Prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate gland - can occur in acute and chronic form.
It is difficult to ignore acute inflammation: its signs are clearly expressed, which cannot be said about the chronic manifestation of the disease.itasymptomatic, but it does its job "excellently", damaging the tissues of the organ, reducing its functions.
For chronic prostatitis: types and characteristics
Inflammation of the prostate is considered chronic,if his mild 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 and even young men aged 18-20 are susceptible to this disease.
There can be two reasons for the development of chronic prostatitis: infection and stagnation of blood in the small pelvis.
Infectionenters the prostate in several ways:
- with blood flow from infectious foci in the body - carious teeth, pneumonia, inflamed maxillary sinuses, pustular formations,
- 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.
Prostatitis caused by sexually transmitted pathogens such as gonococci, chlamydia, and treponema pallidum requires special attention.The symptoms of such prostatitis and genital infections are similar to each other and can "hide" behind the signs of these diseases.This type of prostatitis is easily unlocked.
Reduced immunity and hormonal imbalanceparticularly stimulate the development and spread of the infection.
Non-infectious or congestive prostatitisappears as a result of a violation of the outflow of blood and lymph from the pelvis, as well as stagnation of prostatic juice in the ducts of the gland.
Provoke similar phenomenathe following factors:
- disturbances in sexual life - prolonged abstinence, interrupted acts, unfulfilled desire,
- smoking - nicotine spasms blood vessels and interferes with normal blood circulation,
- sedentary lifestyle,
- tight clothes,
- alcohol abuse.Alcoholic drinks irritate the walls of the ducts of the glands, causing their inflammation,
- 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 secretion.
Painful sensations acquire different severity and localization.They spread to the perineum or bladder, genitals.The process of ejaculation is also painful.There are also problems with urination and in the sexual sphere, but they are secondary.
The diagnosis is made if the pain lasts for 3 months or more.
There are 2 types of CPPS:
- Inflammatory CPPS- an increased number of leukocytes is detected in the urine and prostatic secretion, which indicates inflammation.Microorganisms are not detected.There are several reasons for the appearance of this type of inflammation.On the one hand, this is possible with reflux (reflux) of pure urine from the urethra into the gland.This is facilitated by anatomical defects or impaired muscle contractions of the bladder, prostate organ and perineum.Urine or rather urates in it cause inflammation of the prostate.On the other hand, it is believed that the culprit of this process is still bacteria, which cannot be determined by the classical method.Molecular diagnostics should be used to identify them.The third reason is autoimmune processes in the body.
- Non-inflammatory CPPS- the analyzes do not contain leukocytosis and microorganisms.To establish the diagnosis, instrumental diagnostics is used.Allows you to identify innervation problems or muscle changes in the prostate and other organs:
- cervical part of the bladder - stenosis or proliferation,
- pelvic area - myalgia, muscle tension, disturbance of the passage of nerve impulses,
- urethra - narrowing, increased pressure,
- prostate – urine reflux, increased pressure.
oftenNervous disorders are seen in patients with CPPS: anxiety, irritability, depressive tendencies.
Bacterial prostatitis
Chronic inflammation of the prostate with bacterial etiologybegins to manifest itself with slight discomfort when urinating.This includes mild pain, itching or burning and a decrease in jet flow.The color of the urine changes and it acquires an unpleasant smell.Unpleasant sensations can also bother you during a bowel movement.A weak, dull pain appears in the perineum.
ariseproblems in sex life.At the beginning of the disease, they are situational: weakening of the erection or increased frequency of its occurrence at night, acceleration of ejaculation, disorders of orgasmic sensations.
A characteristic symptom of this stage- the appearance of discharge from the urethra during defecation.
Such slow symptoms can last quite a long time.One may not pay attention to them, attributing everything to other causes.If there is no treatment, they progress and an exacerbation of the chronic process occurs, the intensity of sensations increases.
Urination becomes sharply painful, urges to go to the toilet become more frequent.At a certain point, these manifestations weaken due to compensatory growth of the bladder muscles and then resume again with greater force.
The pain in the perineum also increases.It radiates in 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.The body temperature is slightly elevated - 37-37.5°.
Against the background of sexual disorders in menmental disorders develop.They become irritable, nervous and may become depressed.
Treatment of the disease at this stage reduces the intensity of the symptoms and the exacerbation stage goes into remission.
Other types of chronic prostatitis
There is a conceptcalculous prostatitis.This disease is extremely rare and affects older men.It is characterized by the formation of stones consisting of prostatic juice, inflammatory effusion, as well as phosphates and calcium.
Signs of this type of disease are pain, which has a typical localization for prostatitis.They intensify during movement, after sexual intercourse.Blood appears in the ejaculate.There are other signs of inflammation of the gland.
Stones are the result of prolonged prostatitis or adenoma.
Congestive prostatitisThere are bacterial and non-bacterial.Its feature is mild symptoms:
- low-grade fever,
- unpleasant sensations in the groin,
- problems urinating,
- irritability,
- sexual disorders.
There are those tootypes of chronic prostatitis:
- autoimmune– develops in immune diseases, for example rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus,
- hormonally dystrophic- appears due to hormonal imbalance, in hormonal diseases (diabetes), as a result of physiological aging of the body,
- vegetative-vascular- formed against the background of vegetative-vascular dystonia.It causes circulation problems.
How the disease is detected: diagnosis
Chronic prostatitis was diagnosedsame methods as acute.
