According to statistics, prostate inflammation occurs in 15% of the male population. This is a dangerous disease that, if left untreated, leads to the formation of cysts and stones in the prostate, erectile dysfunction (impotence), and infertility. You need to know the symptoms of prostatitis in order to consult a urologist in a timely manner and cure the disease without consequences. Inflammation is divided into acute and chronic forms, each of which has different characteristics.
Symptoms and signs common to all types of prostatitis
Despite the fact that prostatitis is acute and chronic, experts have identified a number of common symptoms and signs of the disease in men that are inherent in both diseases: the first and the other.
Moderate pain in the perineum and scrotum
Pain and pulling in the groin are the first signs of prostatitis in men. The symptom is constantly worried. Pain increases and decreases. A person cannot accurately indicate the localization of discomfort, since pain in the lower back of the sacral region is common.
When a symptom occurs, a man tries to sit or lie down, bend slightly and pull his knees to his stomach.
Analgesics from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat symptoms. The drugs have a good analgesic effect and do not cause serious side effects.
They are not recommended for men with gastritis or stomach ulcers.
Increased urination (pollakiuria)
With prostatitis, a man runs to the toilet every 1. 5 to 2 hours. If you drink a few liters of beer or too much water in the heat, the condition becomes completely unbearable: the urge occurs every 20-30 minutes.
After using the toilet, there is a feeling of incomplete urination.
Pills don't help with pollakiuria. The "drink less water" option does not work in this case either. Desires can also appear with a small amount of urine in the bladder.
malaise
Weakness and weakness often appear at the beginning of the disease. Many don't attach much importance to them and attribute it all to overwork.
If after 40 years of age a man suddenly has severe fatigue, incomprehensible sensations of pain in the muscles and joints, and less interest in work, this may indicate the development of prostatitis. This symptom alone does not allow a diagnosis of the pathology, but when combined with 2-3 other symptoms, inflammation of the prostate is very likely.
In order to improve his well-being, a man needs to rest more to normalize everyday life. A good sleep of 7-8 hours is very important and you should fall asleep by 11 p. m. at the latest. Vitamins achieve a good effect both in natural form and in the form of dietary supplements (use is recommended after personal advice from a specialist).
Carrier urine stream
Urination with a too weak and short stream, spray in all directions are typical complaints of men who are confronted with inflammation of the prostate. When a person sees such a problem, he tries to strain a "mighty stream" and squeeze it out, but nothing comes out. It is precisely the sluggish flow that is characteristic of prostatitis, not the release of urine in drops, which is more often observed in prostate adenoma in the middle and late stages of its development.
The symptom is mainly associated with swelling or dystrophic changes in the tissues of the prostate that block the lumen of the urethra. NSAIDs that relieve swelling can alleviate the acute process somewhat, but are ineffective on chronic inflammation. It is possible to remove edema at home with the help of prostate massage, but for this a man must have certain skills.
Mucous discharge from the urethra
During the day, secretion drops appear on the glans. The discharge is due to the self-massage of the prostate that occurs during fast walking, exercising, and running. As a result, some of the inflammatory secretion moves along the urethra and is released outside. Often times the mucus is cloudy, has an unpleasant odor, and sometimes the color is bad.
Men faced with a symptom must strictly observe hygiene. The genitals should be washed at least 2-3 times a day, since the secretion accumulated on the head is an excellent medium for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. The genitals can be rinsed with an antiseptic solution or chamomile stock, which will destroy harmful microorganisms.
Painful urination
A symptom of prostatitis is cramping and burning sensation in the urethra that occurs while urinating. The discomfort is more pronounced in the morning, as a large amount of inflammatory exudate accumulates in the prostate at night. Resi worries a man not only during the act, but within 15 to 20 minutes afterwards.
To reduce discomfort, you can use drugs from the group of herbal uroseptics. Drugs have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, relieve symptoms and prevent inflammatory diseases of the urethra against the background of prostatitis.
Imperative urge
Men describe this feeling as a sudden and painful need to urinate. There is a fear of not reaching because the sensations are painful and very strong.
Often there is a false urge when there is no flow of urine and the pain subsides after a few minutes. Sometimes this symptom is associated with urinary incontinence when a few drops of fluid appear on the laundry.
The only advice from doctors in such a situation is not to try to put up with the urge. Frequent visits to the toilet cause psychological discomfort, but attempts to squeeze the muscles together make the pain worse.
Acute prostatitis: what hurts at the same time and what sensations of illness
Acute prostatitis in men has 9 characteristic symptoms, which are observed mainly with a sharp manifestation of inflammation of the prostate. We will tell you in detail about each one.
Excruciating pain in the groin
Men complain of severe cramps, cramps and uncomfortable throbbing in the groin area.
Pain worries a person constantly, increases with prolonged sitting in a motionless position and with urination. Sometimes the pain is so severe that it is impossible to walk normally.
The symptom occurs suddenly and may be preceded by hypothermia or unprotected sexual intercourse.
Complaints need to be dealt with. Pain relievers are used to quickly relieve symptoms of prostatitis in men. NSAIDs are the drug of choice.
