Recommend
Official site Prostaline

Prostatitis in men

Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that affects the tissues of the prostate.This is one of the most common diseases in a urologist's office.The disease is diagnosed mainly in men aged 25-30, however, with age, the risk of developing pathology increases significantly.

The form differentiates between acute and chronic prostatitis.In the latter case, the inflammation is characterized by a long course with periodic relapses.This disease is much more common compared to acute illness.

Causes of Prostatitis

Many prostate diseases, such as benign hyperplasia or oncopathologies, are problems of the older age group.However, prostatitis does not fall into this category.The symptoms usually occur in men between the ages of 30 and 50.Most often, the cause is an infectious lesion due to the penetration of pathogenic flora from the urogenital canal or glands of the urogenital system.This is explained by the proximity of the urethra and anus.

The most common causative agents of bacterial (infectious) prostatitis include gram-negative organisms: Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Serration, Enterobacter and Proteus.Often the inflammatory process develops against the background of infection with sexually transmitted diseases: chlamydia, gonococci, trichomonas, herpes virus, etc. As a rule, such forms of the disease are diagnosed in men under 35 years of age.Cases of treatment of pathology against the background of infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis are extremely rare.

There are also nonbacterial forms of prostatitis.Their main reasons include:

  • increased pressure in the prostate;
  • Autoimmune diseases (destruction of prostate cells by antibodies);
  • pelvic muscle pain syndrome;
  • psychoemotional disorders;
  • deficit of motor activity;
  • excessive physical stress.

Primary signs of prostatitis

a man with signs of prostatitis

The disease is accompanied by a number of disorders that affect the functioning of the entire urinary system.The main symptoms include:

  • uncontrolled urination;
  • Malaise, pain when emptying the bladder;
  • Erectile dysfunction in men of childbearing age;
  • Pain in the perineum when sitting for a long time;
  • frequent and strong urge to urinate;
  • difficulty emptying the bladder;
  • decreased libido and erection problems;
  • reproductive disorder (infertility);
  • Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying after going to the toilet;
  • Inability to achieve a high-quality and lasting erection even with strong arousal.

Signs of acute prostatitis

The symptoms of the disease in acute form and the general clinical picture differ depending on the stage of the pathological process:

  • Catarrhal.The patient complains of frequent urge to urinate, painful urination, pain in the perineum and sacrum.
  • Follicular.The pain syndrome becomes intense, can radiate into the anus and intensify during bowel movements.The urine is released in a thin stream.In some cases there may be delays.There is an increase in body temperature up to 38 degrees over a longer period of time (mild fever) or moderate hyperthermia.
  • Parenchymatous.The man begins to feel general intoxication of the body with chills and a temperature of up to 38-40°C.The pain in the perineum becomes sharp and throbbing.Bowel movements are difficult and normal bladder emptying is not possible, leading to acute urinary retention (dysuria).

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The chronic form of prostatic inflammation can be a consequence of the lack or untimely treatment of the acute stage.However, in many men it develops immediately and is characterized by “blurred” symptoms.The main characters include:

  • mild fever (uncommon);
  • slight pain in the perineum;
  • Difficulty urinating;
  • scanty discharge from the urogenital canal during bowel movements.

In general, the clinical picture changes over time, is different in severity in different patients and can be hidden when self-medication is attempted.Symptoms of a chronic disease may include burning in the urethra, pressure in the perineum, dysuria, impaired sexual function and increased general fatigue.Against the background of potency problems, psychological depression, irritability and anxiety occur.The fear of impotence leads to the development of complexes, but most men shy away from going to the urologist because of feelings of shame.

Primary chronic prostatitis develops over a long period of time.Stagnation of blood in the capillaries (prostatosis) triggers the initial stage of nonbacterial inflammation, which leads to the onset of the disease.

