Prostatitis: causes, symptoms and treatment of the disease

Unfortunately, inflammation of the prostate tissue is not uncommon in modern men.Prostatitis most often occurs in patients over 40 years old, but it is possible that this disease occurs at an earlier age.By paying careful attention to his health and contacting a urologist in a timely manner, a man can fully cope with the problem and avoid many complications.In order to recognize the disease in time, you need to know what symptoms of prostatitis are characteristic.The diagnosis of this disease is well established in modern medicine and does not represent a problem. Every urologist knows how to cure prostatitis and what methods to use in each individual case.The greatest success is achieved through complex treatment, which includes various methods.

Causes and provoking factors of prostatitis

What is Prostatitis?This is an inflammation of the prostate tissue that can result from an infection or constipation.The trigger for the occurrence of prostatitis and the provoking factor can be certain diseases or lifestyle features.Age-related changes after 40 years without sufficient preventive measures quickly lead to stagnation of the pelvic organs and the development of prostate inflammation.It was found that the disease prostatitis is most often diagnosed in men belonging to certain groups.

Risk groups include older men who lead a sedentary lifestyle and abuse alcohol.There is also an increased risk of developing prostatitis in people who have suffered from urological infections, have intestinal problems and, in particular, suffer from constipation.If a man belongs to one of these groups, he should undergo diagnostic examinations more often, since prostatitis is diagnosed twice as often in members of the risk group.

Symptoms of prostatitis

Although the manifestations of prostatitis may be similar to other diseases of the genitourinary system, there are still signals from the body that should alert a man and be a reason for him to go to the doctor.It is best to do this as soon as the slightest impairment of male health occurs, then the treatment will be easier and more effective.To understand how prostatitis is treated in men, you need to have an idea of the manifestations of the disease.

Main signs of prostatitis

• Urinary disorders
• sexual problems,
• Pain in the pelvic area.

Why do these symptoms occur?This is due to changes in the tissue of the prostate.Due to inflammation, it increases and begins to put pressure on the urethra, narrowing its lumen.Such processes lead to problems with urination and worsening of urine flow.As the inflammation progresses, sexual disorders also increase, which also gradually worsen.

When should you sound the alarm?The sooner the better, even at the first signs of prostatitis:

• difficulty urinating,
• there is pain in the pelvic area.

Then there are other signs:

• problems with bowel movements,
• the appearance of blood streaks in the urine,
• discharge from the urethra,
• worsening of erection,
• weakening of orgasm.

Forms of prostatitis and their features

Prostatitis can be infectious and stagnant, as well as acute and chronic.The infectious form can be acute and chronic; the congestive form is usually only chronic.Acute symptoms are always pronounced, cause concern for men and are often a reason to see a doctor.With a chronic disease, it develops gradually, the symptoms of prostatitis slowly increase.For this reason, in most cases men come to the urologist when the disease is already advanced and unpleasant complications may have arisen.

Infectious prostatitis is most often caused by bacteria, but viruses and fungi can also cause inflammation of the prostate.Where does the infection come from?In most cases from the patient's own urinary tract.Cystitis or urethritis often leads to the infection spreading to the prostate.Almost any source of infection in the body with a deterioration in immunity and the presence of provoking factors can cause inflammation of the prostate.

Symptoms of acute prostatitis

• difficulty and pain when urinating,
• Frequent urge to urinate,
• Groin pain
• Weakening of erection
• temperature rise,
• General weakness
• Discharge from the urethra.

The general condition of the body suffers noticeably, so acute infectious prostatitis can hardly be overlooked.If the cause is a bacterial infection, there will be a viscous, yellowish discharge from the urethra.They occur both when urinating and when defecating, i.e. when straining.

The disease begins acutely with obvious symptoms and progresses through the following stages:

1. catarrhal,
2. follicular,
3. parenchymal,
4. Abscess formation.

The catarrhal stage is an inflammation in which individual lobules of the prostate are affected and the first disturbances in urination are observed.Due to inflammation of the tissue, swelling occurs, which leads to stagnation of secretions in the follicles of the gland and progression of inflammation.

After that, the disease prostatitis moves into the next, follicular stage and is accompanied by focal suppuration of the prostate lobules.The main symptoms are pain in the perineum, groin, significant problems with urination and a body temperature of up to 38 ° C.

