Prostatitis is a disease associated with inflammation of the prostate gland. It can develop in men of any age, take a chronic or acute course. There are problems in diagnosis, so 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, the 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 capabilities are fully preserved, even if prostatitis occurred 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 need to bear down forcefully and prostatitis develops as an organic response 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 - may be associated with the characteristics of labor activity;
- lack of regular sexual activity, hypodynamia - prostatitis causes stagnation of secretion in the tissues of the prostate gland, 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 exerts strong pressure on the prostate gland;
- Trauma in the pelvic area.
Most of the time, prostatitis develops after the infection enters the prostate tissue through the urethra, much less often through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Prostatitis has a very important provoking factor - a general weakening of the immune system, if it occurred as a response of the body to stress, constant fatigue, nervous exhaustion, emotional "outbursts".
Men should have a regular sex life and their lifestyle should be active. Otherwise, stagnation of secretion occurs in the tissues of the prostate gland, which is an ideal environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms - prostatitis develops rapidly. Inevitably, the cells of the prostate experience a lack of oxygen, which only increases the chances that the prostatitis will go beyond the organ; the 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 - begins against the background of penetration into the tissues of the prostate infection, the diagnosis of this type of prostatitis most often occurs 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 infection, and then prostatitis develops into 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 older 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, since prostatitis occurs with severe symptoms. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a "slow" clinical picture, periodic remissions, complete absence of specific symptoms, and rapid transformation into serious problems: the degeneration of healthy prostate cells into malignant cells, the cessation of secretion production, and a decrease of the sperm. secretion.
Symptoms and diagnosis of inflammation of the prostate gland.
Symptoms directly depend on what kind of prostatitis begins to develop in the tissues of the prostate gland:
- bacterial prostatitis--high body temperature, blood or pus in the urine, trouble urinating (thin, weak stream, "dribbling" urine), sharp pain in the perineum, general poor health;
- calculous prostatitis - a weak erection or its complete absence, blood in the urine, such symptoms of prostatitis most often occur 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 "fuzzy" clinical picture, all symptoms are not expressed and can periodically bother. But if men develop pain in the groin and testicles within 2-3 months, the general body temperature rises, and sexual desire decreases, this means that you should see a doctor, confirm the diagnosis of "chronic prostatitis" and undergo to treatment. It is worth knowing the following nuances:
- symptoms of prostatitis in men at the age of 50 years 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 at the age of 30 are always acute, and the first sign is a violation of urination - an enlarged prostate gland compresses the bladder, and men simply cannot go to the toilet;
- symptoms of prostatitis in men at the age of 60 years may be absent; At this age, prostatitis is usually chronic, but the complete lack of an erection can be disturbing.
The doctor will be able to 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 exam;
- laboratory study of prostatic secretion;
- tests for the detection/refutation of sexually transmitted infections;
- ultrasound examination of the prostate;
- computed tomography of organs.
As additional examinations, ultrasound examinations of the pelvic organs and scrotum may be prescribed. Involvement of limited specialists may be necessary to exclude or confirm comorbidities.
Treatment - general principles, duration of the course
The symptoms of prostatitis in a man and his treatment are directly related, because 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 should begin with pain relievers. A urologist or andrologist determines how to treat prostatitis, and the following medications will most often be prescribed:
- 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 the functionality of the prostate and alpha blockers.
Is the lack of erection treated in the context of prostatitis? Yes, with such complaints, the doctor prescribes specific drugs that improve the blood supply to the penis and cleanse the vessels of the prostate gland from toxins and toxins. If the symptoms of prostatitis are detected in men over 40 years of age, then additional drugs will not be 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) became the cause of prostatitis in 30-year-old men, further treatment and identified infection will be necessary to restore sexual activity.
The best treatment is complex, and therefore, in order to stop prostatitis as quickly as possible, you need to follow some medical recommendations:
- 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;
- adhere to bed rest - treatment can not be combined with physical activity, because they will irritate the organ, prostatitis will only progress, making treatment long and ineffective;
- exclude from the diet spicy, acidic and fatty foods, alcohol; these are also irritants, in which the 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 heal 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 perform surgical intervention. The operation can be of two types:
- transurethral resection - the surgeon removes the prostate tissue affected by prostatitis;
- prostatectomy - prostatitis represents a real danger to a man's life, so both the prostate and the seminal vesicles with adjacent tissues are completely removed.
Operations are not performed at a young age, as this can lead to complete infertility - prostatitis is treated with therapeutic methods, in addition to drugs, physiotherapy procedures can be prescribed. The amount of prostatitis to be treated depends on the stage and form of the disease, the degree of neglect. Usually the treatment lasts 2 weeks, but this figure 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 not help to stop prostatitis at all, but may bring the time of the onset of complications closer.