prostatitis

Prostatitis is today a leader in the group of male diseases that are transmitted primarily through sexual contact. Its complications threaten infertility, reduced libido and impotence.

Symptoms of prostatitis are not only pain, urination disorders and inflammation of the spermatic cord. The most dangerous consequence of advanced inflammation can be cancerous degeneration of the prostate gland. While a timely diagnosed pathological process is easily stopped.

Causes of inflammation

The risk of developing inflammation of the prostate increases due to various factors predisposing to the disease:

• Hypothermia, one-time or related to the nature of outdoor work.
• A sedentary lifestyle leads to disruption of the functioning of the digestive system.
• Chronic somatic diseases (diabetes, hypertension).
• Foci of focal, perifocal infection (rhinitis, tonsillitis, stomatitis, gastritis).
• Resistant UGI (chlamydia, trichomoniasis, herpes virus).
• Stress, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Reduced immunity due to previous illness, surgery, emotional stress.
• Bad habits leading to the development of intoxication: alcohol, smoking, strong coffee.
• Occupational injuries of the perineum of car drivers, athletes, workers in hazardous industries.
• Promiscuous sex life, interrupted intercourse, lack of sensual intercourse with incomplete ejaculation, prolonged lack of intimacy (low need for sperm leads to stagnation of the gland).
• Venereal diseases.

Despite a fairly large number of provocative moments, the essence of prostatitis is the appearance of stagnation inside the organ against the background of impaired blood circulation and lymph outflow.

Classification

In modern urology, there is no uniform classification of the disease. However, medical practitioners prefer this option for classifying the inflammatory process in the prostate:

According to the course of the disease:

• Acute prostatitis. It accounts for more than 50% of cases of the disease in people aged no more than 30-35 years.
• Chronic variant. It is considered a non-age category. It does not manifest itself for a long time, the impetus for its development is a cold or an infection.

Due to the reason that caused the pathology:

• Bacterial inflammation of the prostate gland, prevalent in men under 40 years of age, occurs against the background of ultrasound and does not go beyond the boundaries of the organ.
• Non-bacterial pathological changes in the gland, mostly chronic.
• Viral inflammation of the prostate is characterized by an acute course that affects the entire genital area.

According to the nature of the structural changes in the prostate gland:

• Fibrous prostatitis is characterized by rapid irreversible growth of the gland and requires radical intervention. Clinically it resembles a prostatic adenoma.
• Calculous inflammation of the prostate gland occurs due to the formation of stones in the prostate. It is considered a harbinger of cancer.
• Congestive prostatitis, the result of a sedentary lifestyle, is diagnosed in every second patient.

Signs of the disease

If a person finds at least two of the following symptoms of prostatitis, he should immediately contact a qualified specialist:

• Disturbance of micturition, with an intermittent, feeble stream of urine, unusually short, causing splashing, difficulty, and pain before micturition. The frequent urge to empty the bladder occurs mostly at night.
• Pain that is localized in the lower abdomen, radiates to the scrotum, perineum and rectum.
• Sexual dysfunction.
• Problems with ejaculation, changes in semen (consistency, quantity).

Acute prostatitis

The disease begins with a sharp rise in temperature (up to 40 degrees), painful headache and fever. The symptoms that appear are accompanied by pain in the groin, perineum, back, discharge from the urethra, frequent urination and a constant urge to urinate.

Bladder emptying occurs with a delay and a burning sensation. The urine itself becomes cloudy and may contain blood. Irritability and fatigue appear.

The result of acute prostatitis can be a complete disappearance of the process (if treatment is started in a timely manner). Since changes occur in many pelvic organs, they cannot be left to chance, otherwise the corresponding complications will arise:

• Vesiculitis is an inflammation of the seminal vesicles, the cause of the appearance of pus in the seminal fluid, which not only reduces the quality of the ejaculate, but also leads to loss of reproductive function.
• Coliculitis - inflammatory changes in seminal tuberculosis cause the development of severe pain during sex, interruption of orgasm and impotence of a psychological nature.
• The formation of an abscess in the body of the prostate, its rupture and purulent damage to the rectum leads to exacerbation of symptoms, severe intoxication of the body, even death.
• Stagnation in the tissues of the prostate leads to changes in their structure, disruption of innervation, blood supply, both to the gland itself and to nearby organs, with disruption of their functions. The erection becomes insufficient for full intercourse, premature ejaculation and prolonged intercourse without orgasm are observed.
• Scarring changes in the gland and spermatic cord lead to infertility, reduced sperm quality and sperm motility. Narrowing of the urethra interferes with the normal process of urination; Bladder obstruction can cause acute urinary retention, requiring emergency surgery.