If the disease is not stopped at this stage, the process spreads to a large number of prostate lobules and to their parenchymal tissue.This is the parenchyma stage.It is accompanied by fever, fever, the temperature rises to 39°C.The patient suffers from severe pain in the groin and perineal area, urination is frequent and painful.At this stage, a dangerous complication such as acute urinary retention may develop, requiring emergency care.

As the disease develops further, prostatitis can become dangerous.When small abscesses merge, an abscess forms in the prostate.It may open, then pus flows into the bladder, urethra and rectum.This is accompanied by severe pain, dysfunction of the pelvic organs, suppuration of the tissue and the risk of sepsis.

Features of chronic prostatitis

If acute prostatitis is not treated normally in a timely manner, there is a high risk that it will become chronic.Then the disease progresses sluggishly, without being remembered for some time, but periods of exacerbation periodically occur.It is possible that the symptoms of prostatitis appear constantly, but not with as much force as in the acute form of the disease.

The second and most common cause of chronic prostatitis is congestion of the prostate and pelvic organs.Both venous stagnation, which disrupts the outflow of blood and nutrition of the organ tissue, and stagnation of prostate secretion, which impairs its functionality, are dangerous.

Symptoms of the chronic form

• Aching pain occurring in the abdomen, epididymis, perineum, rectum,
• Painful erection
• Frequent trips to the toilet
• pain when urinating,
• Decreased sexual desire
• Difficulty ejaculating
• If the cause of the disease is bacterial, there is a discharge from the urethra.

The disease prostatitis is called insidious.Visiting the urologist at an advanced stage is not always evidence that a man does not pay attention to his health.Inflammation of the prostate can progress for years without clinical manifestations or noticeable symptoms, and at some point, when exposed to a provoking factor, all manifestations develop very quickly.

Pain in prostatitis

The prostate itself does not hurt, but nerve endings come from it that respond to the inflammatory process.The location of the prostate and the nerve pathways is such that the pain impulses in the pelvic organs diverge, so that pain can be felt in different places.

Localization of pain in prostatitis

• lower abdomen
• sacrum,
• scrotum,
• Step.

The nature of painful sensations depends on the intensity, frequency of the process, as well as the characteristics of the man's body.In some cases, even a slight inflammation can cause the patient quite severe pain, in other cases the man hardly feels it even with an intense inflammatory process.In any case, if measures are not taken to treat the inflammation, it will progress and the pain will gradually increase.The pain syndrome can be so severe that a man cannot live in his usual rhythm.In such cases, urgent action is required.Various factors can contribute to increased pain:

• physical activity,
• excessive sexual activity,
• Abstinence.

The nature of pain in prostatitis is similar to pain in urethritis, cystitis or osteochondrosis.Therefore, to make a diagnosis, you must undergo an examination.Hormones play an important role in the body's response.High testosterone levels act as a kind of pain relief, so men of active age may not feel the manifestations of diseases.

Problems urinating

Urination disorders are always accompanied by prostatitis.This symptom occurs in both acute and chronic forms, with both infectious and congestive inflammation of the prostate.

How do urinary disorders manifest themselves in prostatitis?

• The urine stream becomes weaker
• To start urinating, you have to make an effort,
• Frequent urge to urinate, which can be painful
• Possible pain and stinging when urinating,
• After going to the toilet, excruciating pain in the perineal area is possible,
• Stagnation of urine with severe narrowing of the urethral lumen.

Causes of problems with urination due to inflammation of the prostate

• The relative position of the prostate and urethra,
• Changes in the tissue
• Disturbance of nerve conduction in the pelvic area,
• Deterioration of bladder function.

One of the reasons for urinary problems lies in the anatomical structure of the male urogenital system.The prostate covers the urethra, so even a mild inflammatory process leads to a narrowing of the urethra as the prostate swells and increases in volume.The manifestations of such disorders can be of varying intensity, from a barely noticeable weakening of the stream of urine to pain that requires effort during urination.

If the disease lasts for a long time, scar-sclerotic tissue changes occur.They disrupt the normal flow of urine, which leads to disorders.

Cicatricial sclerotic processes can cause not only the formation of mechanical obstacles to the outflow of urine or deterioration of urinary tract peristalsis, but also disruption of innervation.Nerve impulses transmitted from the bladder cannot completely pass through damaged tissue.This is why “confusion” occurs: either there is a false urge to urinate, or, on the contrary, the man has the feeling that his bladder is not full.It is possible to stop the urge to urinate before the bladder is empty.

