Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. It is one of the most common diseases in men. Men over 30 are mostly affected. If left untreated, the disease progresses rapidly and leads to serious complications - infertility, impotence and cancer.
Most often, prostatitis is manifested 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. It consists of three departments. During ejaculation, the prostate gland begins to contract, pushing the seminal fluid through the urethra. The gland is involved in the restriction of urinary incontinence, the formation of an erection and the production of sperm.
Prostate fluid contains a large amount of proteins, fats, enzymes, and even some vitamins. The juice dilutes the seminal fluid, thereby promoting the viability of the sperm. The prostate gland is an active organ. It depends on hormonal levels and itself participates in the formation of sex hormones.
Causes
It is difficult to identify the exact cause that caused 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 decrease, 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 the 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 tissue of the gland and cause prostatitis. Constipation can also be considered a predisposing factor.
- Prolonged abstinence from intercourse, interrupted intercourse, or artificial prolongation of 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 stream.
Symptoms and signs of prostatitis
Symptoms of prostatitis can vary. According to the nature of the course, acute and chronic prostatitis are distinguished.
Common signs of prostatitis include the following:
- problems with urination - it is frequent, interrupted and difficult;
- deterioration of erection;
- burning sensation in groin;
- urine is cloudy and contains fibers;
- orgasm is not bright;
- increased fatigue;
- reduced potency;
- depression, anxiety.
Acute prostatitis most often begins with an increase in body temperature to 39-40 degrees. The prostate gland swells, causing problems with urination. It is difficult and accompanied by pain.
During the 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. Characteristics of acute prostatitis:
- Acute follicular prostatitis is characterized by weak flow pressure during urination. It is accompanied by severe pain, which may radiate to the anal area, especially intensifying during defecation. A slight rise in temperature is possible.
- Acute parenchymal prostatitis is characterized by sudden, throbbing pain in the perineal area. Body intoxication is observed, the temperature can reach 40 degrees. It is often accompanied by urinary retention.
- Acute catarrhal prostatitis causes pain in the perineum, frequent urination and pain during urination.
Chronic prostatitis can develop from an acute form, but more often it develops immediately into a chronic form. Symptoms are hidden, without clear signs and manifestations.
Symptoms and signs caused by chronic prostatitis:
- decrease in erection and libido;
- decreased flow pressure during urination;
- cramps and pain during urination;
- 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 worsens its development and can cause complications.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
Medicine does not stand still, and diagnosing prostatitis is not difficult. After collecting the history, the doctor can prescribe different 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 secret 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 and glandular secretions for infection.
- Analysis of a smear from the urethra to determine sexually transmitted infections that can cause prostatitis.
- Blood test to determine sex hormones.
These diagnostic measures help not only to confirm the diagnosis, since the symptoms are generally 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 use the traditional, medicinal method of treating prostatitis. This helps to relieve swelling, severe inflammation and normalize the functioning of the prostate gland.
A complex of different methods is usually described:
- rectal suppositories. Reduce pain and relieve inflammation;
- injections;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- instillation - the drug is injected directly into the prostate;
- micro enema;
- 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 types 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. Various muscle relaxants are used to relieve tension in the perineal area.
A necessary step would be to improve blood circulation to relieve congestion and get vitamins.
Various physiotherapeutic procedures and prostate massage are mandatory for the treatment of prostatitis. Prostate massage is used for all forms and stages of disease development, improves blood circulation and squeezes secretions with a pathogenic environment in 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 the inflammation of other organs. Experiments are currently being conducted, this view has not been refuted or clinically proven, therefore massage is an integral method of prostatitis treatment.
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 useful. It will not be superfluous in case of acute manifestation of prostatitis, however, treatment only at home is unacceptable.
Among the known methods, these 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, as these herbs are poisonous and strict adherence to the dose and dosing regimen is necessary.
- Treatment of prostatitis with wormwood. It is used to relieve inflammation and remove purulent infection.
- Treatment of prostatitis with garlic, fennel, hazelnut, chestnut, propolis, herbs, etc.
Most of these methods are aimed at easing inflammatory processes and normalizing sexual function. A large number of different vitamins saturate the body, which plays a role in preventing prostatitis flare-ups.
Consequences of prostatitis
If you refuse and if the treatment of prostatitis is not started at the right time, 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 further penetrate into nearby tissues. Other prostate diseases can also develop, including stones and cysts.
With prostatitis, the level of sex hormones decreases, which leads to a decrease in sexual desire (lust). 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, in 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 to recognize chronic prostatitis in time.
Prevention of prostatitis
Prevention of irritations is aimed at health monitoring and timely identification of problems. Since in most cases prostatitis is a consequence of untreated diseases of the genitourinary system, great 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 congestion and strengthen the pelvic muscles.
- Regular sex life. Medicines for artificial prolongation of intercourse, interrupted intercourse and suppression of ejaculation are undesirable.
- Rejection of promiscuity. Violent sex life leads to sexually transmitted infections.
- Proper, healthy food.
- Quitting alcohol.
- Strengthening the body's defenses, avoiding hypothermia.
- Minimizing stress.
Prostatitis has a low rate of self-healing or home treatment. Therefore, at the first signs, you should immediately contact a urologist to prescribe adequate treatment. You should also carefully monitor the signs that indicate chronic prostatitis and consult a doctor in time.