Chronic prostatitis

The main feature of the disease is the vagueness of the clinical symptoms with a long, persistent course of the process. More often, the chronic form occurs independently, as a primary pathology against the background of blood stagnation in the vessels (prostatosis), abacterial prostatitis.

The main symptoms of chronic prostatitis are:

• fever;
• pain occurs in the scrotum, perineum, anus, back;
• urination disorder;
• mucous or mucopurulent discharge from the rectum, urethra, even in the absence of urination or defecation;
• erectile dysfunction, painful ejaculation, interrupted intercourse, prolonged intercourse without a feeling of satisfaction.

Inaction and improper treatment of chronic prostatitis can cause complications:

• Infertility results from chronic inflammation of the spermatic cord, vesicles, testicles and their appendages.
• Cystitis, pyelonephritis (other diseases of the genitourinary system) are a consequence of hematogenous and mechanical spread of microbes.
• sepsis.
• Permanent decrease in immunity.
• Untreated prostatitis can cause cancer in 35-40% of cases.

Diagnosis

The clinical picture of the disease is typical, so the diagnosis is not difficult. It is performed by a urologist on the basis of anamnesis, examination of the patient, laboratory minimum with the help of state-of-the-art medical equipment:

• Rectal examination of the gland, collection of secretions for examination (culture with determination of sensitivity to antibiotics).
• UAC, UAM, urine bacterial culture.
• Cytosmear for STD, UGI review.
• Daily monitoring of urination rhythm, measurement of urination rate (uroflowmetry).
• Ultrasound or TRUS is performed for differential diagnosis.
• If it is necessary to exclude oncology, a biopsy is taken, urography is performed and PSA - prostate specific antigen is determined.
• To diagnose infertility, a spermogram is prescribed - an analysis of the ejaculate to determine a man's fertility.

Based on the results of the patient's examination, an individual scheme for the complex treatment of prostatitis is drawn up. When prescribing drugs, the form of the pathology and the presence of concomitant diseases are taken into account. The decision where to carry out the therapy (inpatient or outpatient) is made by the doctor. The course of treatment is carried out with careful laboratory monitoring of the results.

One of the most modern centers for the treatment of prostatitis is a specialized clinic. Since the problem of infertility is closely related to inflammatory urological diseases, medical professionals pay a lot of attention to this problem.

In the clinics, each patient has the opportunity to undergo a full cycle of special examinations, receive psychological support, be treated with the latest generation of drugs used in this field, and get acquainted with the latest methods of treating prostate inflammation. Last but not least in the complex therapy of prostatitis is the question of the effective rehabilitation of patients, clinical monitoring and prevention.

Treatment of acute prostatitis

Acute prostatitis requires bed rest, a special salt-free diet and sexual rest.

Course treatment methods:

• The most effective treatment for prostatitis is etiotropic therapy. If the underlying cause of prostatitis is an infection, a course of antimicrobial agents is a priority, which relieves the manifestations of inflammation.
• The pain syndrome is relieved with analgesics, antispasmodics, rectal suppositories, micro-enemas with warm solutions of pain relievers. NSAIDs may be used.
• Immunostimulants, immunomodulators, enzymes, vitamin complexes and a combination of trace elements have proven their effectiveness.
• Physiotherapy methods are possible only in the subacute stage of the disease. They improve microcirculation, increase immunity: UHF, microwave oven, electrophoresis, laser, magnetic therapy.
• Massage is another effective method of affecting the prostate. Opens the channels, normalizes blood circulation in the scrotum and pelvis.
• Acute renal filtrate retention can be corrected by catheterization and trocar cystostomy.
• The purulent process involves surgical intervention.
• Consultations with a psychologist.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

With long-term, course (at least one month) impact on the prostate, there is no 100% guarantee of cure. Priority is given to herbal medicines, immunocorrection, change of daily habits:

