Prostatitis in men

What kind of disease is prostatitis and what are the first symptoms it causes, every man should know.Prostatitis is a common urological pathology in which inflammatory processes progress in the prostate.The disease is mainly diagnosed in men aged 35 to 40.Predisposing factors that contribute to the occurrence of the disease are reduced immunity, an inactive lifestyle, abuse of bad habits and poor diet.The diagnosis and treatment of the pathology is carried out by a doctor called a urologist.It is with him that you should make an appointment for a consultation if you are concerned about characteristic symptoms.It is important for every man to remember that the earlier the disease is diagnosed and its treatment started, the greater the chances of complete recovery.Failure to treat promptly can lead to serious consequences, including male infertility and prostate cancer.

The essence of pathology

Inflammation of the prostate is called prostatitis.The prostate is a male organ responsible for producing secretions that maintain normal sperm activity.In most cases, the disease is infectious in nature.Infection can occur through the urethra, blood or lymph flow, when the infection spreads throughout the body from distant foci of inflammation.Microorganisms that can cause an inflammatory complication:

• coli;
• staphylococci;
• enterococci;
• proteas;
• Klebsiella, etc.

All these microscopic organisms constitute an opportunistic microflora whose active life is suppressed by the human immune system.But as soon as the immune system is weakened, under the influence of predisposing factors, the infection becomes more active, causing inflammation of the glandular tissues.

Depending on the nature of the course, the following forms of prostatitis are distinguished:

• acute;
• chronic.

Acute is characterized by pronounced symptoms;by seeking medical help quickly, it can be successfully cured.The chronic type of pathology results from inadequate or untimely treatment of the acute form.The disease is characterized by recurrent infection, which manifests itself with vague symptoms.Chronic prostatitis cannot be completely cured, but correctly selected treatment and preventive measures help to prolong remission.

Reasons

The main causes of prostatitis are decreased immunity and untreated urological and venereal infections.Inflammation often occurs against the background of a bacterial infection, which, with the proper functioning of the immune system, is in a latent state.But as soon as the immune system weakens, pathogens become more active, causing inflammation of the prostate tissue.

What causes prostatitis:

• Hypothermia.Hypothermia causes stress in the body, promotes vasospasm, poor circulation and decreased immunity.
• Inactive lifestyle.With a sedentary lifestyle, the blood supply to the pelvic organs deteriorates, which leads to stagnation and the development of inflammation in them.
• Chronic constipation.Hardened feces, which remain in the intestines for a long time, put pressure on the gland, disrupting microcirculation.This creates favorable conditions for the life of pathogenic microflora.
• Injuries.Traumatic lesions of the prostate contribute to a deterioration of blood flow and a decrease in local immunity.
• Excess body weight.Overweight people move little, which leads to poor blood circulation in their internal organs.Stagnant processes lead to swelling and inflammation of the prostate tissue.
• Disruption of the rhythm of sexual activity.Prostatitis can be caused by both an overly active sex life and prolonged abstinence.
• The presence of chronic pathologies.Any source of chronic infection can be potentially dangerous for the prostate and cause inflammation.
• Conditions that contribute to suppression of the immune system.The general condition of the body is negatively affected by chronic stress, overwork, regular lack of sleep and physical overload.

Types of prostatitis

The symptoms of prostatitis depend on its type and the nature of its course.There are several types of diseases, each with its own characteristics.

Bacterial

The main cause is a bacterial infection that develops against the background of weakened immunity.Bacterial prostatitis occurs:

• spicy;
• chronic.

In acute cases, pronounced prostatitis syndromes are of concern:

• a sharp increase in temperature;
• urinary disorders;
• pain, discomfort in the perineum;
• purulent and bloody inclusions in urine;
• deterioration of general health.

In a chronic course, the symptoms are vague and appear weakly.But in case of relapse, the intensity of the symptoms resembles an acute process.

Calculous

This type of pathology is mainly diagnosed in men over 55 years old.An inflammatory complication develops against the background of the formation of stones in the prostate tissue.Most often, stones are formed due to improper treatment of chronic prostatitis.Another common cause is untreated urolithiasis.

Characteristic signs of calculous prostatitis:

• urinary disorders;
• hematuria;
• weakening of the erection.

Stagnant

It develops against the background of chronic prostatitis and is associated with impaired microcirculation in the pelvic organs.Also, the stagnant form can occur with a long absence of sexual intercourse, which leads to stagnation of secretions in the gland.

Characteristic symptoms of congestive prostatitis:

• urination problems;
• discomfort in the groin and testicles;
• erectile dysfunction.

Purulent

Purulent prostatitis develops against the background of an acute form of the disease, the treatment of which is incorrect or completely absent.The pathology is characterized by a significant increase in body temperature, impaired urination, the presence of purulent inclusions in the urine and sharp pain in the groin and perineum.If treatment is not started immediately, there is a high probability of developing an abscess and blood poisoning, which can lead to the death of the patient.

Symptoms

The symptoms and treatment of prostatitis depend on the stage of its progression:

• Catarrhal.At this stage, the patient complains of frequent urination, pain when going to the toilet, and discomfort in the perineum during physical activity.
• Follicular.The painful symptom becomes more pronounced, bothers you even at rest and can radiate to the lower abdomen or lower back.The process of urination is disrupted, fluid flows out in a thin stream, and sometimes urinary retention occurs.
• Parenchymal.An advanced stage, during which general intoxication of the body develops, body temperature rises significantly, unbearable pain in the perineum occurs, and problems with urination become more pronounced.