With an infectious etiology, the cause of the disease is a chronic inflammatory process due to infection with trichomonas, ureaplasma, chlamydia or gonococci.A primary infection masks the signs of prostatitis, and its treatment does not eliminate inflammation of the prostate.Often the addition of an accompanying problem goes unnoticed for a man.

Let's consider in detail the three main symptoms of chronic prostatitis:

  • Urinary disorder (dysuria).Inflammation causes the prostate to increase in volume, which leads to compression of the ureter.As the lumen decreases, there is a frequent urge to urinate and a feeling of an incompletely empty bladder.Dysuric disorders occur in many men in the early stages of prostatitis.The compensatory mechanism during this period is manifested by hypertrophy of the muscles of the bladder and ureters, which reduces the symptoms of dysuria, but increases again with the development of inflammation.
  • pain syndrome.There are no pain receptors in prostate tissue.Pain occurs when the inflammatory process spreads to other pelvic organs and their nerve pathways.The sensations range from mild and aching to very intense, affecting your ability to sleep at night.Increased symptoms occur with ejaculation, sexual abstinence or excessive sexual activity.The pain radiates to the perineum, sacrum, scrotum and sometimes to the lumbar area.
  • Violation of potency.Lack of treatment in the early stages of prostatitis can lead to dyspotence, when a man suffers from frequent nocturnal erections, deterioration in orgasm quality, and accelerated ejaculation.In different patients, these signs manifest themselves to different degrees.Premature ejaculation occurs due to a decrease in the excitability threshold of the orgasm center.In this case, the patient experiences pain, which leads to the development of pain anticipation syndrome and a gradual abandonment of sexual activity.Without comprehensive treatment that takes into account the psychological factor of the disorder, sexual disorders become progressively worse.Ignoring the need to seek medical attention for prostatitis often leads to impotence.

The degree of sexual dysfunction varies depending on individual factors.Some men are so afraid of erectile dysfunction that their problems are based on suggestion rather than objective physiological factors.In particular, psychogenic dyspotence is observed in cases of increased anxiety and compulsive complexes.The very thought of possible disruptions in male health is difficult for such patients to bear.This greatly affects their character and their communication with others.Irritability, hypochondria, sullenness and depression occur.

Complications of prostatitis

Inadequate treatment of prostate inflammation leads to concomitant diseases.The fact is that the prostate is closely connected with other organs of the male urogenital system.It is located around the bladder neck and urinary canal.Therefore, when the prostate enlarges, the urethra is compressed and the normal flow of urine is disrupted.Taking into account the peculiarities of physiology, if acute or chronic prostatitis is not treated in a timely manner, a number of serious pathologies and complications arise.

Related issues:

  • Formation of cysts, prostate stones;
  • Reducing the amount of male hormones produced;
  • decreased sexual desire (libido);
  • erectile dysfunction (erectile dysfunction);
  • infertility (in 40% of patients with chronic prostatitis);
  • prostate adenoma (benign tumor);
  • Prostate cancer.

Some consequences of prostate inflammation, which are not treated in a timely and comprehensive manner, endanger not only the health, but also the life of the patient (in particular, oncological pathologies can develop).Therefore, at the first symptoms of prostatitis, you should consult a urologist.Also remember to have regular preventive examinations after 40 years, when the risk of pathological processes in the prostate increases sharply.

Diagnosis of prostatitis

Many urological problems have similar symptoms, so the specialist treats each clinical case separately and uses all available diagnostic tools.A consultation with a urologist always begins with a question about your symptoms, your medical history and a general examination.Then the doctor prescribes a series of tests, on the basis of which a diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is selected.The exam package usually includes:

  • rectal digital examination of the prostate to determine the size, structure of the prostate and the degree of compression of the urethra;
  • Ultrasound of the urinary system (prostate, bladder, kidneys);
  • Laboratory tests of urine, prostate secretion, ejaculate;
  • tests for urogenital infections;
  • Urodynamic study.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis of prostatitis in men and related diseases, you must refrain from urinating for two to three hours before visiting the urologist.Otherwise, the test results may not be entirely accurate, since when the bladder is emptied, the pathogenic microflora is washed out.According to the characteristics of the clinical picture, the method of ultrasound examination is selected: transrectal or abdominal (through the abdominal wall).After determining the cause and stage of the disease, a therapeutic strategy is developed.

