Prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate gland - can manifest itself in acute and chronic forms.
It is difficult to ignore acute inflammation: the signs are clearly expressed, which cannot be said about the chronic manifestations of this disease.It iswithout symptoms, but it does its job "brilliantly", damaging organ tissue, reducing its function.
About chronic prostatitis: types and characteristics
Prostate inflammation is considered chronic,if the sluggish symptoms persist for more than 3 months.
According to statistics, only 5% of cases are acute, the remaining 95% are chronic prostatitis.It affects men of reproductive age, even young men aged 18-20 are susceptible to this disease.
There are two reasons for the development of chronic prostatitis: infection and blood stagnation in the pelvis.
Infectioninto the prostate in several ways:
- with blood flow from an infectious focus in the body - tooth caries, pneumonia, inflamed maxillary sinus, pustular formation,
- with lymph flow from nearby organs, for example, from the intestines with hemorrhoids, dysbacteriosis,
- sexually
- descending or ascending from the infected urinary tract - bladder or urethra.
Prostate inflammation caused by sexually transmitted pathogens, such as gonococcus, chlamydia, and treponema pallidum, requires special attention.The symptoms of prostatitis and genital infection are similar to each other, and they can "hide" behind the signs of this disease.This type of prostatitis is easily triggered.
Reduces immunity and hormonal imbalancemainly stimulate the development and spread of infection.
Prostatitis is not infectious or congestiveappears as a result of a violation of the outflow of blood and lymph from the pelvis, as well as stagnation of prostate juice in the ducts of the gland.
Give rise to such a phenomenonthe following factors:
- disturbances in sexual life - prolonged abstinence, interrupted acts, unfulfilled desires,
- smoking - nicotine constricts blood vessels and disrupts normal blood circulation,
- sedentary lifestyle,
- tight clothes,
- alcohol abuse.Alcoholic drinks irritate the walls of the ducts of the glands, causing them to become inflamed,
- constipation
Congestive prostatitis occurs 8 times more often than infectious prostatitis and very rarely develops as a complication of acute inflammation of the prostate.
Abacterial prostatitis
This type of disease is also calledchronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).The main symptom is pain in the pelvic area, but the absence of pathogenic microorganisms in the microbiological examination of urine and prostate secretions.
Painful sensations acquire different severity and localization.They spread to the perineum or bladder, genitals.The ejaculation process is also painful.Problems with urinary excretion and in the sexual sphere are also there, but they are secondary.
The diagnosis is made if the pain persists for 3 months or more.
There are 2 types of CPPS:
- Inflammatory CPPS– an increase in the number of leukocytes detected in urine and prostate secretions, which indicates inflammation.Microorganisms were not detected.There are several reasons for the appearance of this type of inflammation.On the one hand, this can be done by reflux (reflux) of clean urine from the urethra into the gland.This is facilitated by anatomical defects or muscle contractions that affect the bladder, prostate organ, and perineum.Urine, or rather the urine in it, causes inflammation of the prostate.On the other hand, it is believed that the cause of this process is still bacteria that are not determined by classical methods.To identify them, molecular diagnostics should be used.The 3rd reason is the autoimmune process in the body.
- CPPS is not inflammatory– the analysis does not contain leukocytosis and microorganisms.To establish a diagnosis, instrumental diagnostics are used.It allows you to identify conservation problems or muscle changes in the prostate and other organs:
- cervical part of the bladder - stenosis or proliferation,
- pelvic area - myalgia, muscle tension, nerve impulse pathway disorders,
- urethra - narrowing, increased pressure,
- prostate – urine reflux, increased pressure.
Most of the timeNeurological disturbances are observed in patients with CPPS: anxiety, irritability, depressive tendencies.
Bacterial prostatitis
Chronic inflammation of the prostate of bacterial etiologybegan to manifest itself with slight discomfort when urinating.These include minor pain, itching or burning, and decreased flow.The color of the urine changes and it acquires an unpleasant smell.Unpleasant sensations can also disturb you during defecation.Weak and dull pain appears in the perineum.
arisesproblems in sex life.At the beginning of the disease, they are situational: weakening of erections or an increase in the frequency of their occurrence at night, acceleration of ejaculation, disturbances in the sensation of orgasm.