High fever
An active inflammatory process in the prostate is always accompanied by an increase in temperature. In acute prostatitis, the fever reaches values of 39-39. 5 ° C. The body temperature rises suddenly, sometimes before the onset of pain or other typical symptoms.
The symptom may be accompanied by alternating periods of chills and increased sweating.
Temperatures above 38 ° C must be suppressed. Standard antipyretics are enough. You shouldn't use acetylsalicylic acid to lower the temperature. It has many proven side effects from improper use, so it's best to stick with safe products.
Cloudy urine
In prostatitis, an inflammatory exudate is released from the gland that occurs when urinating.
Because of this, the urine becomes cloudy, and sometimes there are individual inclusions of mucus or pus. Inflammation of the prostate is characterized by a change in the last part of the urine, while the current has a familiar appearance at the beginning of urination. The cloudiness is often accompanied by an unpleasant odor.
If such a symptom appears, then it is worth using drugs from the uroseptic group. Herbal remedies are not more suitable here, but drugs with an antibacterial effect, which are more effective in this particular case.
Purulent discharge from the urethra
The appearance of a few drops of pus from the mouth of the urethra is a typical sign of bacterial prostatitis.
The symptom can appear both during the day and at the end of each urination. When prostate disease is caused by trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted infections, there may be a heavy discharge of foamy, foul-smelling pus.
Symptomatic treatment is carried out with uroseptics. Men are advised to observe hygiene and regularly wash the groin area with a solution of chamomile or an antiseptic to avoid irritation and maceration of the penile skin.
At the same time, it is important to start antibiotic therapy as soon as possible in order to avoid complications that, at first glance, are fraught with a harmless discharge.
Urinary retention
With sharp edema of the prostate, urination is impossible because the lumen of the initial urethra is completely blocked. The man feels the urge to go to the toilet, there is a bursting sensation in the suprapubic region.
When you try to urinate, the pain increases, but there is no result.
Herbal preparations containing, for example, sabal fruit extract help combat urinary retention. They make it easier to empty the bladder and alleviate excruciating suprapubic complaints.
a headache
Symptoms of acute prostatitis include manifestations of intoxication. The inflammatory process in the prostate is accompanied by the production of specific biochemical markers that affect the state of the entire organism.
The disease is often associated with a high fever, for which there are also urgent or disabling headaches.
Analgesics from the NSAID group are suitable for pain relief. If the symptoms are mild, medication can be dispensed with.
Painful bowel movements
When the bowel is emptied, strong pressure is applied to the inflamed gland, so that the man feels a sharp pain. Sometimes the pain becomes so severe that the person tries to contain the urge so as not to feel uncomfortable.
Occasionally, with prostatitis, tenesmus is observed - "unsuccessful" painful urge to defecate.
Unpleasant sensations cannot be treated at home. The pain disappears only after the acute inflammatory process has subsided. Do not hold back the urge to have a bowel movement as constipation may occur, which will make the situation worse.
Lumbar sacral pain
An unpleasant symptom of prostatitis is the general innervation (supply of nerve endings) to the pelvic organs, which causes the pain to spread to nearby parts of the body.
The pain can be dull and painful, or sharp. Also characteristic are sharp "lumbago" in the lumbar region, which occur during overexertion, bowel movements, urination.
To eliminate the symptom, pain relievers from the NSAID range are suitable. You should not use warm baths or warm the lumbar zone to relieve discomfort, as this can exacerbate the acute inflammatory and purulent process and accelerate its development.
Body aches
The symptom develops as one of the components of the intoxication syndrome in prostatitis. The man complains of discomfort in the joints and muscles: it seems that they are twisted, stretched and compressed at the same time.
The malaise is similar to the outbreak of a cold or flu.
There are no drugs or folk remedies to get rid of ailments. This symptom occurs mainly against the background of fever. After lowering the temperature (in a convenient way), the pain in the body disappears and the state of health improves.
Diagnosing chronic prostatitis at home based on signs and symptoms
Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a number of signs so it can be diagnosed at home, even before going to the urologist.
Painful ejaculation
Unpleasant sensations bother a man as he approaches orgasm: drawing pains begin in the scrotum and perineum, which are administered to the penis. The discomfort reaches its maximum intensity during ejaculation, when a person may experience severe spastic pain.
This situation repeats itself with every sexual intercourse, but the strength of the painful sensations varies.
To reduce discomfort, urologists recommend a man to have regular sexual intercourse (at least twice a week). This will help clear the congestion in the prostate. After ejaculation, warm Sitz baths are helpful to relieve draft pain.
Frequent night trips to the toilet
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis include nocturia - unusually frequent urination at night. The patient needs to wake up 2-3 times or more to go to the bathroom.
The urge to urinate is quite painful, and passing urine is associated with discomfort in the perineum and lower abdomen. The symptom can appear regardless of the amount of fluid drunk at night.
