Prostatitis - inflammation of the prostate gland - can appear in acute and chronic forms.
It is difficult to ignore acute inflammation: its signs are clearly marked, which cannot be said about the chronic manifestation of the disease.itasymptomatic, but it does its job "brilliantly", damaging the tissues of the organ, reducing its functions.
About chronic prostatitis: types and features
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 reproductive age, even young people aged 18-20 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 the flow of blood from the infectious center in the body - tooth decay, pneumonia, inflamed maxillary sinuses, pustular formations,
- with lymphatic flow from nearby 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 pale treponema, requires special attention.The symptoms of such prostatitis and genital infections are similar to each other and can "hide" behind the signs of these diseases.This type of prostatitis is easy to cause.
Reduced immunity and hormonal imbalanceparticularly stimulate the development and spread of infection.
Non-infectious or congestive prostatitisappears as a result of violation of blood and lymph flow from the pelvis, as well as stagnation of prostate fluid in the ducts of the gland.
They provoke such phenomenathe following factors:
- disturbances in sexual life - prolonged abstinence, interrupted actions, unfulfilled desire,
- smoking - nicotine spasms blood vessels and interferes with normal blood circulation,
- sedentary lifestyle,
- tight clothes,
- alcohol abuse.Alcoholic beverages irritate the walls of the ducts of the glands, causing them to become inflamed.
- constipation
Congestive prostatitis occurs 8 times more often than infectious prostatitis and very rarely develops as a complication of acute inflammation of the prostate.
Bacterial prostatitis
This type of disease is also calledchronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).The main symptom is pain in the pelvic area, but the absence of pathogenic microorganisms in the microbiological examination of urine and prostate secretions.
Painful sensations acquire different severity and localization.They spread to the perineum or bladder, genitals.The process of ejaculation is also painful.Urinary and sexual problems are also present, but they are secondary.
The diagnosis is made if the pain continues for 3 months or more.
There are 2 types of CPPS:
- Inflammatory CPPS- an increased number of leukocytes is detected in urine and prostate secretions, which indicates inflammation.Microorganisms are not detected.There are several reasons for the appearance of this type of inflammation.On the one hand, this is possible with reflux (reflux) of pure urine from the urethra to the gland.This is facilitated by anatomical defects or contractions of damaged muscles of the bladder, prostate organ and perineum.Urine, or rather the urates in it, cause inflammation of the prostate.On the other hand, it is believed that the culprit of this process is still bacteria that cannot be determined by the classical method.For their identification, molecular diagnostics should be used.The third reason is autoimmune processes in the body.
- Non-inflammatory CPPS- the analysis does not contain leukocytosis and microorganisms.To establish a diagnosis, instrumental diagnostics is used.This allows you to identify innervation problems or muscle changes in the prostate and other organs:
- cervical part of the bladder - stenosis or proliferation,
- pelvic area - myalgia, muscle tension, disruption of the transmission of nerve impulses,
- urethra - narrowing, increased pressure,
- prostate – urine reflux, increased pressure.
oftenNervous disturbances are seen in patients with CPPS: anxiety, nervousness, depressive tendency.
Bacterial prostatitis
Chronic inflammation of the prostate with bacterial etiologybegins to appear with slight discomfort during urination.This includes minor pain, itching or burning and a decrease in flow.The color of the urine changes and it gets an unpleasant smell.Unpleasant sensations may also bother you during bowel movements.A weak and dull pain appears in the perineum.
BORNproblems in sex life.At the beginning of the disease, they are situational: weakening of the erection or increased frequency of its occurrence at night, acceleration of ejaculation, disturbances in orgasmic sensations.
A characteristic symptom for this stage- the appearance of leakage from the urethra during defecation.
Such slow symptoms can persist for quite a long time.A man may not pay attention to them, attributing everything to other reasons.If there is no treatment, they progress and a worsening of the chronic process occurs, the intensity of sensations increases.
Urination becomes very painful, the urge to go to the toilet becomes more frequent.At a certain point, these manifestations weaken due to the compensatory growth of the bladder muscles and then resume again, with greater force.
Pain in the perineum also intensifies.It radiates to the lower back, pubis, legs, scrotum.The nature of the pain also changes: it becomes stronger and sharper and bothers you at night.
Sexual dysfunction increases and becomes permanent.Ejaculation is accompanied by pain, erection and decreased libido.
Patients are also accompanied by increased sweating, including in the perineum.Body temperature is slightly elevated - 37-37.5 °.
Against the background of sexual disorders in menmental disorders develop.They become irritable, irritable and may fall into depression.
Treatment of the disease at this stage reduces the intensity of the symptoms and the worsening stage goes into remission.
Other types of chronic prostatitis
There is a conceptcalculous prostatitis.This disease is extremely rare and affects older men.It is characterized by the formation of stones consisting of prostatic fluid, inflammatory effusion, as well as phosphates and calcium.
The signs of this type of disease are pain, which has a typical localization for prostatitis.They intensify with movement, after sexual intercourse.Blood appears in the ejaculate.There are other signs of inflammation of the gland.
Stones are the result of long-term prostatitis or adenoma.
