Prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate - can manifest itself in acute and chronic forms.
It is difficult to ignore acute inflammation: its signs are clearly pronounced, which cannot be said about the chronic manifestation of the disease.Heasymptomatic, but it does its job “perfectly”, damaging the tissues of the organ, thus reducing its functions.
About chronic prostatitis: types and characteristics
Inflammation of the prostate is considered chronic,if his 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 childbearing age, and even young men aged 18 to 20 are susceptible to this disease.
There can be two reasons for the development of chronic prostatitis: infection and stagnation of blood 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 neighboring organs, for example, from the intestines with hemorrhoids, dysbacteriosis,
- sexually
- descending or ascending from the infected urinary tract - bladder or urethra.
Inflammation of the prostate caused by a sexually transmitted pathogen, such as gonococcus, chlamydia and treponema pallidum, requires special attention.The symptoms of this prostatitis and genital infections are similar and can “hide” behind the signs of these diseases.This type of prostatitis is easy to trigger.
Reduced immunity and hormonal imbalancesparticularly stimulate the development and spread of infection.
Non-infectious or congestive prostatitisappears as a result of a violation of the outflow of blood and lymph from the pelvis, as well as stagnation of prostatic juice in the ducts of the gland.
Provoking such phenomenathe following factors:
- disturbances in sexual life - prolonged abstinence, interrupted acts, unsatisfied desire,
- smoking - nicotine spasms blood vessels and interferes with normal blood circulation,
- sedentary lifestyle,
- tight clothing,
- alcohol abuse.Alcoholic beverages irritate the walls of the glandular ducts, causing their 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 is also calledchronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).The main symptom is pain in the pelvic region, but the absence of pathogenic microorganisms during microbiological examination of urine and prostate secretions.
Painful sensations acquire different severity and localization.They spread to the perineum or bladder, genitals.The ejaculation process is also painful.Problems with urinary excretion and in the sexual sphere are also present, but they are secondary.
The diagnosis is made if the pain persists for 3 months or more.
There are 2 types of CPPS:
- inflammatory CPPS– an increase in the number of leukocytes is detected in urine and prostate secretions, which indicates inflammation.Microorganisms are not detected.Several reasons can explain the appearance of this type of inflammation.On the one hand, this is possible with the backflow (reflux) of clean urine from the urethra into the gland.This is facilitated by anatomical defects or impaired muscle contractions of the bladder, prostate and perineum.Urine, or rather the urates it contains, causes inflammation of the prostate.On the other hand, it is believed that the culprits of this process are always bacteria that are not determined by the classical method.To identify them, molecular diagnostics must be used.The third reason concerns autoimmune processes in the body.
- Non-inflammatory CPPS– the analyzes do not contain leukocytosis and microorganisms.To establish a diagnosis, instrumental diagnostics are used.It helps identify innervation problems or muscular changes in the prostate and other organs:
- cervical part of the bladder - stenosis or proliferation,
- pelvic region – myalgia, muscle tension, disruption of the passage of nerve impulses,
- urethra - narrowing, increased pressure,
- prostate – reflux of urine, increased pressure.
OftenNervous disorders are observed in patients with CPPS: anxiety, irritability, depressive tendencies.
Bacterial prostatitis
Chronic inflammation of the prostate of bacterial etiologybegins to manifest itself as slight discomfort when urinating.This includes minor pain, itching or burning, and decreased stream flow.The color of urine changes and it acquires an unpleasant odor.Unpleasant sensations may also bother you during bowel movements.A weak, dull pain appears in the perineum.
ariseproblems in sex life.At the beginning of the disease, they are situational: weakening of the erection or increase in the frequency of its occurrence at night, acceleration of ejaculation, disturbances in orgasmic sensations.
A characteristic symptom of this stage– the appearance of discharge from the urethra during defecation.
Such sluggish symptoms can persist for quite a long time.A man may not pay attention to this, attributing everything to other reasons.If there is no treatment, they progress and an exacerbation of the chronic process occurs, the intensity of sensations increases.
Urinating becomes very painful, the urge to go to the toilet becomes more frequent.At some point, these manifestations weaken due to compensatory growth of the bladder muscles, and then resume with greater force.
The pain in the perineum also intensifies.It radiates to the lower back, the pubis, the leg, the scrotum.The nature of the pain also changes: it becomes stronger, more acute, and bothers you at night.
Sexual dysfunction increases and becomes permanent.Ejaculation is accompanied by pain, erections and reduced libido.
Patients are also accompanied by increased sweating, including in the perineum.Body temperature is slightly elevated – 37-37.5°.
In the context of sexual disorders in menmental disorders develop.They become irritable, nervous and may become depressed.
Treatment of the disease at this stage reduces the intensity of symptoms, and the exacerbation phase goes into remission.
Other types of chronic prostatitis
There is a notioncalculous prostatitis.This disease is extremely rare and affects older men.It is characterized by the formation of stones consisting of prostatic juice, inflammatory effusion, as well as phosphates and calcium.
Signs of this type of disease are pain, which has a typical localization of prostatitis.They intensify with movement, after sexual intercourse.Blood appears in the ejaculate.There are other signs of inflammation of the gland.
Stones are a consequence of long-term prostatitis or adenoma.
Congestive prostatitisThere are bacterial and non-bacterial.Its particularity lies in mild symptoms:
- mild fever,
- uncomfortable sensations in the groin,
- urination problems,
- irritability,
- sexual disorders.
There are also suchtypes of chronic prostatitis:
- autoimmune– develops in immune diseases, for example rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus,
- hormonal-dystrophic– appears due to hormonal imbalances, hormonal diseases (diabetes mellitus), due to physiological aging of the body,
- vegetovascular– formed in the context of vegetative-vascular dystonia.Causes blood circulation problems.
