Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. It is one of the most common diseases in men. Mostly men over 30 are affected. If not treated, the disease develops rapidly and causes serious complications - infertility, impotence and cancer.
Most often, prostatitis manifests itself as painful urination, purulent and bloody discharge in the urine, sexual dysfunction.
The prostate is an organ that produces sperm and regulates urination. It is located under the bladder. It consists of three departments. During ejaculation, the prostate gland begins to contract, pushing the seminal fluid out of the urethra. The gland is involved in the restriction of urinary incontinence, the formation of an erection and the production of sperm.
Prostate juice contains a large amount of proteins, fats, enzymes and even some vitamins. The juice dilutes the seminal fluid and thereby increases the viability of the sperm. The prostate gland is an active organ. It depends on the hormonal level and is involved in the formation of sex hormones.
Reasons
It is difficult to determine the exact reason that causes the development of prostatitis in a particular person. Most likely, it will be a complex of factors that cause the problem to one degree or another.
Let's consider the causes and factors that can contribute to the development of prostatitis:
- Hypothermia and stress. The body's defenses decrease, which contributes to the appearance of inflammatory processes.
- Hormonal imbalances. The level of sex hormones affects the activity of the prostate gland.
- Sexually transmitted infections and urinary tract infections.
- Various disorders of body mechanisms: urinary disorders, pelvic congestion. A hypodynamic lifestyle and tight underwear interfere with blood circulation in the pelvis. And problems with urination contribute to irritation of the glandular tissue and cause prostatitis. Constipation can also be considered a predisposing factor.
- Rejection of sexual intercourse for a long time, interruption of sexual intercourse or artificial prolongation of sexual intercourse. This causes the gland to enlarge and become inflamed.
- Malnutrition and alcohol abuse.
Infection in the prostate gland can occur in 4 ways:
- Descending - enters with the flow of urine.
- Ascending - rises along the urethra.
- Lymphogenic - along with lymph flow.
- Hematogenous - with blood flow.
Symptoms and signs of prostatitis
Symptoms of prostatitis can be different. According to the nature of the course, there are acute and chronic prostatitis.
Common symptoms of prostatitis include:
- problems with urination - frequent, intermittent and difficult;
- deterioration of erection;
- burning sensation in the groin;
- urine is cloudy and contains fibers;
- orgasm is not bright;
- increased fatigue;
- decrease in capacity;
- depression, anxiety.
Acute prostatitis usually begins with an increase in body temperature to 39-40 degrees. The prostate gland swells and causes problems with urination. It is difficult and accompanied by pain.
During exacerbation of prostatitis, the patient feels pain in the perineum, as well as in the rectum, groin and sacrum.
Acute prostatitis can be catarrhal, follicular and parenchymal. Features of acute prostatitis:
- Follicular acute prostatitis is characterized by weak flow pressure during urination. It is accompanied by severe pain that can spread to the anal region, which increases especially during defecation. A slight increase in temperature is possible.
- Parenchymal acute prostatitis is characterized by sudden pain with pulsations in the perineal region. Intoxication of the body is observed, the temperature can reach 40 degrees. It is often accompanied by urinary retention.
- Catarrhal acute prostatitis causes pain in the perineum, frequent urination and pain when urinating.
Chronic prostatitis can develop from an acute form, but more often it immediately turns into a chronic form. Symptoms disappear without clear signs and manifestations.
Symptoms and signs caused by chronic prostatitis:
- decrease in erection and libido;
- decrease in flow pressure during urination;
- cramps and pain when urinating;
- painful pain in the perineum, anus, sacrum.
Since the symptoms of chronic prostatitis are not clearly expressed, the patient often does not pay attention to the symptoms for a long time, which complicates its development and can cause complications.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
Medicine does not stand still and diagnosing prostatitis is not difficult. After collecting the anamnesis, the doctor can prescribe various diagnostic methods to confirm the diagnosis of prostatitis.
- Palpation of the prostate through the rectum to diagnose prostatitis. It will reveal pain and increased size, and these are characteristic signs of the inflammatory process in it, and during palpation, secretion of the prostate gland is released, which is sent for analysis.
- Ultrasound.
- Microscopic examination of prostate secretion.
- Bacteriological examination of urine.
- Smearing mucous membranes and glandular secretions for infection.
- Examination of a urethral swab to identify sexually transmitted infections that may cause prostatitis.
- Blood test to determine sex hormones.
These diagnostic measures not only help to confirm the diagnosis, because usually the symptoms are quite obvious, but also determine the cause of the disease.
Treatment of prostatitis
Currently, there are many treatment options for prostatitis. These include traditional methods and methods of folk medicine. Traditional medicine can serve as an addition to the main therapy. Self-treatment of prostatitis is dangerous because it can cause complications.
