Recommend
Official site Prostaline
Czech Republic (en)
Flag (Czech Republic)

Prostatitis in men

Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that affects the tissues of the prostate.This is one of the most common diseases in the practice of urologists.The disease is diagnosed mainly in men aged 25-30 years, however at older ages the risk of developing pathology increases significantly.

Form distinguishes between acute and chronic prostatitis.In the second case, the inflammation is characterized by a long period of time with periodic relapses.This condition is much more common than acute.

Causes of prostatitis

Many prostate diseases, such as benign hyperplasia or cancer, are a problem of older age groups.However, prostatitis does not fall into this category.Symptoms of the disease usually appear in men between the ages of 30 and 50. Usually, the cause is infectious damage caused by the invasion of pathogenic flora from the genital canal or glands of the reproductive system.This is explained by the fact that the urethra and anus are located close to each other.

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 STI infection: chlamydia, gonococci, trichomonas, herpes virus, etc.As a rule, such forms of the disease are diagnosed in men under 35 years of age.Cases of pathological treatment based on Mycobacterial tuberculosis infection are extremely rare.

There are also non-bacterial types of prostatitis.Among their main reasons:

  • increased pressure in the prostate;
  • autoimmune disorder (destruction of prostate cells by antibodies);
  • pelvic pain syndrome;
  • psychological and emotional disorders;
  • lack of motor activity;
  • excessive physical stress.

Early signs of prostatitis

A man shows signs of prostatitis

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

  • uncontrolled urination;
  • discomfort and pain when urinating;
  • potency disorders in men of reproductive age;
  • pain in the perineum when sitting for a long time;
  • frequent and strong urination;
  • difficulty emptying the bladder;
  • decreased sexual desire and erection problems;
  • reproductive dysfunction (infertility);
  • feeling of incomplete bladder emptying after going to the toilet;
  • the inability to achieve a high-quality and long-lasting erection even with intense stimulation.

Signs of acute prostatitis

Symptoms of the disease in acute form and the general clinical picture vary depending on the stage of the pathological process:

  • Catarrhal.Patients complain of frequent urination, pain during urination, pain in the perineum and sacrum.
  • Follicle.The pain syndrome becomes intense, can spread to the anus and intensifies during defecation.Urine is excreted in a dilute stream.In some cases there are delays.Body temperature increases up to 38 degrees for a long time (mild fever) or moderate hyperthermia.
  • Parenchyma.The man began to feel poisoned in his body with chills and a temperature of up to 38-40°C.The pain in the perineum becomes sharp and throbbing.Defecation is difficult and normal bladder emptying is impossible, leading to acute urinary retention (dysuria).

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The chronic form of prostatitis can be a consequence of failure to treat or treat the acute phase promptly.However, in many men, it develops immediately and is characterized by “faint” symptoms.Among the main signs are:

  • mild fever (occasionally);
  • mild pain in the perineum;
  • discomfort when urinating;
  • A small amount of fluid is secreted from the genital tract during defecation.

In general, the clinical picture changes over time, varies in intensity in different patients, and may be masked when self-medication is attempted.Symptoms of the chronic disorder may include a burning sensation in the urethra, pressure in the perineum, difficulty urinating, impaired sexual function, and general fatigue.Against the background of potency problems, mental depression, irritability and anxiety arise.Fear of impotence leads to the development of complexes, but most men tend to delay visiting a urologist because of feelings of shame.

Primary chronic prostatitis develops over a long period of time.Stagnation of blood in the capillaries (prostate) causes the initial stages of non-bacterial inflammation, leading to the onset of the disease.

With infectious etiology, the cause of the disease is a chronic inflammatory process caused by infection with trichomonas, ureaplasma, chlamydia or gonococcus.Primary infection masks signs of prostatitis, and treatment does not eliminate prostatitis.Often, the addition of a problem at the same time remains unnoticed by the man.

Let's look in detail at the three main symptoms of chronic prostatitis:

  • Urinary disorders (dysuria).Inflammation increases the volume of the prostate, leading to compression of the ureter.As its lumen decreases, a frequent urge to urinate and a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying appear.Indigestion disorders in many men occur in the early stages of prostatitis.Compensatory mechanisms during this period are manifested by hypertrophy of the muscles of the bladder and ureters, which reduces the symptoms of dysuria, but when inflammation develops, they increase again.
  • 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 and painful to very intense, interfering with nighttime sleep.Increased discomfort occurs with ejaculation, sexual abstinence, or excessive sexual activity.The pain radiates to the perineum, sacrum, scrotum and sometimes to the lumbar region.
  • Violation of validity.Failure to treat in the early stages of prostatitis can lead to dyspareunia, when a man has frequent nocturnal erections, impaired orgasm quality and rapid ejaculation.In different patients, these signs manifest with different intensities.Premature ejaculation occurs due to a decreased stimulation threshold of the orgasm center.In this case, the patient feels pain, which leads to the development of pain anticipation syndrome and gradually abandons sexual activity.In the absence of comprehensive treatment to address the psychiatric component of the disorder, sexual dysfunction becomes increasingly more severe.Ignoring the need to seek medical help for prostatitis often leads to impotence.

