Prostatitis- a common disease in men of reproductive and elderly age.
What is prostatitis? This is an inflammation of the prostate gland in men, this organ is also called the prostate. The prostate gland is located in close proximity to the bladder neck and is an important part of the male reproductive system. Inflammation of the prostate causes its enlargement, as a result of which the urinary tract is compressed and the process of emptying the bladder becomes difficult, and other unpleasant symptoms appear. Therefore, in case of inflammation of the prostate gland, it is not recommended to be inactive.
Symptoms and signs of prostatitis
Usually, men pay due attention to the manifestations of prostatitis quite late. The clinical picture for each case is individual, even if we are talking about one form of the disease. However, the first symptoms of prostatitis in men are approximately the same:
- Difficulty urinating. . . The urethra, which is compressed under the inflamed prostate, does not pass urine well. A feeling of incomplete emptying and a constant urge to urinate are also the first signs of prostatitis in men, and its symptoms will worsen in the future.
- Sexual Disorders. . . These unpleasant signs of prostate inflammation appear in men mainly as a violation of the mechanism of erection and a weakening of orgasm. Also, the symptoms of prostate inflammation include premature ejaculation.
- Pain. . . Among the signs of inflammation of the prostate gland in men is pain during urination and ejaculation, a characteristic symptom is also constant aching pain in the lower back.
- Nervous tension. . . The symptoms of inflammation of the prostate gland include increased nervousness in a man, since an enlarged prostate causes some discomfort.
Causes of prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate gland occurs for a variety of reasons:
- Poor blood circulation. . . Blood circulation can be impaired due to physical inactivity (sedentary and sedentary lifestyle) - this is a very common cause of prostate inflammation in men. Also, the cause of a violation of the blood supply to organs is a large weight, trauma to the small pelvis, constant hypothermia.
- Infection. . . Infectious diseases also often cause prostatitis. The prostate gland is easily infected as a result of venereal and urological diseases, inflammatory processes in the rectum and complications after infectious ailments (tonsillitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis).
- Immune failure. . . The weakening of the protective functions of the body due to past diseases, stresses, etc. often becomes the cause of prostatitis in men or the aggravation of an existing disease.
Types of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis develops rapidly with the rapid onset of characteristic symptoms. Chronic prostatitis often occurs with a gradual and almost imperceptible development of symptoms, it is typical for men over 55 years old.
Also, prostatitis is classified by origin:
- Bacterial.Most often occurs at a young age, but among other types of the disease, such cases are only 5-10%. Usually, acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis occurs due to the body's vulnerability to pathogenic flora.
- Infectious. . . Infectious prostatitis occurs not only due to bacteria, but also due to fungi, protozoa, which distinguishes it from the bacterial variety. This type of disease can also occur in chronic and acute forms. One of its characteristic varieties is chlamydial prostatitis.
- Purulent. . . Purulent prostatitis is one of the most severe types of infectious, with purulent discharge and hyperthermia of the body. The course of the disease is acute, with the appearance of new symptoms at each stage.
- Calculus. . . Calculous prostatitis is a consequence of a protracted chronic form and is observed mainly in older men. This form of the disease is characterized by the appearance of stones in the prostate.
- Stagnant. . . Non-bacterial prostatitis, which is caused by insufficient blood supply to the tissues of the pelvic organs. Congestive prostatitis, as it is also called, is usually chronic. Of all the types, congestive prostatitis is the most common.
Why is prostatitis dangerous?
In any man, prostatitis without timely treatment quickly becomes chronic and has serious consequences for reproductive health and the general condition of the body. The most common complications of prostatitis include:
- Vesiculitis. . . Inflammation of the seminal vesicles is the first thing that chronic prostatitis is dangerous for men. Vesiculitis can occur without any symptoms or make itself felt by pain during urination, after intercourse, as well as the appearance of pus and blood in the semen.
- Posterior urethritis and colliculitis. . . The danger of prostatitis lies in the development of posterior urethritis and concomitant colliculitis. Colliculitis is an inflammation of the seminal tubercle that allows sperm to pass through. One of the symptoms of colliculitis is blood in the semen.
- Diseases of the prostate. . . The consequences of prostatitis in men can be other, more serious diseases of the prostate: abscess, sclerosis, cysts and stones, adenoma, cancer. Such complications are treated much more difficult and longer than prostatitis, and the consequences of some of them are irreversible.
- Sexual dysfunction. . . The consequences of advanced inflammation of the prostate gland can be problems in the genital area, including erectile dysfunction. Although the impotence resulting from prostatitis can be cured, it is often irreversible.