Characteristic symptoms for this stage- the appearance of discharge from the urethra during defecation.
Such damp symptoms can last for quite some time.A man may not pay attention to them, attributing everything to other reasons.If there is no treatment, they develop and exacerbation of the chronic process occurs, the intensity of the sensation increases.
Urinating becomes very painful, the urge to go to the toilet becomes more frequent.At a certain point, this manifestation weakens due to the compensatory growth of the bladder muscles, and then resumes, with greater strength.
The pain in the perineum is also increasing.It radiates to the lower back, pubis, legs, scrotum.The nature of the pain also changes: it becomes stronger and sharper, and bothers you at night.
Sexual dysfunction increases and becomes permanent.Ejaculation is accompanied by pain, erection and decreased libido.
Patients are also accompanied by increased sweating, including in the perineum.Body temperature is slightly raised - 37-37.5°.
Against the background of sexual harassment in menmental disorders develop.They become irritable, nervous, and may become depressed.
Treatment of the disease at this stage reduces the intensity of symptoms, and the exacerbation stage goes into remission.
Other types of chronic prostatitis
There is a conceptcalculous prostatitis.This disease is very rare and affects older men.It is characterized by the formation of stones consisting of prostate juice, inflammatory effusion, as well as phosphate and calcium.
Signs of this type of disease are pain, which has a special localization for prostatitis.They get stronger with movement, after sexual intercourse.Blood appears in the ejaculation.There are other signs of glandular inflammation.
Stones are the result of long-term prostatitis or adenoma.
Congestive prostatitisThere are bacteria and non-bacteria.The peculiarity is mild symptoms:
- low fever,
- uncomfortable sensation in the groin,
- urinary problems,
- irritable,
- sexual harassment.
Some are like that tootype of chronic prostatitis:
- autoimmune– develops in immune diseases, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus,
- hormonal-dystrophic- appears as a result of hormonal imbalance, with hormonal disease (diabetes mellitus), as a result of physiological aging of the body,
- vegetovascular– formed against the background of vegetative-vascular dystonia.Causes problems with blood circulation.
How the disease is detected: diagnosis
Chronic prostatitis is diagnosedthe same method as acute.
First of allthe doctor interviews and examines the patient.The examination is carried out using a digital rectal examination of the prostate.It may be enlarged, painful, asymmetrical and hard.In rare cases (non-inflammatory CPPS) it does not change.
The next doctorwill order the test.Laboratory methods include general blood and urine tests and analysis of prostate secretions.They will show an increase in the number of white blood cells.Bacteriological examination of urine and prostate juice reveals pathogens.Sometimes these indicators may be normal, but the process is still there.
To confirm the fact of the disease, blood is tested for PSA.Instrumental methods will also help: ultrasound, TRUS, uroflowmetry.
It often turns out that a man does not suspect that he has such a disease, ignoring the symptoms.It was detected by chance, during a systematic examination.Therefore, it is recommended not to disturb the system and not to ignore scheduled checks.
Pharmacological treatment
First of all, for the treatment of chronic prostatitisantibiotics are prescribed.The course is long - 1-1.5 months.Before prescribing an antibacterial agent, the type of pathogen and its sensitivity to the drug are determined.
Requiredusing immunocorrective drugs, because reduced immunity is a common cause of inflammation.Help from an immunologist is possible.
Therapy for chronic inflammation of the prostateCan not do without anti-inflammatory drugs.For starters, non-steroidal drugs are prescribed.They are used in the form of tablets or injections.If they fail to achieve the desired results, hormones are used.
Alpha blockerswill help relieve muscle tension from the bladder and perineum.They act symptomatically, reduce pain and improve urination.
If unbearable pain occurs,painkillers are relevant.