All of the above changes lead to stagnation of urine, a deterioration in its outflow, a change in the sensitivity of this organ and a weakening or, conversely, an increase in its muscle tone.A fairly common condition associated with prostatitis is the so-called overactive bladder.What happens in such an organ?Even when the filling is low, high pressure is created inside.This causes an impulse to reach the brain, which is converted into an urge to urinate.With an overactive bladder, this urge can be so strong that it can lead to urinary incontinence.Of course, situations like this don't happen too often;They are caused by the gradual development of the disease and the lack of adequate treatment.Incontinence usually occurs in old, advanced forms of chronic prostatitis.

Sexual disorders

Problems that arise in men in the sexual sphere are perceived by them more acutely than other manifestations of prostatitis.In the acute form of the disease, they disappear quite quickly as soon as the patient recovers.When the prostate gland is chronically inflamed, sexual dysfunction often remains persistent and can be difficult to manage.

Manifestations of sexual disorders

• Slight discharge from the urethra,
• Blood in sperm
• Decreased libido
• Decreased sperm quality, which can lead to infertility,
• Painful erection or ejaculation
• Decreased intensity of orgasm or its absence,
• Premature ejaculation
• Erectile dysfunction up to the complete absence of an erection.

Why is this happening?How are prostatitis and male sexual functions related?The main causes of sexual problems in prostatitis are disorders of nerve conduction and hormonal balance, which arise from inflammation and damage to organ tissue.

Nerve conduction disorder

Prostate receptors are responsible for erection and ejaculation and send corresponding impulses.Advanced male prostatitis leads to damage to the glandular tissue, scars form on the surface, preventing the receptors from transmitting impulses as before.As a result, the erection can weaken, ejaculation problems can occur and the man no longer feels the desire for sexual intercourse as clearly.If there is significant swelling of the prostate during sexual intercourse due to blood flowing into the pelvic organs, there may be too much pressure on the nerve plexus.This leads to pain during erection or ejaculation.

Hormonal imbalance

The man's prostate is an organ that regulates hormone levels and is responsible for the production of testosterone.In addition, it converts this hormone into a more active form – dihydrotestosterone.As you know, a normal testosterone concentration ensures libido and the possibility of sexual intercourse, i.e. an erection.If the prostate becomes inflamed, its functions are also disrupted and the production of male sex hormones is reduced accordingly, which manifests itself in a man's reduced sexual performance.

The severity of the disease largely depends not on the degree of tissue damage, but on the sexual constitution of the man, and the possibility of recovery depends on his attitude and cooperation with the attending physician.

How to make a diagnosis

Proper treatment of prostatitis, as well as the results of treatment, depend on an accurate diagnosis.Without instrumental studies it is impossible to make a diagnosis of prostatitis.The fact is that the symptoms and manifestations are similar to those of other diseases of the prostate and urinary tract.In some cases, a differential diagnosis is also necessary for spinal diseases.

Diagnostic measures

• Anamnesis during a consultation with a urologist,
• rectal digital examination,
• laboratory tests,
• Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate,
• Urodynamic studies,
• PSA determination,
• urethroscopy,
• cystoscopy,
• Prostate biopsy.

The list of studies is quite extensive, but it is not always necessary to conduct a complete set.

How is the patient examined?

Usually, men who come to the urologist are most interested in how to quickly cure prostatitis.It depends on the reasons and wishes of the patient himself.At the first appointment with a specialist, a detailed medical history will be taken and a digital rectal examination will then be required.This allows pain in the prostate area, its size and swelling to be determined.Next, TRUS (transrectal ultrasound) and laboratory tests are prescribed.Only after a series of procedures can a specialist understand how to cure prostatitis in a particular case.

What does TRUS give?

• Shows the exact dimensions of the prostate and its individual sections,
• Allows for a detailed examination and assessment of the condition of soft tissues and seminal vesicles.

What tests need to be carried out

• General urine and blood tests,
• Bacteriological urine culture,
• Urethral swab
• Prostatic secretion.

If necessary, other forms of study are also prescribed.If there are severe urination disorders, urodynamics must be determined in order to assess bladder function.If a prostate adenoma or tumor development is suspected, a blood test for the tumor marker PSA (prostate-specific antigen) and a biopsy of glandular tissue are carried out for histological examination.