The degree of sexual dysfunction varies depending on each factor.Some men are so afraid of erectile dysfunction that their problems arise due to suggestions and not due to objective physiological factors.In particular, psychosis is clearly observed with increased anxiety and obsessive complexes.Such patients can hardly bear the thought of possible disorders of men's health.This greatly affects their personality and way of communicating with others.Irritability, suspicion of illness, irritability and depression appear.

Complications of prostatitis

Improper treatment of prostatitis will lead to accompanying diseases.The fact is that the prostate is closely connected with other organs of the male reproductive system.It is located around the bladder neck and urinary tract.Therefore, when the prostate enlarges, the urethra is compressed and the normal flow of urine is interrupted.Taking into account the peculiarities of physiology, if acute or chronic prostatitis is not treated promptly, a number of serious pathologies and complications will arise.

Related issues:

  • formation of cysts and prostate stones;
  • reduces 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.

Some consequences of prostatitis, if not treated promptly and comprehensively, not only threaten the patient's health but also the life (especially the development of cancerous diseases).Therefore, at the first symptoms of prostatitis, you should consult a urologist.You should also remember about regular preventive examinations after 40 years, when the risk of pathological processes in the prostate increases greatly.

Diagnosis of prostatitis

Many urological problems have similar symptoms, so a specialist will work with each clinical case individually and use all available diagnostic tools.A consultation with a urologist always begins with a survey of symptoms, medical history, and a general examination.Then the doctor prescribes a series of tests, based on the results of the diagnosis and selects the appropriate treatment.As a rule, the inspection package includes:

  • digital rectal examination of the prostate to determine the size and structure of the prostate and the degree of urethral compression;
  • Ultrasound of the urinary system (prostate, bladder, kidneys);
  • urine test, prostatic secretion, ejaculation;
  • testing for urogenital infections;
  • urological research.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis of prostatitis in men and related disorders, you need to abstain from urinating for 2-3 hours before seeing a urologist.Otherwise, the test results may not be completely accurate, because when the bladder is emptied, the pathogenic microflora will be washed away.In accordance with the characteristics of the clinical situation, the ultrasound method is selected: transrectally or abdominally (through the abdominal wall).After determining the cause and stage of the disease, a treatment strategy will be developed.

Treatment methods for prostatitis

The main treatment is antibiotics.The use of modern pharmacological development methods gives high results, but the risk of relapse cannot be completely eliminated.The doctor prescribes antibacterial medication after culturing the urine and/or prostate secretions for the type of pathogen.If acute prostatitis is diagnosed, oral antibiotic therapy takes about 4-6 weeks.In chronic or recurrent forms of the disease, treatment will take longer (depending on the clinical situation).In severe cases (usually acute bacterial prostatitis), hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics are required.

If there is difficulty urinating, the urologist will prescribe medications that reduce the hypertonicity of the bladder and prostate muscles, helping to normalize urine outflow and prevent stagnation.Some patients are treated with drugs that reduce sex hormone levels.As a result, the size of the prostate gland is reduced and thus causes discomfort during urination, defecation and ejaculation.When the prostate is severely swollen, muscle relaxants help reduce excessive stress on the bladder sphincter and nearby muscles.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective in reducing pain.In addition, chronic prostatitis responds well to auxiliary physical therapy.Such effective treatments are:

  • Instilling medication 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 transrectal digital stimulation of the prostate to enhance secretion and restore the patency of the organ's ducts.An additional effect is to improve blood circulation and speed up the penetration of antibiotics into inflamed tissues.In addition to massaging the prostate with your fingers, you can also perform hardware methods.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 on the inflamed area.Procedures help:

  • activation of local blood circulation and development of new blood vessels;
  • stimulates the body's ability to regenerate;
  • destroys fibrous and calcifying foci that cause pain and inflammation.

After a course of shock wave treatment, the symptoms of prostatitis are relieved and have a good preventive effect.The published results could only be achieved by approaching the problem in an integrated manner.In addition, the patient's responsible attitude towards the prescription is also very important.

For their part, the clinic's urologists ensure the preparation of an individual treatment regimen, taking into account the cause, form, stage of the disease, general state of health and the presence of accompanying pathologies.

Prevention of prostatitis

To minimize the risk of recurrence, it is necessary to limit negative effects on the body.Among the provoking factors are:

  • Smoke.Anatomical features of the prostate position lead to constant hypoxia, and inhalation of cigarette smoke causes vascular spasm, further slowing down local microcirculation.All experienced smokers have problems with high blood pressure.
  • Deficiency of motor activity.“Sedentary” work and a sedentary lifestyle lead to blockage of the pelvic organs.
  • Alcohol abuse.Exceeding the daily alcohol limit affects overall health and makes the body susceptible to various infectious diseases.
  • Stressful conditions.It is necessary to avoid as much as possible situations that lead to anxiety, irritability, and depressive disorders.If necessary, you should contact a specialized specialist.
  • Hypothermia.Exposure to low temperatures reduces immunity, making the body "more susceptible to colds and infections".
  • Fatigue, excessive physical activity.You should not forget about your work and rest schedule as well as lifting heavy weights.

Preventive measures will help prevent the development of acute prostatitis and recurrence of chronic prostatitis.If you have questions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of prostatitis, you can always contact the urology department of our clinic.