Recommend
Official site Prostaline

Prostatitis in men

Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that affects the prostate tissue.This is one of the most common diseases in the urologist's practice.The disease is mainly diagnosed in men aged 25-30, but the risk of developing the pathology increases significantly at an older age.

The form distinguishes between acute and chronic prostatitis.In the latter case, the inflammation is characterized by a long course, with periodic relapses.This condition is much more common than acute.

Causes of prostatitis

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

Among the most common pathogens of bacterial (infectious) prostatitis, gram-negative organisms should be noted: pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Serration, Enterobacter and Proteus.Often, the inflammatory process develops against the background of infection with STIs: chlamydia, gonococci, trichomonas, herpes virus, etc.Such forms of the disease are usually diagnosed in men under the age of 35.Cases of treatment of pathology against the background of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are extremely rare.

There are also non-bacterial types of prostatitis.Its main causes include:

  • increased pressure in the prostate gland;
  • autoimmune diseases (destruction of prostate cells by antibodies);
  • muscle pain syndrome in the pelvic area;
  • psycho-emotional disorders;
  • lack of motor activity;
  • excessive physical stress.

Primary symptoms of prostatitis

a man with symptoms of prostatitis

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

  • uncontrolled urination;
  • discomfort, pain when emptying the bladder;
  • impotence disorder in men of reproductive age;
  • pain in the perineum when sitting for a long time;
  • frequent and strong urge to urinate;
  • difficulty emptying the bladder;
  • decreased libido and erectile problems;
  • reproductive dysfunction (infertility);
  • a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder 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 acute form of the disease and the general clinical picture differ depending on the stage of the pathological process:

  • With catarrh.The patient complains of frequent urges, pain to urinate, pain in the perineum and sacrum.
  • Follicular.The pain syndrome becomes intense, may radiate to the anus, and intensifies during defecation.Urine is released in a thin stream.In some cases there is a delay.Prolonged increase in body temperature of 38 degrees (low fever) or moderate hyperthermia.
  • Parenchymal.The man begins to experience general intoxication of the body, chills and a temperature of up to 38-40 ° C.Pain in the perineum becomes sharp and throbbing.Defecation is difficult and normal bladder emptying is impossible, resulting in acute urinary retention (dysuria).

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The chronic form of prostatitis can be the consequence of the absence of the acute stage or its treatment in an inadequate time.However, in many men it develops immediately and is characterized by "blurred" symptoms.The main signs include:

  • low-grade fever (occasionally);
  • slight pain in the perineum;
  • discomfort during urination;
  • slight discharge from the urogenital canal during defecation.

In general, the clinical picture changes over time, has different intensity in different patients, and may be hidden when self-medication is attempted.Symptoms of a chronic disorder may include burning in the urethra, pressure in the perineum, dysuria, impaired sexual function, and increased general fatigue.In the background of potency problems, mental depression, irritability and anxiety occur.The fear of impotence leads to the development of complexes, but most men tend to postpone a visit to the urologist because of the feeling of shame.

Primary chronic prostatitis develops over a long period of time.Stagnation of blood in the capillaries (prostatosis) provokes the initial stage of non-bacterial inflammation, which leads to the development of the disease.

With an infectious etiology, the cause of the disease is a chronic inflammatory process caused by trichomonas, ureaplasma, chlamydia or gonococcal infection.The primary infection masks the signs of prostatitis and its treatment does not eliminate the prostatitis.It often happens that a man goes unnoticed with a related problem.

Let's take a closer look at the three main symptoms of chronic prostatitis:

  • Urinary tract disorder (dysuria).Inflammation increases the volume of the prostate, which leads to compression of the ureter.As its lumen decreases, a frequent urge to urinate and a feeling of an incomplete bladder appear.Dysuric disorders appear in many men in the early stages of prostatitis.During this period, the compensatory mechanism manifests itself in the hypertrophy of the muscles of the bladder and ureter, 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 to painful to very intense, disturbing a night's rest.Increased discomfort occurs during ejaculation, sexual abstinence or excessive sexual activity.The pain radiates to the perineum, sacrum, scrotum, and sometimes the lumbar region.
  • Violation of potency.Lack of treatment in the early stages of prostatitis can lead to dyspotency, when a man experiences frequent erections at night, the quality of orgasm deteriorates and ejaculation accelerates.In different patients, these signs appear with different intensity.Premature ejaculation occurs due to a decrease in the excitability threshold of the orgasmic center.In this case, the patient feels pain, which leads to the development of pain anticipation syndrome and the gradual cancellation of sexual activity.In the absence of comprehensive treatment that treats the mental factor of the disorder, sexual disorders become more and more serious.Ignoring medical help for prostatitis often ends in impotence.