First of allthe doctor interviews and examines the patient.The examination is performed by digital rectal examination of the prostate.It can be enlarged, painful, asymmetric and hardened.In rare cases (non-inflammatory CPPS) it does not change.
The next doctorwill schedule tests.Laboratory methods include a general blood and urine test and an analysis of prostate secretions.They will show an elevated white blood cell count.Bacteriological examination of urine and prostatic juice reveals the pathogen.Sometimes these indicators may be normal, but the process is still there.
To confirm the fact of the disease, the blood is tested for PSA.Instrumental methods will also help: ultrasound, TRUS, uroflowmetry.
Very often it turns out that a person does not suspect that he has such a disease, ignoring the symptoms.It is found incidentally, during systemic examinations.Therefore, it is recommended not to disturb the system and not to ignore the 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 antibacterial agents, the type of pathogen and its sensitivity to the drugs are determined.
Mandatoryuse immunocorrective drugs, because reduced immunity is a common cause of inflammation.Help from an immunologist is possible.
Therapy for chronic inflammation of the prostateCan't do without anti-inflammatory drugs.Initially, non-steroidal drugs are prescribed.They are used in the form of tablets or injections.If they fail to achieve the desired result, hormones are used.
Alpha blockerswill help relieve muscle tension from the bladder and perineum.They act symptomatically, reducing pain and improving urination.
If unbearable pain occurs,pain meds are up to date.
It is worth mentioning separatelyon the use of a dosage form such as suppositories.They are suitable for the treatment of chronic prostatic processes.Most often, his symptoms are mild and the mild action of the suppositories is quite enough to relieve them.
They are inserted into the rectum.Its close location to the prostate gland allows you to quickly and effectively achieve results.In addition, the harmful effects of tablets on the gastrointestinal tract and difficulties with injections are eliminated.Suppositories have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect on the organ.
Physiotherapy and other methods
In addition to drugs, other methods are used to treat chronic prostatitis:
- rectal massage of the prostate– is conducted through the rectum.The procedure eliminates the stagnation of prostatic juice and also improves the effect of drugs.Contraindicated in exacerbation of the disease and in the presence of stones in the prostate,
- physiotherapy improves blood circulation in the affected organ and improves its nutrition.Methods usedUHF, electrophoresis, darsonvalizationand others.They are shown only in the stage of remission,
- Prostatitis affects not only the organs, but also the psyche of a man.He might need ithelp from a psychologist or psychotherapist,
- acupunctureis a common method of treating chronic prostatitis.The procedure affects the organ indirectly, through acupuncture points,
- exercises, such as squats, walking, jumping will increase blood circulation in the pelvis and eliminate congestion,
- actively usedbalneotherapy– treatment with mineral waters.
Medicines are an integral part of the treatment of chronic prostatitis.But they can cause a number of complications.And since the treatment of this type of disease is long-term, people have found ways to partially replace such drugs.He came to the rescuetraditional medicine.
The leader among folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis arepumpkin seeds.They contain a lot of zinc, which is essential for men's health.The seeds can be consumed separately: 30 grams will fill the daily need for the main trace element.You can also grind them in a meat grinder and mix with honey, making balls from the resulting mixture.They should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed 1 piece before a meal.
It is very useful for inflammation of the prostate to drinkfreshly squeezed juices from beets, carrots, cucumbers and asparagus.The volume per day should be at least 0.5 liters.
BlueberriesPerfect for restoring the prostate gland.It contains many useful substances, trace elements and vitamins.
In rare cases in the treatment of prostatitissurgery must be resorted to.Indications for it are the lack of improvement from conservative treatment, as well as acute processes: abscess and other purulent inflammations of the prostate, acute urinary retention, proliferation of glandular tissue, as well as benign and malignant formations.
Surgical treatment is performed by several methods: This may be partial resection of an organ, opening of ulcers, excision 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 the disease and is reduced to the following measures:
- maintaining immunity,
- regularity of sexual activity,
- physical exercises and moderate loads.This is especially important for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle,
- avoid hypothermia,
- stopping infectious outbreaks in the body,
- timely treatment of urogenital infections,
- necessarily undergo routine medical examinations,
- do not abuse alcohol and smoking.
Secondary preventionincludes measures to prevent recurrence of the disease.In the first year after suffering from prostatitis, a man should visit a urologist once every 3 months.After that – once every 6 months.If there is no exacerbation of the disease, the patient is removed from dispensary observation.
Excellent for the prevention of prostatitissanatorium-resort treatment is suitable.Modern sanatoriums offer complexes of procedures from physiotherapy and balneotherapy and other natural features.
importantwatch your diet too.Include more vegetables and fruits and a variety of cereals in the menu.You should also enrich your diet with fermented milk products.Eating seafood will compensate for the lack of zinc.
You should avoid salty, spicy and smoked foods, as well as not to overdo it with spices.Legumes, fatty foods and flour products should be excluded.
Chronic prostatitis is a slow but long-lasting process.It is insidious with complications:
- cystitis, pyelonephritis - urolithiasis,
- vesiculitis - inflammatory process in the seminal vesicles,
- Epididymorchitis is an inflammatory process of the testicles,
- hypotrophy of the gland,
- infertility and impotence.
Treatment of the disease -quite a long process.But it is worth following this path to the end in order to preserve your health and preserve the chance of having healthy offspring.