Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. It is one of the most common diseases in men. Mostly men over 30 years of age are affected. If left untreated, the disease progresses rapidly and leads to serious complications - infertility, impotence and cancer.
Most often, prostatitis manifests itself as painful urination, purulent and bloody discharge in the urine, and sexual dysfunction.
The prostate is the organ that produces sperm and regulates urination. It is located below the bladder. Consists of three departments. During ejaculation, the prostate gland begins to contract, pushing seminal fluid through the urinary canal. The gland is involved in limiting urinary incontinence, in the formation of an erection, and in the production of sperm.
Prostate juice contains a large amount of proteins, fats, enzymes, and even some vitamins. The juice dilutes the seminal fluid, thereby promoting sperm viability. The prostate gland is an active organ. It is dependent on hormonal levels and itself participates in the formation of sex hormones.
Causes
It is difficult to identify the exact cause that triggered the development of prostatitis in a particular person. Most likely, it will be a complex of factors that, to one degree or another, led to the problem.
Let's consider the causes and factors that can contribute to the development of prostatitis:
- Hypothermia and stress. The body's defenses are reduced, which contributes to the appearance of inflammatory processes.
- Hormonal imbalances. The level of sex hormones affects the activity of the prostate gland.
- Sexually transmitted infections and urinary tract infections.
- Various disorders of mechanisms in the body: urination disorders, congestion in the pelvis. A hypodynamic lifestyle and tight underwear interfere with blood circulation in the pelvis. And problems with urination contribute to irritation of the gland tissue and cause prostatitis. Constipation can also be considered a predisposing factor.
- Prolonged abstinence from sexual intercourse, interrupted sexual intercourse or artificial prolongation of sexual intercourse. This leads to enlargement of the gland and its inflammation.
- Poor nutrition and alcohol abuse.
Infection in the prostate gland can occur in 4 ways:
- Descending - enters with urine flow.
- Ascending - rises along the urethra.
- Lymphogenic - along with the flow of lymph.
- Hematogenous - along with the blood flow.
Symptoms and signs of prostatitis
Symptoms of prostatitis can vary. According to the nature of the course, there are acute and chronic prostatitis.
Common signs of prostatitis include the following:
- problems with urination - it is frequent, intermittent and difficult;
- deterioration of erection;
- burning sensation in the groin;
- urine is cloudy and contains fibers;
- orgasm is not bright;
- increased fatigue;
- decreased potency;
- depression, anxiety.
Acute prostatitis most often begins with a rise in body temperature to 39-40 degrees. The prostate gland swells, causing problems with urination. It is difficult and accompanied by pain.
During exacerbation of prostatitis, the patient experiences pain in the perineum, as well as in the rectum, groin, and sacrum.
Acute prostatitis can be catarrhal, follicular and parenchymal. Features of acute prostatitis:
- Follicular acute prostatitis is characterized by weak stream pressure during urination. It is accompanied by intense pain, which can radiate to the anal area, especially intensifying during defecation. A slight increase in temperature is possible.
- Parenchymal acute prostatitis is characterized by unexpected pain with pulsation in the perineal area. Intoxication of the body is observed, the temperature can reach 40 degrees. Often accompanied by urinary retention.
- Catarrhal acute prostatitis causes pain in the perineum, frequent urination, and pain when urinating.
Chronic prostatitis can develop from an acute form, but more often it immediately develops into a chronic form. The symptoms are erased, without clear signs and manifestations.
Symptoms and signs caused by chronic prostatitis:
- decreased erection and libido;
- decreased flow pressure during urination;
- cramps and pain when urinating;
- aching pain in the perineum, anus, sacrum.
Since the signs of chronic prostatitis are not clearly expressed, the patient often does not pay attention to the symptoms for a long time, which aggravates its development and can cause complications.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
Medicine does not stand still, and diagnosing prostatitis is not difficult. After collecting anamnesis, the doctor may prescribe various diagnostic methods to confirm the diagnosis of prostatitis.
- Palpation of the prostate through the rectum to diagnose prostatitis. It will reveal pain and increased size, and these are characteristic signs of the inflammatory process in it, and during palpation, the secretion of the prostate gland is released, which is sent for analysis.
- Ultrasound examination.
- Microscopic examination of prostate secretion.
- Bacteriological examination of urine.
- A smear of mucous membranes and gland secretions for infection.
- Analysis of a smear from the urethra to determine sexually transmitted infections that could cause prostatitis.
- Blood test to determine sex hormones.
These diagnostic measures help not only to confirm the diagnosis, since in general the symptoms are quite pronounced, but also to identify the cause of the disease.
Treatment of prostatitis
Currently, there are many treatment options for prostatitis. These include traditional methods and methods of folk medicine. Traditional medicine can serve as a complement to basic therapy. It is dangerous to self-medicate prostatitis, as this can lead to complications.