It deserves to be mentioned separatelyabout the use of dosage forms such as suppositories.They are suitable for treating chronic prostatic processes.Often, the symptoms are mild, and the action of mild suppositories is enough to relieve them.
They are inserted into the rectum.Its location close to the prostate gland allows you to achieve results quickly and effectively.In addition, the harmful effects of tablets on the gastrointestinal tract and difficulties with injections are eliminated.Suppositories have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on organs.
Physiotherapy and other methods
In addition to drugs, other methods of treating chronic prostatitis are used:
- rectal prostate massage- conducted through the rectum.The procedure eliminates stagnation of prostate juice and also improves the effect of drugs.Contraindicated in case of exacerbation of the disease and with the presence of stones in the prostate,
- physiotherapy improves blood circulation in the affected organ and improves its nutrition.The method usedUHF, electrophoresis, darsonvalizationand others.They are shown only in the stage of remission,
- Prostatitis not only involves the organ, but also the soul of a man.He might need ithelp from a psychologist or psychotherapist,
- acupunctureis a common method of treating chronic prostatitis.This procedure affects the organs indirectly, through acupuncture points,
- training, such as squatting, walking, jumping will increase blood circulation in the pelvis and relieve congestion,
- actively usedbalneotherapy– treatment with mineral water.
Medicines are part of the treatment of chronic prostatitis.But they can cause some complications.And because the treatment of this type of disease is long-term, people have found ways to replace some of the drugs.Come to the rescuetraditional medicine.
The leader among folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis ispumpkin seeds.It contains a lot of zinc, which is important for men's health.The seeds can be eaten separately: 30 grams will add to the daily requirement of essential microelements.You can also grind it in a meat grinder and mix it with honey, making balls from the resulting mixture.They should be kept in the refrigerator and eaten 1 piece before eating.
It is very useful for prostate inflammation to drinkfreshly squeezed beetroot, carrot, cucumber and asparagus juice.The daily amount should be at least 0.5 liters.
blueberriesSuitable for restoring the prostate gland.It contains many useful substances, microelements and vitamins.
In rare cases, in the treatment of prostatitishad to undergo surgery.Indications for it include lack of improvement from conservative treatment, as well as acute processes: abscesses and other purulent inflammations of the prostate, acute urinary retention, proliferation of glandular tissue, as well as benign and malignant formations.
Surgical treatment is carried out using several methods: This can be resection of part of an organ, opening of an ulcer, cutting of the foreskin, or removal of the entire gland.
How to prevent the development of chronic prostatitis
Prevention of this diseasecan be primary or secondary.
Primary preventionis to prevent the occurrence of disease, and comes down to the following steps:
- maintain immunity,
- frequent sexual activity,
- physical exercise and moderate loads.This is especially important for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle,
- avoid hypothermia,
- stop the infectious focus in the body,
- timely treatment of urogenital infections,
- make sure you undergo routine medical examinations,
- do not abuse alcohol and smoke.
Secondary preventionincluding measures to prevent disease recurrence.In the first year after experiencing prostatitis, a man is required to visit a urologist once every 3 months.Then - once every 6 months.If the aggravation of the disease does not occur, the patient is removed from the observation of the dispensary.
Very good for the prevention of prostatitissanatorium-resort treatment is appropriate.Modern sanatoriums offer a complex of procedures from physiotherapy and balneotherapy, and other natural resources.
Importantwatch your diet too.Include more vegetables and fruits and a variety of grains in the menu.You should also enrich your diet with fermented milk products.Eating seafood will compensate for zinc deficiency.
You should avoid salty, spicy and smoked foods, and don't overuse spices.Legumes, fatty foods and flour products should be excluded.
Chronic prostatitis is a slow but long-term process.He is cunning with complications:
- cystitis, pyelonephritis - urolithiasis,
- vesiculitis - inflammatory process in the seminal vesicles,
- Epididymo-orchitis is an inflammatory process of the testicles,
- glandular hypotrophy,
- infertility and impotence.
Disease treatment -quite a long process.But it's worth following this path to the end to preserve your health and preserve the chance of having a healthy offspring.