The degree of sexual dysfunction varies depending on individual factors.Some men are so afraid of erectile dysfunction that their problems stem from suggestion rather than objective physiological factors.In particular, psychogenic dyspotency is observed in cases of increased anxiety and obsessional complexes.For such patients, it is difficult to bear even the thought of possible disturbances in the male health condition.This greatly affects their character and communication with others.Irritability, hypochondria, grumpiness and depression appear.

Complications of prostatitis

Lack of proper treatment of prostatitis leads to accompanying diseases.The fact is that the prostate is closely related to other organs of the male urogenital system.It is located around the neck of the bladder and urethra.Therefore, when the prostate enlarges, the urethra is compressed and the normal outflow of urine is interrupted.Taking into account the physiological characteristics, if acute or chronic prostatitis is not treated in time, many serious pathologies and complications occur.

Related issues:

  • formation of cysts, prostate stones;
  • a decrease in 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.

Certain consequences of prostatitis, which do not receive timely and comprehensive treatment, pose a threat not only to health, but also to the patient's life (especially oncological pathologies may develop).Therefore, at the first symptoms of prostatitis, you should consult a urologist.It is also necessary to remember regular preventive examinations after 40 years, when the risk of pathological processes of the prostate increases significantly.

Diagnosis of prostatitis

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

  • digital rectal examination of the prostate to determine the size, structure and level of compression of the urethra;
  • Ultrasound of the urinary system (prostate, bladder, kidneys);
  • laboratory examination of urine, prostate secretion, ejaculate;
  • examination of urogenital infections;
  • urodynamic examination.

In order to ensure an accurate diagnosis of prostatitis and related disorders in men, you should refrain from urinating for 2-3 hours before visiting the urologist.Otherwise, the test results may not be completely correct, since the pathogenic microflora is washed out when the bladder is emptied.According to the characteristics of the clinical picture, the method of ultrasound is selected: transrectally or transabdominally (through the abdominal wall).After determining the cause and stage of the disease, a therapeutic strategy is developed.

Treatment methods of prostatitis

The main therapy is antibiotics.The use of modern pharmacological developments gives high results, although it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of relapse.After the urine and/or prostate secretions are cultured, the doctor prescribes an antibacterial drug for the type of pathogen.If acute prostatitis is diagnosed, oral antibiotic therapy takes about 4-6 weeks.In chronic or recurring forms of the disease, the treatment lasts longer (depending on the clinical picture).In severe cases (usually acute bacterial prostatitis), hospitalization and a course of intravenous antibiotics are required.

In case of difficulty urinating, the urologist prescribes drugs that relieve the hypertonia of the muscles of the bladder and prostate, which normalizes the outflow of urine and prevents stagnation.Some patients are treated with drugs that reduce the level of sex hormones.As a result, the size of the prostate decreases and, accordingly, discomfort during urination, defecation and ejaculation.In case of severe swelling of the prostate gland, muscle relaxants help relieve the overload of the bladder sphincter and adjacent muscles.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs effectively combat pain.In addition, chronic prostatitis responds well to adjunctive physical therapy.Effective methods of such treatment include:

  • instillation of drugs 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 digital stimulation of the prostate through the rectum to increase the outflow of secretions and restore the patency of the organ's channels.Another effect is better blood circulation and accelerated penetration of antibiotics into inflamed tissues.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 short-term exposure to low-frequency sound waves in the inflamed area.The procedure helps:

  • activates local blood circulation and the growth of new blood vessels;
  • stimulates the body's own regeneration abilities;
  • destroys fibrous foci and calcifications that cause pain and inflammation.

After shock wave therapy, the symptoms of prostatitis are alleviated and a good preventive effect is observed.Expressed results can be achieved only with an integrated approach to the problem.In addition, the patient's responsible attitude towards medical prescriptions is important.

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

Prevention of prostatitis

In order to minimize the risk of relapse, the negative effects on the body must be reduced.Provocative factors include:

  • Smoking.The anatomical characteristics of the location of the prostate lead to constant oxygen starvation, and inhalation of tobacco smoke causes vasospasm, which further slows down 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 of the pelvic organs.
  • Alcohol abuse.Exceeding the daily limit of alcohol affects the general state of health and makes the body more vulnerable to various infectious diseases.
  • Stressful conditions.Situations that lead to anxiety, irritation and depressive disorders should be avoided as much as possible.If necessary, consult a specialist.
  • Hypothermia.Exposure to low temperatures reduces immunity, which makes the body "open" to colds and inflammation.
  • Fatigue, excessive physical activity.Do not forget about work and rest periods, as well as lifting heavy weights.

Preventive measures help prevent the development of acute prostatitis and the relapse of chronic prostatitis.You can contact the urology department of our practice at any time with questions about the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis.