Prostatitis (lat. prostatitis) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland, diagnosed in 35-40% of men aged between 25 and 55 years. The older the patient, the greater the risk of developing prostatitis.
When inflamed, the prostate increases in size and begins to compress the urethra. This process causes a narrowing of the lumen of the ureter, as a result of which the man begins to feel a frequent need to urinate and has a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder. In the early stage, the symptoms of prostatitis may be mild. However, over time, prostatitis becomes the cause of sexual disorders. In addition, the pathology can lead to a number of complications:
- prostate abscess;
- cystitis.
Prostatitis or prostatic adenoma?
These two diseases are often confused or mistaken for the same thing. Meanwhile, they have different nature and flow patterns.
Peculiarities |
Prostatitis |
BPH |
Age of the patient |
20–45 years |
over 45 years |
Nature of the disease |
inflammatory process |
cancer |
Pain syndrome |
present in acute form |
appears in stages 2-3 of the disease |
Fever |
pronounced |
absent |
Urination disorder |
appears in acute form |
always present |
Weakening of potency |
observed in both cases |
|
Prostatitis mainly requires drug treatment, while prostatic adenoma is a benign tumor that is removed surgically. At the same time, prostate adenoma can cause prostatitis, which is why any inflammatory process in the pelvic organs requires timely examination and treatment.
Causes of prostatitis
Infectious
Prostatitis can be caused by:
- Staphylococcus aureus;
- enterococcus;
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
- sexually transmitted infections;
- chronic infectious diseases (tonsillitis, sinusitis, etc. );
- other opportunistic pathogens.
Stagnant
Prostatitis appears as a result of:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- sedentary work;
- long periods of abstinence;
- excessive sexual activity;
- interruption of sexual intercourse.
The listed factors contribute to the disruption of capillary blood flow and the formation of stagnant processes in the prostate tissue.
Prostatitis begins to develop more intensively when favorable factors appear, including:
- chronic constipation;
- hypothermia;
- unbalanced diet;
- urological diseases;
- frequent stress;
- intoxication of the body due to smoking or alcohol consumption;
- perineal lesions.
Types and symptoms of prostatitis
According to the form in which it manifests itself, prostatitis in men is divided into:
Acute prostatitis. One of the first signs of the course of the disease is a pronounced painful syndrome, which appears against the background of a rapidly developing inflammatory process. Swelling of the prostate gland occurs, triggered by exposure to pathogenic microflora. The condition requires emergency medical attention. In turn, acute prostatitis can have the following forms:
- catarrhal (frequent and painful urination, pain in the sacrum and perineum, difficulty defecating);
- follicular (pain intensifies and begins to radiate to the anus, when going to the toilet, urine comes out in a thin stream, body temperature rises to 37. 5 ºС);
- parenchymal (body temperature rises to 38-40 ºС, general intoxication of the body is observed, severe stabbing pain in the groin area is noted, acute urinary retention occurs).
Chronic prostatitis is practically asymptomatic or has mild symptoms. In men, the temperature occasionally rises to 37-37, 5 ºС, a slight pain is felt in the perineum, which intensifies during urination or defecation. Additionally, you may experience:
- weakening of erection;
- accelerated ejaculation;
- decrease in the severity of sexual sensations.
In some cases, chronic prostatitis becomes the result of an acute process, when the patient notices the so-called false improvement and refuses to consult a urologist. As a rule, the result of home self-medication is a number of complications: prostatic abscess or adenoma, inflammation of the bladder, loss of fertility, etc.
Depending on the cause, prostatitis can be:
- herpetic,
- bacterial,
- infectious,
- fungal,
- purulent,
- chlamydia,
- gonorrhea,
- computer,
- fibrous,
- stagnant.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
Palpation allows you to determine the size, shape and tissue structure of the organ.
Laboratory research. It allows you to diagnose prostatitis and other prostate diseases in the initial stages or in chronic cases in the absence of pronounced symptoms.
- general blood and urine tests;
- a biochemical blood test is carried out to clarify the picture of the disease and determine the involvement of other organs and internal systems in the inflammatory process;
- PSA blood test;
- urine culture with antibiotic sensitivity testing.
- smear for urogenital infections to detect sexually transmitted diseases.
Ultrasound is performed to identify structural changes in the prostate tissue and detect neoplasms (cysts, tumors).
TRUS is performed through the rectum and allows you to obtain the most complete information about the state of the gland and bladder.
MRI allows you to obtain detailed layer-by-layer images of the prostate and surrounding tissues in three different projections.