Congestive prostatitisThere are bacterial and non-bacterial.Its specialty is mild symptoms:
- low temperature,
- discomfort in the groin,
- urination problems
- nervousness,
- sexual disorders.
There are also suchTypes of chronic prostatitis:
- autoimmune- develops in immunological diseases, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus,
- hormonal-dystrophic- appears due to hormonal imbalances, with hormonal diseases (diabetes mellitus), as a result of physiological aging of the body,
- vegetovascular– formed against the background of vegetative-vascular dystonia.It causes problems with blood circulation.
How the disease is detected: diagnosis
Chronic prostatitis is diagnosedthe same methods as acute.
First of allthe doctor interviews and examines the patient.The examination is performed using a digital rectal examination of the prostate.It can be enlarged, painful, asymmetric and hardened.In rare cases (non-inflammatory CPPS) it is not changed.
The other doctorwill order tests.Laboratory methods include a general analysis of blood and urine and analysis of prostate secretions.They will show an increased number of white blood cells.Bacteriological examination of urine and prostate fluid 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 help: ultrasound, TRUS, uroflowmetry.
Very often it turns out that a man does not suspect that he has such a disease, ignoring the symptoms.It is discovered by chance, during systematic examinations.Therefore, it is recommended not to disturb 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 immunocorrective drugs, because reduced immunity is a common cause of inflammation.Help from an immunologist is possible.
Therapy for chronic inflammation of the prostateIt cannot be done without anti-inflammatory drugs.To begin with, non-steroidal drugs are prescribed.They are used in the form of tablets or injections.If they do not achieve the desired result, hormones are used.
Alpha blockerswill help relieve muscle tension from the bladder and perineum.They act symptomatically, reducing pain and improving urination.
If unbearable pain occurs,painkillers are relevant.
It is worth mentioning separatelyregarding the use of a dosage form such as suppositories.They are perfect for the treatment of chronic prostate processes.Most often, its symptoms are mild and the mild action of the suppositories is enough to relieve them.
They are inserted into the rectum.Its close location to the prostate gland allows you to quickly and effectively achieve results.In addition, the harmful effects of tablets on the gastrointestinal tract and difficulties with injections are eliminated.Suppositories have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect on the body.
Physiotherapy and other methods
In addition to medications, other methods of chronic prostatitis treatment are used:
- rectal prostate massage- performed through the rectum.The procedure eliminates stagnation of prostate fluid and also increases the effect of drugs.Contraindicated in case of worsening of the disease and in the presence of stones in the prostate,
- physiotherapy improves blood circulation in the affected organ and improves its nutrition.The methods usedUHF, electrophoresis, darsonvalizationand others.They are shown only in the forgiveness phase,
- Prostatitis involves not only the organs, but also the psyche of a man.He may need ithelp from a psychologist or psychotherapist,
- acupunctureis a common method of treating chronic prostatitis.The procedure affects the organ indirectly, through acupuncture points,
- exercise, such as squats, walking, dancing will increase blood circulation in the pelvis and eliminate congestion,
- is actively usedbalneotherapy- mineral water treatment.
Medicines 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 such drugs.He came to the rescuetraditional medicine.
The leader among folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis arepumpkin seeds.They contain a lot of zinc, which is essential for men's health.The seeds can be consumed separately: 30 grams will meet the daily requirement of the essential trace element.You can also grind them in a meat grinder and mix them with honey, making balls from the resulting mixture.They should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed 1 piece before a meal.
It is very useful for prostate inflammation to drinkfreshly squeezed juices of beets, carrots, cucumbers and asparagus.The volume per day should be at least 0.5 liters.
blueberriesPerfect for restoring the prostate gland.It contains many useful substances, trace elements and vitamins.
In rare cases, in the treatment of prostatitisshould be referred to surgery.Indications for it include lack of improvement from conservative treatment, as well as acute processes: abscess and other purulent inflammations of the prostate, acute retention of urine, proliferation of glandular tissue, as well as benign and malignant formations.
Surgical treatment is performed using several methods: This can be partial resection of an organ, opening of ulcers, removal 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 occurrence of the disease, and comes down to the following measures:
- maintaining immunity,
- regularity of sexual activity,
- physical exercises and moderate loads.This is especially important for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
- avoid hypothermia,
- stopping infectious foci in the body,
- timely treatment of urogenital infections,
- make sure you undergo routine medical examinations,
- do not abuse alcohol and tobacco.
Secondary preventionincludes measures to prevent the recurrence of the disease.In the first year after suffering from prostatitis, a man is required to visit a urologist once every 3 months.Then - once in 6 months.If there is no aggravation of the disease, the patient is removed from the distributional observation.
Excellent for preventing prostatitisSanatorium-resort treatment is suitable.Modern sanatoriums offer complexes of procedures from physiotherapy and balneotherapy, and other natural resources.
Importantmonitor your diet as well.Include more vegetables and fruits and a variety of grains in the menu.You should also enrich your diet with fermented milk products.Eating seafood will compensate for zinc deficiency.
You should avoid salty, spicy and smoked foods and do not use 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,
- hypotrophy of the gland,
- infertility and impotence.
Treatment of the disease -quite a long process.But it is worth following this path to the end to preserve your health and preserve the possibility of having healthy offspring.