Treatment methods for prostatitis

The main therapy is antibiotics.The use of modern pharmacological developments leads to good results, although the risk of relapse cannot be completely excluded.After culturing the urine and/or prostate secretion, the doctor prescribes an antibacterial medication, depending on the type of pathogen.If acute prostatitis is diagnosed, oral antibiotic therapy lasts about 4-6 weeks.For chronic or recurrent forms of the disease, treatment takes longer (depending on the clinical picture).In severe cases (usually acute bacterial prostatitis), hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics are required.

If there are difficulties with urination, the urologist prescribes drugs that relieve the hypertonicity of the bladder and prostate muscles, normalize the outflow of urine and prevent stagnation.Some patients are treated with medications that lower sex hormone levels.This leads to a reduction in the size of the prostate gland and therefore discomfort during urination, bowel movements and ejaculation.If there is severe swelling of the prostate, muscle relaxants help to relieve the overload of the bladder sphincter and adjacent muscles.Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs effectively combat pain.Chronic prostatitis also responds well to supportive physical therapy.Effective methods of such treatment are:

  • Instillation of medication into the urethra;
  • prostate massage;
  • shock wave therapy (SWT);
  • magnetic laser therapy (MLT);
  • electrophoresis;
  • ozone therapy;
  • intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI);
  • ultraviolet blood irradiation (UFOI).

Prostate massage is a frequently used urological technique.The doctor uses the method of digital stimulation of the prostate through the rectum to promote the outflow of secretions and restore the patency of the organ's ducts.An additional effect is improved blood circulation and accelerated penetration of antibiotics into inflamed tissue.In addition to finger massage of the prostate, hardware methods are also possible.Shock wave therapy shows good results in the treatment of prostatitis.The basis of this medical technology is the short-term effect of low-frequency sound waves on the inflamed area.The procedure helps:

  • activate local blood circulation and the growth of new vessels;
  • stimulate the body's own regenerative abilities;
  • destroy fibrous foci and calcifications that cause pain and inflammatory processes.

After shock wave therapy, the symptoms of prostatitis are relieved and a good preventive effect is observed.Only with a holistic approach to the problem can pronounced results be achieved.In addition, it is important that the patient treats medical prescriptions responsibly.

For their part, the clinic's urologists ensure the creation of an individual treatment plan, taking into account the cause, form, stage of the disease, general well-being and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Prevention of prostatitis

To minimize the risk of relapse, it is necessary to reduce the negative effects on the body.The provoking factors include:

  • Smoke.The anatomical features of the location of the prostate lead to a constant lack of oxygen, and inhalation of tobacco smoke leads to vascular spasms, which further slow down the local microcirculation processes.All experienced smokers have the problem of high blood pressure.
  • Lack of motor activity.“Sedentary” work and a sedentary lifestyle lead to congestion in the pelvic organs.
  • Alcohol abuse.Exceeding the daily alcohol limit affects overall health and makes the body more susceptible to various infectious diseases.
  • Stressful conditions.Situations that lead to anxiety, irritation and depressive disorders must be avoided if possible.If necessary, you should contact a specialized specialist.
  • Hypothermia.Exposure to low temperatures reduces immunity, making the body “vulnerable” to colds and inflammation.
  • Fatigue, excessive physical activity.You should not forget about the work and rest schedule, as well as lifting heavy weights.

Preventive measures help prevent the development of acute prostatitis and relapses of chronic prostatitis.If you have any questions about the diagnosis and treatment of prostate inflammation, you can contact the urology department at our clinic at any time.