How is the disease detected: diagnosis
Chronic prostatitis is diagnosedthe same methods as the acute.
First of allthe doctor questions and examines the patient.The examination is carried out using a digital rectal exam of the prostate.It may be enlarged, painful, asymmetrical and hardened.In rare cases (non-inflammatory CPPS), it is not modified.
Next doctorI will order tests.Laboratory methods include a general blood and urine test and analysis of prostate secretions.They will show an increase in the number of white blood cells.Bacteriological examination of urine and prostate juice reveals the pathogen.Sometimes these indicators may be normal, but the process is still present.
To confirm the fact of the disease, the blood is tested for PSA.Instrumental methods will also be useful: ultrasound, TRUS, flowmetry.
Very often it turns out that a man does not suspect that he is suffering from such a disease, ignoring the symptoms.It is detected by chance, during systematic examinations.It is therefore recommended not to disrupt the system and not to neglect scheduled inspections.
Pharmacological treatment
First of all, for the treatment of chronic prostatitisantibiotics are prescribed.The course is long - 1-1.5 months.Before prescribing antibacterial agents, the type of pathogen and its sensitivity to drugs are determined.
Mandatoryuse immunocorrecting drugs, because reduced immunity is a common cause of inflammation.Help from an immunologist is possible.
Therapy for chronic inflammation of the prostateI can't do without anti-inflammatories.To begin with, nonsteroidal medications are prescribed.They are used in the form of tablets or injections.If they fail to achieve the desired result, hormones are used.
Alpha blockerswill help relieve muscular tension in the bladder and perineum.They act symptomatically, reducing pain and improving urination.
If unbearable pain occurs,painkillers are relevant.
It is worth mentioning separatelyon the use of a dosage form such as suppositories.They are perfect for treating chronic prostate processes.Most often, its symptoms are mild and the gentle action of the suppositories is more than enough to relieve them.
They are inserted into the rectum.Its location close to the prostate allows you to obtain results quickly and efficiently.In addition, the harmful effects of tablets on the gastrointestinal tract and difficulties with injection are eliminated.Suppositories have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect on the organ.
Physiotherapy and other methods
In addition to medications, other methods of treating chronic prostatitis are used:
- rectal prostate massage– carried out through the rectum.The procedure eliminates stagnation of prostate juice, and also improves the effect of medications.Contraindicated in case of exacerbation of the disease and in the presence of stones in the prostate,
- physiotherapy improves blood circulation in the affected organ and improves its nutrition.Methods usedUHF, electrophoresis, darsonvalizationand others.They are only indicated in the remission phase,
- Prostatitis affects not only the organs, but also the psyche of a man.He might needhelp from a psychologist or psychotherapist,
- acupunctureis a common method of treating chronic prostatitis.The procedure affects the organ indirectly, via acupuncture points,
- exercises, such as squats, walking, jumping will increase blood circulation in the pelvis and eliminate congestion,
- actively usedbalneotherapy– mineral water treatment.
Medications are an integral part of the treatment of chronic prostatitis.But they can cause a number of complications.And since the treatment of this type of disease is long-term, people have found ways to partially replace these medications.I came to the rescuetraditional medicine.
The leader among folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis ispumpkin seeds.They contain a lot of zinc, which is essential for men's health.The seeds can be consumed separately: 30 grams will replenish the daily requirement of an essential microelement.You can also grind them in a meat grinder and mix with honey to make balls from the resulting mixture.They should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed 1 piece before meals.
It is very useful in case of inflammation of the prostate to drinkfreshly squeezed beet, carrot, cucumber and asparagus juice.The volume per day should be at least 0.5 liters.
BlueberriesPerfect for restoring the prostate.It contains many useful substances, microelements and vitamins.
In rare cases, in the treatment of prostatitisI have to have surgery.Indications include the lack of improvement from conservative treatment, as well as acute processes: abscesses and other purulent inflammations of the prostate, acute urinary retention, proliferation of glandular tissue, as well as benign and malignant formations.
Surgical treatment is carried out using several methods: This may involve 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 preventionis to prevent the onset of the disease and boils down to the following measures:
- maintain immunity,
- regularity of sexual activity,
- physical exercises and moderate loads.This is especially important for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle,
- avoid hypothermia,
- stop infectious foci in the body,
- rapid treatment of urogenital infections,
- be sure to undergo routine medical examinations,
- do not abuse alcohol and tobacco.
Secondary preventionincludes measures to prevent relapse of the disease.During the first year after suffering from prostatitis, a man should visit a urologist once every 3 months.Then – once every 6 months.If no exacerbation of the disease occurs, the patient is removed from dispensary observation.
Excellent for the prevention of prostatitissanatorium treatment is suitable.Modern sanatoriums offer complexes of physiotherapy and balneotherapy procedures, as well as other natural resources.
Importantalso watch your diet.Include more vegetables and fruits and a variety of cereals in the menu.You should also enrich your diet with fermented milk products.Eating seafood will compensate for the lack of zinc.
You should avoid salty, spicy and smoked foods and not overuse spices.Legumes, fatty foods and flour products should be excluded.
Chronic prostatitis is a slow but long-term process.He is insidious with complications:
- cystitis, pyelonephritis - urolithiasis,
- vesiculitis - an inflammatory process in the seminal vesicles,
- Epididymo-orchitis is an inflammatory process of the testicles,
- glandular hypotrophy,
- infertility and impotence.
Treatment of the disease -quite a long process.But it is worth following this path to the end in order to preserve your health and maintain the chances of having healthy offspring.