Treatment of prostatitis
Treatment methods depend on the identified causative agent of prostatitis, so the patient must undergo a comprehensive examination.
Treatment of acute prostatitis
Antibacterial therapy. Before prescribing antibiotics, the doctor will test the patient to identify the causative agent of the infection. Next, drugs are selected that will help suppress the activity of pathogenic microorganisms and eliminate the inflammatory process.
Symptomatic treatment. In addition, the urologist can prescribe antipyretics, painkillers, diuretics, laxatives, vitamins, immunomodulators and other drugs.
Surgery. Performed in case of complications. For example, if an abscess develops, your doctor may perform a transurethral or transrectal opening of the abscess; in case of acute urinary retention a cystoma may be necessary.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
Antibacterial therapy. The course of treatment lasts 14-28 days and must be completed even if the signs of prostatitis disappear after a week. Antibiotics are used to eliminate the infection and suppress inflammatory processes in the body.
Symptomatic treatment. Depending on the indications, the urologist may prescribe painkillers, antispasmodics, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, vascular and other drugs to the patient.
Manual or hardware massage. One of the most effective methods of treating prostatitis in men. Prostate massage helps to remove stagnant secretions, improve blood and lymph flow and restore metabolism in the affected organ.
Physiotherapy treatment. Depending on the indications, the urologist may prescribe electrical stimulation, laser or magnetic therapy. The procedures help improve blood circulation, have an anti-inflammatory effect and help restore reproductive function.
Prevention of prostatitis
Preventing prostatitis is much easier than treating it later. To do this, just follow the following advice:
Annual exam. It is necessary to visit a urologist every year, even if there are no complaints about your health.
Sports activities. Regular physical activity helps improve metabolic processes throughout the body, including the prostate.
Refusal of promiscuous sexual relations. Sex is very important for men's health, but frequent changes in sexual partners can cause bacterial prostatitis and related complications.
Balanced diet. You need to eat at least 3 times a day. The diet should include lean fish and meat, grains, dairy products, fresh vegetables and fruits. It is recommended to limit consumption or completely avoid carbonated drinks, fatty and smoked foods, baked goods and spices.
Rejection of bad habits. Drinking alcohol and smoking reduces immunity and puts the body under additional stress, creating favorable conditions for the development of many diseases.
Questions and answers
Question: How to distinguish acute prostatitis from chronic prostatitis?
Answer: We should start with the fact that in its acute form the disease usually occurs in people under the age of 30-35 years. Chronic prostatitis is considered non-aging. The disease in its acute form usually manifests itself quickly with the following symptoms:
- a sharp increase in body temperature (up to 40 degrees);
- a severe headache appears;
- fever begins.
Acute prostatitis is also characterized by constant pain in the groin, back and perineum.
In its chronic form, prostatitis, on the contrary, may not manifest symptoms for a long time. Over time, a person develops a fever, and periodic pains appear in the anus, scrotum, back and perineum.
Urination is impaired, purulent discharge from the anus and urethra begins. Chronic prostatitis also leads to erectile dysfunction. Ejaculation starts to be painful and sexual intercourse is not pleasant.
Question: What happens if prostatitis is left untreated?
Answer: If a person does not receive treatment for diagnosed prostatitis, complications and concomitant pathologies may develop
- Vesiculitis. This disease is characterized by inflammatory processes in the seminal vesicles. As a result, pus enters the ejaculate and the quality of the sperm decreases. Vesiculitis often leads to complete loss of reproductive functions.
- Colliculitis. A disease in which inflammatory processes affect the seminal tubercle. As a result, during sex, a man feels severe pain, which leads to disruption of orgasm. Without therapy, a person develops impotence of a psychological nature.
- Abscess. It is formed in the prostate and leads to intoxication of the body. Its rupture can lead to an increase in symptoms and, in some cases, lead to death.
- Infertility. It occurs against the background of deterioration of sperm quality and inflammatory processes in the testicles, spermatic cord and vesicles.
- Against the background of prostatitis, immunity often deteriorates. About a third of all cases of the disease without therapy end with the development of oncology. Prostatitis must be treated in a specialized andrology clinic.
Question: Where should I go for prostatitis treatment?
Answer: The diagnosis is usually made by a urologist based on a study of symptoms. To confirm prostatitis, various studies are usually prescribed:
- general blood and urine tests;
- swab for sexually transmitted diseases;
- secret research;
- uroflowmetry;
- ultrasound.
In some cases, a biopsy and a spermogram are also prescribed.