Doctors always resort to the traditional, medicinal method of treating prostatitis. This helps relieve swelling, severe inflammation and normalize the functioning of the prostate gland.
Usually a complex of various methods is prescribed:
- rectal suppositories. Reduce pain and relieve inflammation;
- injections;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- instillation - the drug is injected directly into the prostate;
- microenemas;
- tablet drugs. Most often, antibacterial drugs;
- alpha-blockers.
The set of therapeutic measures is selected individually, depending on the degree of the disease, the manifestation of symptoms and the expected therapeutic effect for the patient.
If a bacterial cause of prostatitis is identified, then broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed that can destroy several strains of bacteria. They can be in the form of suppositories, and in the form of tablets, and in the form of injections.
Painkillers are used to relieve pain.
Alpha-blockers - help relax the muscles of the urethra, which is a consequence of prostatitis. To relieve tension in the perineal area, various muscle relaxants are used.
A necessary step would be to improve blood circulation to relieve congestion and take vitamins.
Various physiotherapeutic procedures and prostate massage are mandatory for the treatment of prostatitis. Prostate massage is used for all forms and stages of development of the disease; it improves blood circulation and squeezes secretions with a pathogenic environment into the urethra.
Some scientists have become skeptical about this method of treating prostatitis, arguing that the pathogenic environment penetrates further into the genitourinary system and contributes to inflammation of other organs. Experiments are currently being conducted, this point of view has not been clinically refuted or proven, therefore massage is an integral method of treating prostatitis.
Traditional treatment at home
Traditional medicine is often used in the treatment of prostatitis at home. If chronic prostatitis is diagnosed, then additional therapy with folk remedies will be very helpful. It will not be superfluous in case of acute manifestation of prostatitis, however, treatment only at home is unacceptable.
Among the popular methods, the following can be called quite effective:
- Treatment of prostatitis with pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds contain a large amount of zinc, which is necessary for men, regardless of whether they have prostatitis.
- Treatment of prostatitis with parsley - helps relieve inflammation and normalize sexual function. Contains a large amount of vitamins.
- Treatment of prostatitis with infusions of hemlock and celandine. This method should be used with caution, since these herbs are poisonous and strict adherence to the dosage and dosage regimen is necessary.
- Treatment of prostatitis with wormwood. Used to relieve inflammation and remove purulent infection.
- Treatment of prostatitis with garlic, dill, hazelnuts, chestnuts, propolis, herbs, etc.
Most of these methods are aimed at relieving inflammatory processes and normalizing sexual function. A large number of different vitamins saturate the body, which plays a role in the prevention of exacerbations of prostatitis.
Consequences of prostatitis
If you refuse and if treatment for prostatitis is not started in a timely manner, there is a high probability of developing serious complications. Among the complications:
- infertility;
- impotence;
- BPH;
- prostate cancer and others.
If treatment is refused, the infection will penetrate further into nearby tissues. Other prostate diseases may also develop, including stones and cysts.
With prostatitis, the level of sex hormones decreases, which leads to a decrease in sexual desire (libido). Erectile dysfunction begins, and premature ejaculation may occur. Impotence is possible.
Prostatitis also leads to infertility. This problem is especially common in those patients who have developed chronic prostatitis. This complication is observed in half of these patients.
Sclerosis of the prostate gland may develop. In this case, the gland partially or completely stops functioning. This problem is accompanied by severe pain, sexual dysfunction, and problems with urination.
Prostate adenoma and prostate cancer are the most dangerous complications of prostatitis.
The problems and complications that prostatitis leads to, one way or another, affect a man’s sex life. This leads to psychological problems, stress and depression.
It is important to carefully monitor the signs in order to recognize chronic prostatitis in time.
Prevention of prostatitis
Prevention of exacerbations is aimed at monitoring health and timely identification of problems. Since in most cases prostatitis is a consequence of untreated diseases of the genitourinary system, close attention should be paid to the treatment of such diseases.
Prostatitis is considered a disease that is easier to prevent than to cure.
Of the preventive methods, the most important are:
- Sports activities. They serve to improve blood circulation in the pelvis, prevent the appearance of congestion, and strengthen the pelvic muscles.
- Regular sex life. Drugs for artificially prolonging sexual intercourse, interrupted sexual intercourse, and suppression of ejaculation are undesirable.
- Refusal of promiscuity. Violent sex life leads to sexually transmitted infections.
- Proper, healthy nutrition.
- Quitting alcohol.
- Strengthening the body's defenses, avoiding hypothermia.
- Minimizing stress.
Prostatitis has a low rate of self-healing or treatment at home. Therefore, at the first signs, you should immediately contact a urologist to prescribe adequate treatment. You also need to carefully monitor the signs that indicate chronic prostatitis and consult a doctor in time.