Prostatitis is one of the most common urinary diseases in men.It is generally accepted that after 30 years, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, after 50 - 50%, etc.At the same time, the actual incidence is much higher than the registered rate, which is explained by the peculiarities of diagnosis and the possibility of the disease occurring in a latent form.When prostatitis occurs, many urination problems occur, sexual desire decreases and erectile function is impaired.
Prostatitis is one of the most common urinary diseases in men.It is generally accepted that after 30 years, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, after 50 - 50%, etc.At the same time, the actual incidence is much higher than the registered rate, which is explained by the peculiarities of diagnosis and the possibility of the disease occurring in a latent form.
The prostate is a small glandular-muscular organ located in the small pelvis below the bladder, covering the first part of the urethra (urethra).The prostate secretes a secretion that, when mixed with semen, maintains sperm activity and resistance to various adverse conditions.
When prostatitis occurs, many urination problems occur, sexual desire decreases and erectile function is impaired.The saddest thing is that without proper treatment, about 40% of patients face some form of infertility, because the prostate no longer produces enough high-quality secretions to ensure sperm mobility.It is important to remember that similar symptoms can occur not only with prostatitis but also with prostate adenoma and cancer.
Types of prostatitis
According to the criteria of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH USA) since 1995, prostatitis is divided into 4 types:
- Type I - Acute prostatitis;
- Type II - Chronic bacterial prostatitis;
- Type III - Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS):
- Type IIIa - Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with signs of inflammation;
- Type IIIb - Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome without signs of inflammation;
- Type IV - Chronic asymptomatic prostatitis (no symptoms).
Occasionally, chronic granulomatous prostatitis, not mentioned in this classification, also occurs.
Most experts distinguish 4 main forms of prostatitis:
- acute bacterial prostatitis,
- chronic bacterial prostatitis,
- Non-bacterial prostatitis
- Prostate pain.
Causes of prostatitis in men
In people under 35 years old, the disease often occurs in the form of acute bacterial prostatitis.Bacterial prostatitis is called when there is laboratory confirmation of the presence of infection.Most often it turns out to be chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis or gonorrhea.The infection enters the prostate from the urethra, bladder, rectum and through the blood and lymph vessels of the pelvis.
However, recent studies demonstrate that in most cases, infection is caused by existing disorders in the structure of prostate tissue and blood circulation in it.With nonbacterial prostatitis, it is not possible to isolate bacteria, although this does not exclude their presence.
In older patients, chronic forms of the disease are more often diagnosed.
Prostate pain is the presence of clinical prostatitis, thickening of prostate tissue without signs of inflammation.
Symptoms of prostatitis in men
Symptoms of prostatitis can be divided into 3 groups:
- urinary system disorders (frequent and painful urination, feeling of bladder not completely emptying), lower abdominal pain;
- sexual dysfunction (pain along the urethra and rectum during ejaculation, weak erection, premature ejaculation, loss of orgasm, etc.);
- increased anxiety and tension of a man, caused by the patient's attention to their condition.
Acute prostatitis usually begins with an increase in body temperature to 39-40°C accompanied by fever and chills.Difficult and painful urination.Prostate swelling develops, which can cause acute urinary retention.
Chronic prostatitis progresses more calmly, but at any time, under adverse factors, an exacerbation can occur.There may be no symptoms.
Complications of prostatitis
If not treated promptly, prostatitis can cause the following complications:
- transition from acute to chronic prostatitis,
- Bladder obstruction with acute urinary retention, requiring surgical treatment,
- the development of male infertility,
- narrowing and scarring of the urethra,
- recurrent cystitis,
- pyelonephritis and other kidney damage,
- abscess (suppuration) of the prostate, requiring surgical intervention,
- Sepsis is a life-threatening complication that often develops in people with impaired immunity (diabetics, kidney failure).
Treatment of prostatitis in men
The modern arsenal for diagnosing prostate disease is very wide.
Your doctor will order a bacterial test in your urine and prostatic secretions.To clarify the location of a urinary tract infection, different parts of the urine will be tested.In addition, the mandatory diagnostic method is a digital examination of the prostate.This procedure is not very exciting, but it is very informative.Your doctor may refer you for an ultrasound of the prostate and pelvic organs.If necessary, computed or magnetic nuclear tomography, cystoscopy, ureterography, and prostate enzyme testing are indicated.
When making a diagnosis, the doctor must rule out the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.To quickly relieve pain in acute prostatitis, pain relievers and warm baths may be recommended.
Bacterial prostatitis requires the prescription of antibiotics, the choice of drugs is made based on the results of the culture of secreted bacteria on a nutrient medium and the determination of the sensitivity of the pathogen to chemotherapy.
Nonbacterial prostatitis is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Prevention of prostatitis
Avoid hypothermia and do not sit on cold objects.Follow a light diet (excluding alcohol, spicy foods, fried foods and canned foods).A regular sex life is also a way to prevent prostatitis (because one of the stimulating factors is stagnant sperm and frequent erections without subsequent ejaculation).Equally important is the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
In adulthood, every man should be examined regularly by a urologist (once a year).After prostatitis, preventive outpatient courses are carried out at least 2 times a year for a month and one course of treatment in a sanatorium.