Treatment of prostatitis

Modern medicine offers many ways to deal with prostatitis.The most effective treatment of prostatitis in men is based on an integrated approach that includes several methods.Specific methods of treating prostatitis depend on the stage, timing of the disease, the degree of its prevalence and severity of symptoms, as well as the individual characteristics of the body in each case.As a rule, all treatments are carried out on an outpatient basis by a urologist.In rare cases, when dangerous complications occur, the patient is hospitalized.

Treatment methods

• medication,
• Massage,
• therapeutic gymnastics,
• Surgery,
• Minimally invasive methods to destroy inflamed tissue and expand the urethra.

Drug treatment

After the examination, the first question that arises is how to treat prostatitis in men.First of all, they resort to drug therapy.The prescription depends on the causes of prostatitis and the existing symptoms.

Medications used to treat prostatitis:

• Antibacterial agents (against bacterial prostatitis),
• Antiviral drugs (against viral form),
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
• alpha blockers,
• painkillers,
• decongestants,
• Antipyretic.

Many medications to treat prostate inflammation are prescribed in the form of suppositories.This form allows you to achieve a faster effect.In no case should you prescribe medication yourself, because every medication has contraindications and side effects that only a specialist can fully take into account.

massage

This method of treating prostatitis is used as an additional method in drug therapy.It allows for faster treatment of prostatitis and much better results.Internal and external massage methods are used.

The most important and effective method for massaging the prostate is digital rectal stimulation.The specialist performing the massage inserts a finger into the patient's rectum, palpates the prostate and performs massage movements.

Benefits of massage:

• Improved blood supply,
• stimulation of the gland,
• Removing stagnant secretions.

Thanks to prostate massage, the effect of medications is enhanced and recovery occurs much faster.

External massage does not involve penetration into the body;Massage movements are performed through the skin of the perineum.This procedure is a good prevention of prostatitis in men, but its effectiveness is not enough to treat the disease.

Therapeutic gymnastics

How can prostatitis be treated with therapeutic exercises?When performing exercises, there is an inflow of arterial blood to the prostate and an improvement in the outflow of venous blood, i.e.h.stagnation in the organ is eliminated.With regular physical activity, this naturally happens gradually.The complex for maintaining men's health consists of a set of simple exercises that are performed while lying down, sitting or standing.One of the simplest and most effective exercises is periodically tensing and relaxing the muscles in the anus.It can be done at any time and almost anywhere, even in the workplace, as it is completely invisible to others.This exercise is an excellent prevention of prostatitis in men;It allows you to maintain good muscle tone of the perineum and active blood circulation.

Minimally invasive methods to correct prostate problems

Modern medicine offers minimally invasive methods of treating prostatitis in men, which have only recently been developed.They are used where a series of conservative therapeutic measures does not solve the problem.Such methods are indicated in cases where it is necessary to ensure the outflow of urine and reduce inflammation.

Recommended techniques:

• Transuretal microwave therapy helps reduce the size of the prostate by using high temperatures.
• Ultrasound treatment of the prostate helps relieve inflammation.
• Laser methods allow coagulation of tissues, which leads to their renewal and strengthening of local immunity.
• Cryodestruction is a method of removing inflamed areas of tissue at low temperatures.
• Balloon urethral dilation is a mechanical expansion of the urethra using a special inflatable balloon inserted through catheterization.
• Urethral stenting can be used either alone or in conjunction with balloon dilatation.The urethra is expanded using a stent.

Surgical treatment

The radical method of treating prostatitis is surgery.Nowadays it is rarely used, only in difficult cases when other methods do not bring results.The essence of the operation is the resection of the prostate, which leads to a reduction in pressure on the urethra, improvement of urodynamics and relief of inflammatory symptoms.

The operation can be carried out openly or transurethically, i.e. via the urethra.

Men suffering from this disease are interested in whether it is possible to cure prostatitis and forget about it forever.As long as there are no large-scale, gross scarring changes in the glandular tissue, complete healing is possible.The most important thing for success in the treatment of prostatitis is a timely visit to the urologist.As soon as problems with urination appear, you must go to a medical facility, undergo an examination and, if necessary, seek treatment prescribed by a doctor.To avoid the question of how to recover from prostatitis, it is worth dealing with its prevention: lead an active lifestyle, eat right, do not abuse alcohol and pay attention to everything that concerns maintaining men's health.