- Infertility. . . Since the reproductive system of the male body with inflammation of the prostate does not perform well, infertility usually becomes a consequence of chronic prostatitis. It all starts with a deterioration in the quality of sperm and the patency of the vas deferens.
Diagnostics of the prostatitis
Diagnosis of prostatitis in men begins in the first minutes at a doctor's appointment, since the patient's complaints are an important part of it. Also, to identify the disease and its features, other types of diagnostics are used:
- Medical examination. . . During the medical examination, a rectal-digital examination is used, which is carried out through the anus and allows you to identify the size, shape, surface condition and other features of the prostate gland. Since it is extremely simple to diagnose prostatitis in this way, this is actually the first and main method of confirming the diagnosis.
- Laboratory research. . . Tests for prostatitis in men are used to study blood, urine, semen, plus the study of prostate secretions. One of the most effective methods is urine analysis for prostatitis (general, bacteriological, cytological). Also, with prostatitis, a general blood test is prescribed. In each case, the doctor determines what tests are taken for prostatitis and whether deeper research methods are needed.
- Non-invasive methods. . . These are ultrasound, X-ray diagnostics, as well as MRI.
Treatment of prostatitis
Self-medication for prostatitis is strongly discouraged. If a man does not know which doctor treats prostatitis, you can ask your therapist about it. But usually all patients know that a urologist specializes in the treatment of prostatitis in men. It is also permissible to consult a therapist or surgeon, but only for the initial appointment.
Many patients face a natural question: is it possible to cure prostatitis? It all depends on the form of the disease. But in any case, the diagnosis and treatment of inflammation of the prostate gland in men is necessary at the first warning signs, since chronic prostatitis will require more time and financial costs. Modern methods of treating prostatitis allow you to cope with any form and stage of the disease with minimal consequences for the body.
How long is prostatitis treated?
How much prostatitis is treated and whether it can be cured without consequences depends on the complexity of the particular case. The sooner a man turns to a specialist, the higher the chance of effective treatment of prostatitis. The duration of treatment for prostatitis can be from 1 to 6 months, depending on the form of the disease. It is worth considering the time spent on diagnosis, which will also affect the duration of prostatitis treatment.
How and what to treat
There is no single treatment regimen for prostatitis, since this disease is very diverse and requires an individual approach. But regardless of the form, the following methods of treating prostatitis are used:
- Drug therapy. . . Antibiotics are used to treat both chronic and acute prostatitis. This is an obligatory and essential part of the treatment of all types of prostate inflammation. In the acute course of the disease, the use of analgesics is permissible, since it usually takes a long time to treat prostatitis.
- Physiotherapy. . . The treatment regimen for prostatitis certainly involves physiotherapy as a method of light massage of the prostate gland. In addition, herbal enemas and other procedures may be prescribed.
- Diet. . . Since it is difficult to cure chronic prostatitis or its acute form with an unhealthy intestine, a diet or dietary adjustment is prescribed.
- Physical exercises. . . This method of treating prostatitis is necessary to improve blood circulation in the internal organs.
Prevention of prostatitis
To avoid prostatitis, both after a previous illness, and in the absence of such experience, you will need to follow simple recommendations:
- Stable sex life. . . Sexual life with one healthy partner will avoid not only sexually transmitted diseases, after which prostatitis often occurs, but also its stagnant form.
- Rejection of bad habits. . . An unhealthy lifestyle reduces the body's defenses, so smoking, alcohol and unhealthy foods are best avoided.
- Sports activities. . . Exercise keeps the body in good shape and improves blood flow to the prostate gland, reducing the risk of prostatitis.
- Prostate massage. . . This is a measure of secondary prevention of prostatitis in men for those who have already had the disease.
- Preparations for prophylaxis. . . These are vitamin complexes that will help both avoid prostatitis and strengthen the immune system. Used as directed by a physician.
Prostatitis and conceiving a child
Whether it is possible to get pregnant with chronic prostatitis in a husband is a question that worries many families. It must be understood that the prostate is responsible for many of the most important functions associated with conception, therefore, prostatitis increases the likelihood of male infertility. The presence of infections and inflammation in the prostate affects the quality of the ejaculate, and although it is possible to conceive a child with prostatitis, the chances of success are reduced.
Prostatitis and infertility are closely related, since with blockage of the vas deferens, pregnancy after intercourse may not occur. The presence of purulent and bloody discharge in male sperm with prostatitis significantly impairs its quality and reduces the likelihood of conception.
With prostatitis, you can conceive a child, but for the best result, you must first cure the disease and prevent possible infertility. Only after a man has cured prostatitis is it time to think about planning a pregnancy. For the treatment of prostatitis and planning of childbirth, it is best to contact specialized centers that will definitely help solve all the problems.