Doctors always resort to the traditional, medicinal method for the treatment of prostatitis. It helps to eliminate swelling, severe inflammation and normalize the work of the prostate gland.
A complex of different methods is usually prescribed:
- rectal suppositories. reduces pain and eliminates inflammation;
- injections;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- instillation - the drug is injected directly into the prostate;
- microenemas;
- tablet drugs. Often antibacterial drugs;
- alpha-blockers.
The complex of therapeutic measures is selected individually depending on the degree of the disease, the manifestation of symptoms and the expected therapeutic effect for the patient.
If the bacterial cause of prostatitis is determined, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed that can destroy several bacterial strains. They can be in the form of suppositories, tablets and injections.
Painkillers are used to relieve pain.
Alpha-blockers - help to relax the muscles of the urethra, which is the result of prostatitis. Various muscle relaxants are used to relieve tension in the perineal area.
It would be a necessary step to improve blood circulation to eliminate congestion and take vitamins.
Various physiotherapeutic procedures and prostate massage are mandatory for the treatment of prostatitis. Prostate massage is used for all forms and stages of development of the disease, it improves blood circulation and squeezes secretions with a pathogenic environment into the urethra.
Some scientists doubted this method of treating prostatitis, arguing that the pathogenic environment penetrates further into the genitourinary system and contributes to the inflammation of other organs. Experiments are currently being conducted, this point of view has not been clinically disproved or proven, so massage is an integral method of treating prostatitis.
Traditional treatment at home
Traditional medicine is often used to treat prostatitis at home. If chronic prostatitis is diagnosed, additional therapy with folk remedies will be very useful. In the case of an acute manifestation of prostatitis, it is not enough, but only home treatment is unacceptable.
Among the popular methods, the following can be called quite effective:
- Treatment of prostatitis with pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds contain a large amount of zinc, which is necessary for men, regardless of whether they have prostatitis or not.
- Treatment of prostatitis with parsley - helps to eliminate inflammation and normalize sexual function. Contains a large amount of vitamins.
- Treatment of prostatitis with infusions of hemlock and celandine. This method should be used with caution as these herbs are poisonous and dosage and dosage regimen must be strictly followed.
- Treatment of prostatitis with wormwood. It is used to relieve inflammation and eliminate purulent infection.
- Prostatitis is treated with garlic, fennel, hazelnuts, chestnuts, propolis, greens, etc.
Most of these methods are aimed at eliminating inflammatory processes and normalizing sexual function. A large number of different vitamins saturate the body, which plays a role in preventing the exacerbation of prostatitis.
Consequences of prostatitis
If you refuse and the treatment of prostatitis is not started on time, there is a high probability of developing serious complications. Among the complications:
- infinity;
- impotence;
- BPH;
- prostate cancer etc.
If treatment is refused, the infection will further penetrate into nearby tissues. Other prostate problems can also develop, including stones and cysts.
With prostatitis, the level of sex hormones decreases, which leads to a decrease in sexual desire (libido). Erectile dysfunction begins and premature ejaculation may occur. Impotence is possible.
Prostatitis also causes infertility. This problem is especially common in patients who develop chronic prostatitis. This complication is observed in half of these patients.
Sclerosis of the prostate gland may develop. In this case, the gland stops functioning partially or completely. This problem is accompanied by severe pain, sexual dysfunction, and problems with urination.
Prostate adenoma and prostate cancer are the most dangerous complications of prostatitis.
Problems and complications caused by prostatitis affect a man's sex life in one way or another. It causes psychological problems, stress and depression.
In order to recognize chronic prostatitis in time, it is important to carefully monitor the symptoms.
Prevention of prostatitis
Prevention of exacerbations is focused on health monitoring and timely identification of problems. Since in most cases prostatitis is the result of untreated diseases of the genitourinary system, serious attention should be paid to the treatment of such diseases.
Prostatitis is considered a disease that is easier to prevent than to treat.
The most important preventive methods are:
- Sports activities. They serve to improve blood circulation in the pelvis, prevent the appearance of congestion and strengthen the pelvic muscles.
- Regular sex life. Medicines to artificially prolong sexual intercourse, interrupt sexual intercourse, and suppress ejaculation are undesirable.
- Refusal of immorality. Vigorous sex life leads to sexually transmitted infections.
- Proper, healthy nutrition.
- Refusal of alcohol.
- Strengthen the body's defenses, avoid hypothermia.
- Minimizing stress.
There is little self-healing or home treatment for prostatitis. Therefore, at the first signs, you should immediately contact a urologist to prescribe adequate treatment. Also, you should carefully monitor the signs of chronic prostatitis and consult a doctor in time.