Prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate gland - can manifest itself in acute and chronic forms.
It is difficult to ignore acute inflammation: its signs are clearly expressed, which cannot be said about the chronic manifestation of the disease.Thisasymptomatic, but it does its job "excellently", damages the tissues of the organ, and reduces its functions.
About chronic prostatitis: types and characteristics
Prostatitis is classified as chronic,if your indolent symptoms persist for more than 3 months.
According to statistics, only 5% of cases are acute, the remaining 95% are chronic prostatitis.It affects men of reproductive age, and even young men aged 18-20 are susceptible to this disease.
There are two reasons for the development of chronic prostatitis: infection and blood stasis in the pelvis.
Infectionenters the prostate in several ways:
- with blood flow from infectious foci in the body - decayed teeth, pneumonia, inflamed maxillary sinuses, pustular formations,
- with lymph flow from nearby organs, such as the intestines, hemorrhoids, dysbacteriosis,
- sexually
- descending or ascending from the infected urinary tract - bladder or urethra.
Prostatitis caused by sexually transmitted pathogens such as gonococcus, chlamydia and treponema pallidum require special attention.The symptoms of such prostatitis and genital infections are similar and can "hide" behind the signs of these diseases.This type of prostatitis is easily triggered.
Reduced immunity and hormonal imbalancethey especially stimulate the development and spread of infection.
Non-infectious or congestive prostatitisit appears as a result of a violation of the outflow of blood and lymph from the pelvis, as well as stagnation of prostate juice in the ducts of the gland.
Provoke such phenomenathe following factors:
- disorders of sexual life - prolonged abstinence, interrupted actions, unfulfilled desire,
- smoking - nicotine constricts blood vessels and disrupts normal blood circulation,
- sedentary lifestyle,
- tight clothes
- alcohol abuse.Alcoholic drinks irritate the walls of the glandular ducts and cause inflammation,
- constipation
Congestive prostatitis occurs 8 times more often than infectious prostatitis and very rarely develops as a complication of acute inflammation of the prostate.
Abacterial prostatitis
This type of disease has another namechronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).The main symptom is pelvic pain, but the absence of pathogenic microorganisms in the microbiological examination of urine and prostatic secretions.
Painful sensations have different severity and localization.They spread to the perineum or bladder, to the genitals.The process of ejaculation is also painful.Problems related to urinary excretion and the sexual sphere are also present, but these are secondary.
The diagnosis is made when the pain lasts for 3 months or more.
There are 2 types of CPPS:
- Inflammatory CPPS- an increased number of leukocytes can be detected in the urine and prostate discharge, which indicates inflammation.Microorganisms are not detected.There are many reasons for the appearance of this type of inflammation.On the one hand, this is possible with the backflow of clear urine (reflux) from the urethra into the gland.This is facilitated by anatomical defects or damaged muscle contractions of the bladder, prostate organ and barrier.Urine, or rather the urates in it, cause prostatitis.On the other hand, they believe that the culprit of this process is still a bacterium that is not determined by the classical method.Molecular diagnostics must be used for their identification.The 3rd reason is the autoimmune processes taking place in the body.
- Non-inflammatory CPPS- the analyzes do not contain leukocytosis and microorganisms.Instrumental diagnostics are used to establish the diagnosis.Allows identification of innervation problems or muscle changes in the prostate and other organs:
- bladder neck - narrowing or proliferation,
- pelvic area – muscle pain, muscle tension, disturbance in the passage of nerve impulses,
- urethra - narrowing, increased pressure,
- prostate – urine reflux, increased pressure.
OftenNeurological abnormalities are observed in patients with CPPS: anxiety, irritability, depressive tendency.
Bacterial prostatitis
Chronic inflammation of the prostate is of bacterial originit begins to manifest itself with slight discomfort during urination.This includes minor pain, itching or burning, and a decrease in stream flow.Urine changes color and has an unpleasant smell.Unpleasant sensations can also disturb you during bowel movements.A weak, dull pain appears in the perineum.
ariseproblems in sex life.At the beginning of the disease, they depend on the situation: weakening of the erection or increased frequency of its occurrence at night, acceleration of ejaculation, disturbances in the feeling of orgasm.
