Prostatitis is one of the most common urological diseases in men.It is generally accepted that after 30 years, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, after 50 - 50%, etc. At the same time, the real incidence is much higher than the registered one, which is explained by the specifics of the diagnosis and the possibility of a latent occurrence of the disease.Prostatitis causes numerous problems with urination, libido decreases and erectile function is impaired.
Prostatitis is one of the most common urological diseases in men.It is generally accepted that after 30 years, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, after 50 - 50%, etc. At the same time, the real incidence is much higher than the registered one, which is explained by the specifics of the diagnosis and the possibility of a latent occurrence of the disease.
The prostate is a small glandular-muscular organ located in the small pelvis under the bladder and covering the initial section of the urethra (urethra).The prostate gland produces a secretion that, when mixed with semen, maintains the activity of sperm and their resistance to various adverse conditions.
Prostatitis causes numerous problems with urination, libido decreases and erectile function is impaired.The saddest thing is that without proper treatment, about 40% of patients face some form of infertility as the prostate can no longer produce enough high-quality secretion to ensure sperm motility.It is important to remember that similar symptoms can occur not only with prostatitis, but also with prostate adenomas and cancer.
Forms of prostatitis
According to the 1995 American National Institute of Health (NIH USA) criteria, there are four categories of prostatitis:
- Category I – Acute Prostatitis;
- Category II – Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis;
- Category III – Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS):
- Category IIIa – Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with signs of inflammation;
- Category IIIb – Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome without signs of inflammation;
- Category IV – Asymptomatic (asymptomatic) chronic prostatitis.
Chronic granulomatous prostatitis, which is not mentioned in this classification, also occasionally occurs.
Most experts distinguish 4 main forms of prostatitis:
- acute bacterial prostatitis,
- chronic bacterial prostatitis,
- nonbacterial prostatitis
- Prostatodynia.
Causes of prostatitis in men
In people under 35 years of age, the disease usually takes the form of acute bacterial prostatitis.Bacterial prostatitis occurs when the presence of an infection is confirmed in the laboratory.The most common are chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis or gonorrhea.The infection invades the prostate through the urethra, bladder, rectum, and the blood and lymphatic vessels of the pelvis.
However, recent studies show that in most cases the infection is due to existing disorders in the structure of the prostate tissue and the blood circulation in it.In nonbacterial prostatitis, bacteria cannot be isolated, but this does not rule out their presence.
Chronic forms of the disease are diagnosed more often in older patients.
Prostatodynia is the clinical picture of prostatitis, a thickening of the prostate tissue without signs of inflammation.
Symptoms of prostatitis in men
The symptoms of prostatitis can be divided into 3 groups:
- Disturbances of the urinary system (frequent and painful urge to urinate, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder), pain in the lower abdomen;
- Disorders of sexual function (pain along the urethra and in the rectum during ejaculation, weak erection, premature ejaculation, loss of orgasm, etc.);
- Increased anxiety and nervousness in a man caused by the patient's fixation of attention on his condition.
Acute prostatitis usually begins with an increase in body temperature to 39-40 ° C, accompanied by fever and chills.Urination is difficult and painful.Swelling of the prostate occurs, which can lead to acute urinary retention.
Chronic prostatitis progresses more calmly, but under unfavorable factors it can worsen at any time.Possibly asymptomatic.
Complications of prostatitis
Without timely treatment, prostatitis can lead to the following complications:
- Transition from acute prostatitis to chronic,
- Bladder obstruction with acute urinary retention requiring surgical treatment,
- development of male infertility,
- Narrowing and scarring of the urethra,
- recurrent cystitis,
- pyelonephritis and other kidney damage,
- abscess (suppuration) of the prostate requiring surgical intervention,
- Sepsis is a life-threatening complication that often occurs in people with reduced immunity (patients with diabetes mellitus, kidney failure).
Treatment of prostatitis in men
The modern arsenal for diagnosing prostate diseases is very extensive.
The doctor will order you to have a bacteriological examination of your urine and prostate secretions.To clarify the location of a urinary tract infection, various urine components are examined.In addition, a mandatory diagnostic method is a digital examination of the prostate.This procedure is not very pleasant, but very informative.Your doctor may refer you for an ultrasound scan of your prostate and pelvic organs.If necessary, computer or magnetic nuclear tomography, cystoscopy, urography and prostate enzyme tests are prescribed.
When making the diagnosis, your doctor must rule out the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.Painkillers and warm baths may be recommended for quick pain relief in acute prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis requires the prescription of antibiotics, the selection of which is made based on the results of a bacteriological culture of secretions on nutrient media and determining the sensitivity of the pathogen to chemotherapy.
Nonbacterial prostatitis is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Prevention of prostatitis
Avoid hypothermia and do not sit on cold objects.Follow a gentle diet (excluding alcohol, spicy, fried and canned foods).Regular sex life is also a way to prevent prostatitis (since one of the provoking factors is sperm stagnation and frequent erections without subsequent ejaculation).Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases is equally important.
In adulthood, every man should undergo a urological examination regularly (once a year).After prostatitis, preventive outpatient treatment is carried out at least twice a year for a month and sanatorium treatment.