• Herbal preparations are widely used in urological practice. They are able to accumulate at the site of the most active pathological process, protect cells from oxidation, remove free radicals and prevent the proliferation of glandular tissue.
• Antibacterial therapy is selected individually, based on the sensitivity of microbes to drugs.
• Medicines that increase immunity not only help to cope with prostatitis, but also correct the negative effects of antibiotics that disrupt the function of the immune system.
• The pain syndrome is relieved by the administration of alpha-blockers and muscle relaxants.
• Prostate massage allows you to mechanically remove the "extra" secretion of the gland through the urethra, improve blood circulation and minimize congestion.
• Physiotherapy: laser, magnet, ultrasound, iontophoresis, warm sitz baths or micro enemas with herbs.
• In severe cases, intravenous fluids with diuretics are indicated. This stimulates the copious excretion of urine, prevents the symptoms of intoxication, the development of ascending cystitis and pyelonephritis.
• Herbal laxatives are used for constipation.
• Together with the patient, the urologist and the psychologist develop an individual long-term program for daily routine, necessary rest, diet, dosed physical activity and sexual activity.
• If the chronic process is resistant to therapy and the outflow of urine is blocked, surgical intervention is prescribed: removal of all affected tissue (transurethral resection of the prostate) or complete removal of the gland with surrounding tissue (prostatectomy). It is practiced in exceptional cases, it is fraught with impotence and urinary incontinence. Young people do not undergo surgery because it can cause infertility.

Prevention

To prevent the appearance of a disease that is unpleasant for men, you need to eliminate the provoking factors and follow simple rules:

• Lead a healthy lifestyle, give up bad habits.
• Don't get too cold.
• Drink at least 1. 5-2 liters of water per day.
• Strengthen your immune system, walk a lot, toughen up.
• Engage in physical education and sports, visit fitness clubs.
• Avoid stressful situations.
• Practice a regular sex life with a regular partner.
• See a urologist regularly.

Questions and answers on the topic

What is prostatitis and how to recognize it?

Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland that can cause pain in the lower abdomen and problems with urination. A frequent urge to go to the toilet, especially at night, or pain when urinating can be signs of prostatitis.

Why does prostatitis occur?

Prostatitis can occur due to an infection, a cold, stress or even a sedentary lifestyle. Sometimes it develops after a disease of the genitourinary system.

Is it possible to completely cure prostatitis?

Acute prostatitis can be completely cured with appropriate treatment. Treatment of chronic forms takes more time, but the right approach will help reduce symptoms and prevent exacerbations.

How is prostatitis treated?

Treatment includes antibiotics (if the cause is infection), anti-inflammatory drugs, prostate massage, and physical therapy. The doctor will choose the best method of treatment depending on your situation.

Can I do sports with prostatitis?

Light exercise such as walking or swimming is helpful. Heavy physical exertion can worsen the condition, so it is important to consult a doctor.

How to protect yourself from prostatitis?

For prevention, you should lead an active lifestyle, avoid hypothermia, monitor the health of the genitourinary system and promptly treat infections. It is also important to avoid stress and eat healthy.

Should I see a doctor if the symptoms go away on their own?

Yes, even if the symptoms temporarily subside, it is important to see a doctor. Untreated prostatitis can lead to complications that worsen your health in the future.

Questions and answers on the topic

Is it possible to completely cure prostatitis?

Acute prostatitis can be completely cured with timely treatment. Chronic prostatitis may require long-term therapy to control symptoms, but with the right approach, symptoms can be minimized and the patient's quality of life greatly improved.

Can I do sports if I have prostatitis?

Light exercise such as walking, swimming or yoga can be helpful for prostatitis. However, it is best to avoid vigorous exercise and strength training, especially during a flare-up. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting to exercise.

Does prostatitis affect fertility?

Prostatitis can temporarily reduce fertility because inflammation of the prostate gland can affect sperm quality. After successful treatment of prostatitis, fertility is usually restored.

Do I have to follow a special diet for prostatitis?

Yes, if you have prostatitis, it is advisable to avoid spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine and fatty foods, as these can increase inflammation. It is useful to eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and drink enough water.

Can prostatitis go away on its own?

Prostatitis does not go away on its own and requires treatment. Without proper treatment, symptoms can worsen, leading to complications. If symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor.

How long does prostatitis treatment take?

The duration of treatment depends on the form of prostatitis. Acute prostatitis usually heals within a few weeks, while chronic prostatitis may require longer treatment, which may take months.

How to prevent the recurrence of prostatitis?

To prevent relapses, it is important to follow the doctor's recommendations, lead an active lifestyle, avoid hypothermia, eat right and undergo regular medical examinations.