Prostatitis is a disease related to inflammation of the prostate gland. It can develop in men of any age, either chronically or acutely. There are problems in the diagnosis, so patients often seek medical help when prostatitis is severe and traditional treatment has not helped. The danger lies in the high probability of prostate cancer and complete infertility.
If prostatitis is diagnosed in time, the treatment only lasts for 2 weeks, after which the man only needs to follow the doctor's recommendations and have regular check-ups. In this case, there will be no complications after prostatitis - fertility is completely preserved, even if prostatitis progresses 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. Their peculiarity lies in their very rapid reproduction and rapid destruction of the tissues of the prostate gland. The main causes of the disease are:
- any inflammatory diseases of the urinary system - cystitis, pyelonephritis, urethritis;
- chronic stool disorders - especially constipation, in which men need to push hard and prostatitis develops as an organ 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 related to the features of labor activity;
- lack of regular sexual activity, male failure - prostatitis causes a stagnation of secretion in the tissues of the prostate gland, 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 gland;
- trauma to the pelvic region.
Typically, prostatitis develops after the infection enters prostate tissue through the urethra, less often it occurs through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. Prostatitis has a very important provoking factor - a general weakening of the immune system, if it occurs as the body's response to stress, constant fatigue, nervous exhaustion, emotional"outbreak".
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, prostate cells become starved of oxygen, which only increases the likelihood that prostatitis will travel outside the organ - the inflammation will also affect nearby organs.
Types of prostatitis in men, course characteristics
Depending on the underlying cause, there are several types of prostatitis:
- bacterial prostatitis - begins against the background of penetration into the tissues of prostate infection, the diagnosis of this type of prostatitis occurs more often in young and older men;
- congestive prostatitis - due to a sedentary lifestyle, lack of regular sexual activity in men and minor pelvic trauma, often accompanied by infection, and then prostatitis becomes a mixed type;
- chronic prostatitis - develops due to an untreated chronic form of the disease, such prostatitis occurs more often in elderly men.
According to the form of the course, prostatitis is divided into acute and chronic. The diagnosis of the acute form of the disease is rare and should only be treated in a hospital, because prostatitis occurs with severe symptoms. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a "sluggish" clinical picture, periodic remission, complete absence of specific symptoms, and rapid transformation into serious problems - degeneration of the prostate gland. healthy prostate cells become malignant, stop producing and reduce sperm. excrete.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Prostatitis
Symptoms directly depend on the type of prostatitis that begins to develop in the tissues of the prostate gland:
- bacterial prostatitis--high body temperature, blood or pus in the urine, problems with urination (thin and weak stream, "drip" urine output), acute pain in the perineum, poor general health;
- prostatitis - weak or completely absent erection, bloody urine, such symptoms of prostatitis often appear in men 50 years of age and older;
- congestive prostatitis - discomfort in the perineum and testicles, partial or complete lack of erection, improper urination.
Prostatitis of the chronic form of the course is characterized by a "fuzzy" clinical picture, all symptoms are not manifested and can be cyclically disturbed. But if a man has pain in his groin and testicles for 2-3 months, his overall body temperature rises, and his sex drive decreases, this means you need to see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis of "inflammation. "chronic prostate" and proceed with treatment. It is necessary to know the following nuances:
- symptoms of prostatitis in 50-year-old men are weak erections and a feeling of heaviness in the groin, but pain syndrome may be completely absent;
- The 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 cannot go to the bathroom;
- Symptoms of prostatitis in men in their 60s may be absent - at this age, prostatitis is often chronic, but not having a complete erection can be frustrating.
The doctor will appoint effective treatment after diagnosing the disease - prostatitis often has symptoms of other diseases of the genitourinary system. Therefore, the patient's complaints are not enough to make a diagnosis, the following are prescribed:
- Rectal examination;
- laboratory studies of the secretion of the prostate gland;
- analysis to detect/refute sexually transmitted diseases;
- ultrasound examination of the prostate gland;
- computerized tomography of organs.
As additional examination, ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs and scrotum may be indicated. Narrow specialists may be required to rule out or confirm comorbidities.
Treatment - general principles, course duration
The symptoms of prostatitis in a man and his treatment are directly related, because when prescribing treatment, the doctor must first of all alleviate the general condition of the patient. In men, severe pain often occurs, which means that pain medication should be started. The treatment for prostatitis is determined by a urologist or a gynecologist, and the following medications are commonly 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;
- Supports prostate function and alpha blockers.
Can the lack of erection be treated against the background of prostatitis? Well, with such complaints, the doctor prescribes specific drugs that improve the blood supply to the penis and clean the vessels of the prostate gland from toxins and toxins. If symptoms of prostatitis are detected in a 40-year-old man, no additional medications will be needed to restore an erection - as soon as the inflammation stops, all possibilitiessex will be restored. But if a venereal disease (sexually transmitted infection) becomes the cause of prostatitis in a 30-year-old man, then additional treatment and identification of the infection are necessary to restore sexual activity. sex.
The best treatment is complex and therefore, in order to end prostatitis as quickly as possible, you need to follow several recommendations of your doctor:
- consume at least 2 liters of fluid per day - prostatitis is characterized by stagnation of bile and the need to quickly remove it from tissues in order to reduce the load on the organ and reduce swelling;
- compliance with bed rest - treatment cannot be combined with physical activity, as they will irritate the internal organs, prostatitis only progresses, making treatment prolonged and ineffective;
- exclude from the diet spicy, sour, fatty foods, alcohol - these are also irritants that only aggravate prostatitis.
As soon as the symptoms of the disease subside, it is essential to restore sexual activity. Prostatitis will be cured much faster if regular drainage of the prostate gland is ensured and no stagnation of secretions occurs in the tissues of the prostate.
If drug treatment does not give satisfactory results, prostatitis occurs in a chronic form, with frequent recurrences, this is the reason for performing surgical intervention. Activities can be of two types:
- transurethral resection - the surgeon removes prostate tissue affected by prostatitis;
- Prostatectomy - prostatitis is really life-threatening for a man, so he has his prostate and seminal vesicles completely removed along with nearby tissues.
Do not perform surgery at a young age, as this can lead to complete infertility. How much money to treat prostatitis depends on the stage and type of disease, the degree of neglect. Usually the course of treatment lasts 2 weeks, but this number is very average.
Prostatitis can be completely cured, as long as it is timely consulted by a doctor. Treatment should be indicated individually, alternative methods will not completely stop prostatitis, but they can bring the time of onset of complications closer.