corrected in most patients who have completed a full course of treatment. This period varies from person to person. If a man does not follow the recommendations of a doctor, then after a while there will be an exacerbation of inflammation of the prostate. And then the patient will have to be treated again.
types
Remission with prostatitis can be complete or incomplete. In the first case, after a complete therapy, the man is no longer disturbed by absolutely all the symptoms of the pathology. He forgets about them for a long time. Incomplete remission usually does not last longer than 3 months. During this time, the patient may complain of minor symptoms that characterize prostatitis. For example, many continue to experience pain when urinating and discomfort in the pelvic area.
Duration
Even experienced doctors sometimes find it very difficult to predict how long remission will last for a given person who has been treated for prostatitis. This indicator is individual. The length of this period directly depends on several factors:
- The causative agent of the disease;
- General state of the body;
- The quality of treatment;
- The severity of the disease;
- Disease stage.
It also takes into account how conscientiously the patient follows the attending physician's recommendations, which relate to preventing the recurrence of prostatitis.
If a man meets all the requirements of a specialist and carefully takes care of his own health, then his remission can last several decades. Sometimes the disease regresses completely.
Prediction
If a patient who had to undergo treatment for chronic prostatitis begins to lead a correct lifestyle, undergoes checkups and regularly visits his doctor, in addition to taking medication to prevent the recurrence of prostate inflammation, he will have a favorable recovery. prognosis. In that case, the disease may never bother a person again.
If a man still gets sick with prostatitis, he should immediately start therapy. For this, you need to contact a specialist. A thorough examination of the genitourinary system will help the urologist to choose the appropriate treatment that will stop the disease and eliminate the complications that have arisen.