Prostatitis is a disease associated with inflammation of the prostate. It can develop in men of any age, having a chronic or an acute course. There are problems in diagnosis, patients often seek help from a doctor when prostatitis is in an advanced form and traditional treatment does not help. The danger lies in the high probability of developing prostate cancer and complete infertility.
If prostatitis is diagnosed in a timely manner, then treatment lasts only 2 weeks, after which the man will only need to follow the doctor's recommendations and periodically undergo a follow-up examination. In this case, there will be no complications after inflammation of the prostate - reproductive abilities are fully preserved, even if the prostatitis proceeded with acute symptoms.
Prostatitis does not develop "from scratch", the cause of the onset of the inflammatory process is Escherichia coli, mycoplasmas, streptococci, staphylococci, Trichomonas and other pyogenic microorganisms. Its peculiarity lies in the very rapid reproduction and rapid destruction of prostate tissues. The main causes of the disease are:
- any inflammatory diseases of the urinary system - cystitis, pyelonephritis, urethritis;
- chronic stool disorders - in particular, constipation, in which men have to forcefully push and prostatitis develops as an organ response 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 tissues of the gland;
- frequent hypothermia or, conversely, overheating - may be associated with the characteristics of work activity;
- lack of regular sexual activity, hypodynamia - prostatitis causes stagnation of secretion in the tissues of the prostate, most often it 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;
- trauma to the pelvic region.
Most often, prostatitis develops after the infection enters 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, if it happened as a response of the body to stress, constant fatigue, nervous exhaustion, emotional "explosions".
Men should have a regular sex life and their lifestyle should be active. Otherwise, stagnation of secretion occurs in the tissues of the prostate, which is an ideal environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms - prostatitis develops quickly. Inevitably, prostate cells are starved of oxygen, which only increases the chances that the prostatitis will go beyond the organ - inflammation will also affect nearby organs.
Types of prostatitis in men, features of the course
Depending on the cause of origin, there are several types of prostatitis:
- bacterial prostatitis - it begins against the background of penetration into the tissues of the prostate infection, the diagnosis of this type of prostatitis occurs more often in both young and older men;
- congestive prostatitis - caused by a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sexual activity in men and lesions of the small pelvis, often accompanied by infection, then prostatitis becomes a mixed type;
- calculous prostatitis - develops as a result of an untreated chronic form of the course of the disease, most often this prostatitis occurs in elderly men.
According to the form of 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, as prostatitis occurs with severe symptoms. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a "slow" clinical course, periodic remissions, complete absence of specific symptoms and a rapid transformation into serious problems - the degeneration of healthy prostate cells into malignant ones, the cessation of secretion production and the decrease in sperm. secretion.
Symptoms and diagnosis of prostate inflammation
Symptoms directly depend on which type of prostatitis begins to develop in the prostate tissues:
- bacterial prostatitis - high body temperature, presence of blood or pus in the urine, problems with urination (thin and weak stream, production of "dripping" urine), sharp pain in the perineum, poor general health;
- calculous prostatitis - a weak erection or its complete absence, blood in the urine, these symptoms of prostatitis are more present in men aged 50 years and older;
- congestive prostatitis - discomfort in the perineum and testicles, partial or complete lack of erection, inadequate urination.
Prostatitis of the chronic form of the course is characterized by a "blurry" clinical picture, all symptoms are not expressed and can periodically disturb. But if men develop groin and testicle pain within 2-3 months, their overall body temperature rises, and their sex drive decreases, it means that you need to see a doctor, confirm the diagnosis of "chronic prostatitis" and undergo to treatment. It is worth knowing the following nuances:
- the symptoms of prostatitis in men at age 50 are a weakening of the erection and a feeling of heaviness in the groin, but the pain syndrome may be completely absent;
- symptoms of prostatitis in men in their 30s are always acute, and the first sign is a violation of urination: an enlarged prostate compresses the bladder, and men simply cannot go to the bathroom;
- symptoms of prostatitis in men at age 60 may be absent - at this age, prostatitis is usually chronic, but complete lack of erection can be worrisome.
The doctor will be able to prescribe effective treatment only after diagnosis of 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, they are prescribed:
- rectal examination;
- laboratory study of prostatic secretion;
- analysis for detection/refutation of sexually transmitted infections;
- ultrasound examination of the prostate;
- computed tomography of organs.
As additional tests, ultrasound examinations of the pelvic organs and scrotum may be prescribed. It may be necessary to involve narrow specialists to exclude or confirm concomitant diseases.
Treatment - general principles, duration of the course
The symptoms of prostatitis in a man and its treatment are directly related, since when prescribing therapy, the doctor must first of all alleviate the general condition of the patient. In men, severe pain is often present, which means treatment must begin with painkillers. How to treat prostatitis is determined by a urologist or andrologist, and the following drugs will be prescribed most often:
- 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;
- supporting prostate functionality and alpha-blockers.
Is lack of erection treated in the context of prostatitis? Yes, with these complaints, the doctor prescribes specific drugs that improve the blood supply to the penis and cleanse the prostate vessels of toxins and toxins. If the symptoms of prostatitis are detected in men over 40 years old, then no additional drugs are needed to restore the erection - as soon as the inflammatory process stops, all sexual abilities will be restored. But if venereal diseases (sexually transmitted infections) have become the cause of prostatitis in men in their 30s, further treatment will be needed and the infection identified to restore sexual activity.
The best treatment is complex and therefore, to stop prostatitis as soon as possible, you need to follow some medical recommendations:
- consume at least 2 liters of fluid a day - prostatitis is characterized by stagnation of the secret, and it will be necessary to quickly remove it from the tissues to reduce the load on the organ and reduce swelling;
- adhere to bed rest - treatment cannot be combined with physical activity, because it will irritate the organ, prostatitis will only progress, which will make the treatment long and ineffective;
- exclude from the diet spicy, sour, fatty foods, alcohol - these are also irritants, in which prostatitis will only get worse.
As soon as the signs of the disease become less pronounced, it will be necessary to restore sexual activity. Prostatitis will be cured much faster if regular drainage of the prostate 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 chronically with frequent relapses, then this is a reason to carry out a surgical intervention. The operation can be of two types:
- transurethral resection - the surgeon removes the prostate tissue affected by prostatitis;
- prostatectomy - prostatitis poses a real danger to a man's life, so he is completely removed both from the prostate and from the seminal vesicles with adjacent tissues.
Operations are not carried out at an early age, because this can lead to complete infertility - prostatitis is treated with therapeutic methods, in addition to drugs, physiotherapy procedures can be prescribed. How much prostatitis will be treated depends on the stage and form of the disease, the degree of neglect. Typically, treatment lasts for 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 the time of the onset of complications closer.