There are no symptomatic treatments. To reduce the frequency of nighttime awakenings, you need to limit your drinking water and beverages in the evening and try to empty your bladder completely before bed.
constipation
The prostate grows in size and presses on the rectum, making bowel movements difficult. Men complain of persistent constipation for 3-4 days or more. When you try to exert yourself, pain occurs in the perineum and sacral region. Symptoms bother a person for weeks or even months.
To improve stool, doctors recommend eating more vegetables and fruits, as well as whole grains. These foods are high in fiber, which increases the volume of feces and makes them softer. Plums, fresh plums, kefir, and other fermented dairy products have natural laxative properties. With prolonged constipation, you can use laxatives or suppositories.
Subfebrile temperature
An increase in thermometer readings to 37-37. 5 ° C occurs with an exacerbation of chronic prostatitis. In this case, headache, malaise, body aches and other typical symptoms of illness appear.
The use of antipyretics is inappropriate for readings up to 38 degrees on a medical thermometer. Treatment should be given for a relapse as a result of which a subfebrile condition actually occurred.
Debilitating erection
With chronic prostatitis, sexual problems can appear not only in old age, but also in young men after 30 years.
Patients complain that the erection is not firm enough during arousal. This causes both psychological and physical discomfort. Fearing "failure", the man avoids intercourse, which further exacerbates the problem.
There are many folk remedies available as to treat potency problems. Just a few of them: decoctions of thyme and rose hips, tincture of mountain ashberries, the use of propolis. A man is advised to consume more celery, which is good for erection, and drink ginger tea.
Decreased performance
With chronic prostatitis, a man experiences constant weakness, fatigue, irritability and nervousness.
Concentration and memory inevitably decrease, and it becomes more difficult to perform normal work tasks. The symptom also applies to physical work: even with little physical exercise or exertion, muscle pain and severe fatigue occur.
During such a time, it is important to take care of yourself, get enough rest and not try to do all the tasks with maximum efficiency. After treating prostatitis (or at least achieving stable remission), the unpleasant symptoms will go away and it will be possible to dive headlong into work.
Inability to conceive a child
In the asymptomatic course of chronic prostatitis, men often go to the doctor with the complaint that they cannot conceive a child.
Patients say they are in no pain and do not urinate frequently, and everything can be normal even during sex. This option for the development of pathology is considered unfavorable, since it means that a man is already suffering from an advanced form of the disease.
The production of viable and active sperm is a serious process regulated by the sex glands and the brain. In this case, folk recipes and symptomatic remedies will not help. It is important to investigate and resolve the problem on a medical level.
Reviews: the opinion of men on the forums
- "I started getting signs of prostatitis more than a year ago. At first there was a slight pull in the groin and perineum, then the pain increased. I noticed that I wake up 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom. I didn't care much about it. I thought I was frozen somewhere or sitting in a breeze. Then the problems with sex began: the erection was unstable, the sensitivity decreased, there were no vivid sensations during orgasm. At work a colleague advised me to be podmore. I took it (in the form of a tincture, bought it from a local beekeeper) for several months, the condition improved, the pain disappeared. "
- "I had pain in my scrotum, perineum and lower abdomen. Sometimes a few drops of pus came out of the urethra. I read reviews on the internet where men described the same symptoms, went to the doctor and was diagnosed with prostatitis. I know the disease is serious so I decided not to delay treatment. The hospital performed a series of tests and ultrasounds. The prostatitis was cured, but intestinal problems began, probably due to antibiotics. Then I had to buy probiotics for another 2 months, then all kinds of kefir and yogurt to get rid of stomach discomfort. "
- "For a long time I thought I had digestive problems. I didn't even know about prostatitis - I didn't know that the lower abdomen hurts and the stool is disturbed. I had exactly these symptoms. I even started visiting the toilet in a small way, but at first I didn't pay any attention to this sign. It's good that I decided to go to the urologist after all. I was diagnosed with chronic prostatitis. I was treated for a long time, drank various pills, put candles. To be honest, I don't even remember the names, it kind of flew out of my head. I feel fine now"
- "I know firsthand what prostatitis is. For me it all started suddenly: there was severe pain in the scrotum and suprapubic zone, the urge to urinate was literally every 30 minutes. For a few days I suffered so much and went to the urologist. They did a urinalysis and ultrasound of the prostate, took a smear and the doctor wanted to see what was rectal with a finger, but I generally refused. . . It turned out that "acute prostatitis" had developed. The doctor prescribed antibiotics. After 2 weeks I was completely cured, there have been no relapses so far, I hope there won't be any more, it's scary because they say prostatitis is incurable. "
Results
With any form of prostatitis, the use of symptomatic therapy alone is not effective enough. NSAIDs or analgesics temporarily relieve pain and fever, and uroseptics help reduce microbial inflammation. At the same time, the pathological process in the prostate continues to develop and becomes a chronic form. As a result, there are echographic changes (tissue sclerosis), erectile dysfunction and the risk of prostate cancer.
In order not to lead the disease to sad consequences, complex treatment for prostatitis is required. The therapeutic scheme is prescribed by a doctor (less often a urologist - an andrologist), taking into account the characteristics of the disease and the results of the tests.