A characteristic symptom of this stage- discharge from the urethra during defecation.
Such slow symptoms can persist for quite a long time.A man may not pay attention to them, attributing everything to other reasons.If there is no treatment, they progress and the chronic process worsens, the intensity of the feelings increases.
Urination becomes sharply painful, the desire to go to the toilet becomes more frequent.At a certain point, these manifestations weaken due to the compensatory growth of the bladder muscles, and then reappear with greater force.
The pain in the perineum also intensifies.It radiates to the lower back, pubic body, legs, and scrotum.The nature of the pain also changes: it becomes stronger and sharper, it bothers you at night.
Sexual dysfunction increases and becomes permanent.Ejaculation is accompanied by pain, erection and loss of libido.
Patients are also accompanied by increased sweating, including in the perineum.The body temperature rises slightly - 37-37.5 °.
In the background of sexual disorders in menmental disorders develop.They can become irritable, nervous, and depressed.
Treatment of the disease at this stage reduces the intensity of the symptoms, and the exacerbation stage goes into remission.
Other types of chronic prostatitis
There is a conceptcalculus prostatitis.This disease is extremely rare and affects older men.It is characterized by the formation of stones consisting of prostatic fluid, inflammatory effusion, and phosphates and calcium.
Signs of this type of disease are pain, which has a localization characteristic of prostatitis.They get stronger with movement and after sex.Blood appears in the ejaculate.There are other signs of inflammation of the gland.
Stones are the result of long-term prostatitis or adenoma.
Congestive prostatitisThere are bacterial and non-bacterial.It is characterized by mild symptoms:
- low grade fever,
- discomfort in the groin,
- urination problems,
- irritability,
- sexual disorders.
There are those tootypes of chronic prostatitis:
- autoimmune- develops in immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus,
- hormonal-dystrophic- occurs due to hormonal imbalances, hormonal diseases (diabetes mellitus), as a result of physiological aging of the body,
- vegetovascular– developed against the background of vegetative-vascular dystonia.It causes problems with blood circulation.
How to detect the disease: diagnosis
Chronic prostatitis is diagnosedsame methods as acute.
First of allthe doctor questions and examines the patient.The examination is performed with a digital rectal examination of the prostate.It may be enlarged, painful, asymmetrical, and indurated.In rare cases (non-inflammatory CPPS) it does not change.
Next doctorwill order tests.Laboratory methods include general blood and urine tests, as well as analysis of prostate secretions.They will show an increased white blood cell count.Bacteriological examination of urine and prostate juice reveals the pathogen.Sometimes these indicators can be normal, but the process is still present.
To confirm the fact of the disease, the blood is tested for PSA.Instrumental methods also help: ultrasound, TRUS, uroflowmetry.
Very often it turns out that a man does not suspect that he has such a disease, ignoring the symptoms.It is discovered by chance, during systematic investigations.Therefore, it is recommended that you do not disturb the system and do not neglect the scheduled checks.
Drug treatment
First of all, for the treatment of chronic prostatitisantibiotics are prescribed.The course is long - 1-1.5 months.Before prescribing antibacterial agents, it is necessary to determine the type of pathogen and its sensitivity to the drugs.
Mandatoryuse immunocorrective drugs, because reduced immunity is a common cause of inflammation.The help of an immunologist is possible.
Therapy of chronic inflammation of the prostateYou cannot do without anti-inflammatory drugs.Initially, non-steroidal drugs are prescribed.It is used in the form of tablets or injections.If the desired result is not achieved, hormones are used.
Alpha blockershelps relieve muscle tension in the bladder and diaphragm.They have a symptomatic effect, reduce pain and improve urination.
If unbearable pain occurs,pain relievers are relevant.