Pain syndrome

There are no pain receptors in the prostate, but the pain is due to an increase in the size of the gland and irritation of nearby nerve fibers.The more advanced the disease, the more intense the pain that worries the person.The pain syndrome may change in intensity with sexual abstinence or increased sexual activity.The discomfort spreads to the lower abdomen, lumbar region, perineum and scrotum.

Dysuric syndrome

When inflamed, the prostate increases in size and begins to put pressure on the ureters, which is why their lumen gradually decreases.The patient begins to be bothered by frequent urination, and after going to the toilet there remains a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.

Sexual deviations

In the early stages of development of pathology, a man may be bothered by frequent erections or, conversely, a lack of sexual arousal.Accelerated ejaculation is explained by a reduction in the sensitivity threshold of the center of excitation.If treatment of prostatitis is not started in the early stages, complications develop and lead to impotence and infertility.

Diagnosis

If you experience characteristic symptoms, you should consult a doctor.Diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis is carried out by a urologist.It is with him that a man should make a first date.During the examination, the doctor will ask about worrying symptoms, complaints, collect anamnesis and conduct a rectal examination of the prostate.To confirm the diagnosis, the urologist will refer you for additional diagnostic examination, including the following procedures:

• clinical blood and urine tests;
• PCR research;
• urine flowmetry;
• examination of glandular secretions;
• Ultrasound of the prostate;
• CT or MRI.

Treatment

The treatment regimen is determined taking into account the nature of the course and the degree of neglect of the pathology.If the patient's condition is serious, the doctor decides on hospitalization.Otherwise, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis.The patient must strictly follow the urologist's instructions, adhere to the treatment plan and not self-medicate.

Drug therapy

Antibiotics will help stop the inflammatory process and destroy the pathogenic microflora.If prostatitis is caused by viruses or fungi, the antibacterial treatment regimen is supplemented with appropriate groups of drugs.

To eliminate pathological symptoms, the following groups of drugs are also prescribed:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• pain relievers;
• muscle relaxers;
• antispasmodics;
• alpha-blockers;
• diuretics;
• drugs that normalize prostate function.

If a man complains of potency problems and sexual dysfunction, the doctor prescribes drugs that stimulate blood circulation in the penis and restore erection.

Maintenance therapy

The effect of drug treatment will be enhanced by supporting measures, including the following rules:

• Drink the required amount of fluid - at least 1.5-2 liters per day.
• Maintain bed rest.
• Hot therapeutic baths.
• Follow a gentle diet, during which salty, spicy, fatty foods, alcohol, coffee and sour drinks are excluded from the diet.

The patient's condition is favorably influenced by a regular sex life, which ensures drainage of the prostate and avoids stagnation of secretions.

Surgery

If conservative treatment does not bring the desired effect, the doctor decides to carry out surgical intervention.In modern urology, the following surgical methods for treating prostatitis are practiced:

• Transurethral resection (TUR).During the operation, the surgeon removes all the affected glandular tissue.
• Prostatectomy.Involves the removal of the prostate, adjacent tissues and seminal vesicles.

Surgery is not performed on young men because any operation can cause infertility.

Folk remedies

In addition to complex drug therapy, alternative medicines can be used.The treatment regimen must be agreed with the doctor.Self-medication is unacceptable.

To combat inflammation and worrying symptoms, medicinal herbs rich in beneficial substances and elements with a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect are used.On the basis of medicinal herbs, infusions, tinctures and decoctions are prepared, which can be taken orally, made into compresses and lotions and added to the bath.

The following herbs are used to treat prostatitis:

• sage;
• calendula;
• chamomile;
• licorice;
• yarrow;
• nettle;
• parsley;
• St. John's wort;
• bearberry;
• rosemary;
• knapweed;
• ginseng;
• sweet clover;
• chestnut.

For chronic prostatitis, bee propolis is widely used, famous for its anti-inflammatory properties and analgesic effect.Adherents of alternative medicine advise making suppositories based on propolis, which are inserted into the rectum.The recipe is:

1. Grind 20 g of propolis into powder.
2. Mix the main component with 200 ml of alcohol and evaporate over low heat.
3. Add 2 g of cocoa butter to the resulting mass.
4. Form a candle from the finished composition.
5. The product is inserted into the rectum overnight.The treatment is carried out as a cure and lasts 1 month.

Consequences

Lack of proper treatment or self-medication can lead to serious health problems.The spread of infection leads to the development of negative consequences such as:

• cystitis;
• pyelonephritis;
• vesiculitis;
• colliculitis and urethritis;
• epididymitis;
• sclerosis of the prostate.

Against the background of such complications, erectile and psychological disorders arise.In severe cases, the disease can progress to the stage of chronic calculous prostatitis, causing an abscess and other life-threatening complications.Frequent relapses often provoke the development of male infertility, adenoma and even prostate cancer.

Prevention

Preventing prostatitis is much easier than fighting the disease and its consequences.The following simple and affordable preventive measures will help prevent prostate inflammation or prolong remission in chronic form:

• active lifestyle;
• control of proper nutrition and water regime;
• eliminate bad habits;
• elimination of stress factors;
• hardening;
• maintain basic personal hygiene;
• normalization of body weight;
• prompt and adequate treatment of infectious pathologies;
• regular, quality and protected sex;
• annual preventive visits to the urologist.