It is worth mentioning separatelyabout the use of dosage forms such as suppositories.They are perfect for the treatment of chronic prostatic processes.Most often, the symptoms are mild, and the mild effect of the suppositories is sufficient to relieve them.
It is inserted into the rectum.The location close to the prostate gland enables quick and efficient results.In addition, the harmful effect of tablets on the gastrointestinal tract and the difficulties of injection are eliminated.Suppositories have an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect on the body.
Physiotherapy and other methods
In addition to medications, other methods are also used to treat chronic prostatitis:
- rectal prostate massage– is performed through the rectum.The procedure eliminates the stagnation of prostate juice and also enhances the effect of drugs.Contraindicated in case of exacerbation of the disease and presence of prostate stones,
- physiotherapy improves blood circulation in the affected organ and improves nutrition.Applied methodsUHF, electrophoresis, darsonvalizationand others.It is indicated only in the remission phase,
- Prostatitis affects not only the organs, but also the man's psyche.You might need itthe help of a psychologist or psychotherapist,
- acupuncturea common method of treating chronic prostatitis.The procedure affects the body indirectly, through acupuncture points,
- exercises, such as squatting, walking, jumping, increases blood circulation in the pelvis and eliminates congestion,
- are actively usedbalneotherapy– treatment with mineral water.
Medicines are an integral part of the treatment of chronic prostatitis.But they can cause many complications.And since the treatment of this type of disease is long-term, people have found ways to partially replace such drugs.The ambulance cametraditional medicine.
Folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis play a leading rolepumpkin seeds.They contain a lot of zinc, which is essential for men's health.The seeds can also be eaten separately: they replace the daily essential micronutrient requirement with 30 grams.You can also grind it in a meat grinder and mix it with honey to make balls from the resulting mixture.Store in the refrigerator and consume 1 before a meal.
It is very useful for prostatitis to drinkfreshly squeezed beet, carrot, cucumber and asparagus juice.The daily amount should be at least 0.5 liters.
CranberryPerfect for prostate recovery.It contains a lot of useful substances, microelements and vitamins.
In rare cases, in the treatment of prostatitisthey have to resort to surgery.Indications include lack of improvement from conservative treatment, as well as acute processes: abscess and other purulent prostatitis, acute urinary retention, proliferation of glandular tissue, and benign and malignant growths.
Surgical treatment is performed using several methods: This can be partial resection of an organ, opening of ulcers, excision of the foreskin or removal of the entire gland.
How to prevent the development of chronic prostatitis
Prevention of this diseasecan be primary or secondary.
Primary preventionaims to prevent the occurrence of the disease and covers the following measures:
- maintaining immunity,
- regularity of sexual activity,
- physical exercises and moderate loads.This is especially important for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle,
- avoid hypothermia,
- stopping infectious foci in the body,
- timely treatment of urogenital infections,
- be sure to attend a routine medical examination,
- do not abuse alcohol and smoking.
Secondary preventioncontains measures to prevent relapse of the disease.In the first year after prostatitis, the man must visit the urologist once every 3 months.Then - once every 6 months.If the aggravation of the disease does not occur, the patient is removed from medical observation.
Excellent for preventing prostatitissanatorium-resort treatment is suitable.Modern sanatoriums offer complexes of physiotherapy and balneotherapy procedures, as well as other natural resources.
Importantwatch your diet too.Include more vegetables and fruits and a variety of grains on the menu.You should also enrich your diet with fermented milk products.Eating seafood compensates for zinc deficiency.
Avoid salty, spicy and smoked foods and do not overuse spices.Legumes, fatty foods and flour products should be excluded.
Chronic prostatitis is a slow but long-term process.Insidious with complications:
- cystitis, pyelonephritis - urolithiasis,
- vesiculitis - inflammatory process in the seminal vesicles,
- Epididymo-orchitis is an inflammatory process of the testicle,
- gland hypotrophy,
- infertility and impotence.
Treatment of the disease -quite a long process.But it is worth going through this path in order to preserve health and preserve the chance of healthy offspring.