Inflammation of the prostate today is the leader in the group of male diseases that are mainly sexually transmitted. Its complications threaten infertility, decreased libido and impotence.
Symptoms of prostatitis are not only pain, urination disorders and inflammation of the spermatic cord. The most dangerous consequence of advanced inflammation can be cancerous degeneration of the prostate gland. While a pathological process diagnosed in time is easily stopped.
Signs of illness
If a man detects at least two of the following symptoms of prostatitis, he should immediately contact a qualified specialist:
- Urinary disorder with the appearance of a constant, weak stream of urine, extremely short, causing splashing, difficulty and pain before urination. The frequent urge to empty the bladder occurs mainly at night.
- The pain, which is located in the lower abdomen, radiates to the scrotum, perineum and rectum.
- Sexual dysfunction.
- Problems with ejaculation, changes in sperm (consistency, quantity).
Acute prostatitis
The disease begins with a sharp increase in temperature (up to 40 degrees), painful headache and fever. The symptoms that appear are accompanied by pain in the groin, perineum, back, discharge from the urethra, frequent urination and a constant urge to urinate.
Bladder emptying occurs with delay and a burning sensation. The urine itself becomes cloudy and may contain blood. Irritability and fatigue occur.
The result of acute prostatitis can be the complete resolution of the process (if treatment is started at the right time). Since changes occur in many organs of the pelvis, they cannot be left to chance, otherwise the corresponding complications will appear:
- Vesiculitis is an inflammation of the seminal vesicles, the cause of the appearance of pus in the sperm, which not only reduces the quality of the ejaculate, but leads to the loss of reproductive function.
- Coliculitis - inflammatory changes in the seminal tubercle cause the development of severe pain during sex, cessation of orgasm and impotence of a psychological nature.
- The formation of an abscess in the body of the prostate, its rupture and purulent damage to the rectum leads to a worsening of symptoms, severe intoxication of the body, up to death.
- Stagnation in prostate tissue leads to changes in their structure, disruption of innervation, blood supply, both in the gland itself and in nearby organs, with disruption of their functions. Erection becomes insufficient for full sexual intercourse, premature ejaculation and prolonged sexual intercourse without orgasm are observed.
- Cicatricial changes in the gland and spermatic cord lead to infertility, reduced sperm quality and sperm motility. Narrowing of the urethra interferes with the normal process of urination; Bladder obstruction can cause acute urinary retention, requiring urgent surgical care.
Chronic prostatitis
The main feature of the disease is the ambiguity of clinical symptoms with a long and continuous course of the process. More often, the chronic form appears independently, as a primary pathology against the background of blood stagnation in the vessels (prostatosis), abacterial prostatitis.
The main symptoms of chronic prostatitis are:
- fever;
- pain appears in the scrotum, perineum, anus, back;
- urinary discomfort;
- mucous or mucopurulent discharge from the rectum, urethra, even in the absence of urination or defecation;
- erectile dysfunction, painful ejaculation, interrupted sexual intercourse, prolonged intercourse without the feeling of satisfaction.
Inaction and improper treatment of chronic prostatitis can cause complications:
- Infertility is the result of chronic inflammation in the spermatic cord, vesicles, testicles and their appendages.
- Cystitis, pyelonephritis (other diseases of the genitourinary system) are the result of hematogenous and mechanical spread of microbes.
- Sepsis.
- Continuous decrease in immunity.
- Untreated prostatitis can cause cancer in 35-40% of cases.
Diagnosing
The clinical picture of the disease is typical, so the diagnosis is not difficult. It is performed by a urologist based on the medical history, the patient's examination, the laboratory minimum using the most modern medical equipment:
- Rectal examination of the gland, taking secretions for examination (culture with determination of sensitivity to antibiotics).
- UAC, UAM, urine bacterial culture.
- Smear test for STD, UGI examination.
- Daily monitoring of urination rhythm, measurement of urination rate (uroflowmetry).
- Ultrasound or TRUS is performed for differential diagnosis.
- If it is necessary to exclude oncology, a biopsy is taken, urography is performed and PSA - prostate specific antigen is determined.
- To diagnose infertility, a spermogram is prescribed - an ejaculate analysis to determine a man's fertility.
Based on the results of the patient's examination, an individual scheme for the complex treatment of prostatitis is drawn up. When prescribing drugs, the form of the pathology and the presence of concomitant diseases are taken into account. The decision on where the therapy will be performed (inpatient or outpatient) is made by the doctor. The course of treatment is carried out with careful laboratory monitoring of the results.
Treatment of acute prostatitis
Acute prostatitis requires bed rest, a special diet, without salt and sexual rest.
Course treatment methods:
- The most effective treatment for prostatitis is etiotropic therapy. If the basis of prostatitis is an infection, a course of antimicrobial agents is a priority, which relieves the manifestations of inflammation.
- The pain syndrome is relieved with analgesics, antispasmodics, rectal suppositories, microclyses with warm sedative solutions. NSAIDs may be used.
- Immunostimulants, immunomodulators, enzymes, vitamin complexes and a combination of microelements have proven their effectiveness.
- Physiotherapy methods are possible only in the subacute phase of the disease. They improve microcirculation and increase immunity: UHF, microwaves, electrophoresis, laser, magnetic therapy.
- Massage is another effective method to influence the prostate. It opens the channels, normalizes blood circulation in the scrotum and pelvis.
- Acute retention of renal filtrate can be corrected with trocar catheterization and cystostomy.
- The purulent process involves surgical intervention.
- Consultations with a psychologist.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
With a long-term effect (at least one month) on the prostate, there is no 100% guarantee of recovery. Priority goes to herbal medicines, correction of immunity, change of household habits:
- Herbal preparations are widely used in urological practice. They are able to accumulate at the site of the most active pathological process, protect cells from oxidation, remove free radicals and prevent the proliferation of glandular tissue.
- Antibacterial therapy is selected individually, based on the sensitivity of microbes to drugs.
- Medicines that increase immunity not only help to cope with prostatitis, they also correct the negative effects of antibiotics that disrupt the function of the immune system.
- The pain syndrome is relieved by the administration of alpha-blockers and muscle relaxants.
- Prostate massage allows you to mechanically remove the "extra" secretion of the gland through the urethra, improve blood circulation and minimize congestion.
- Physiotherapy: laser, magnet, ultrasound, iontophoresis, warm sitz baths or herbal microclymas.
- In severe cases, intravenous fluids with diuretics are indicated. This stimulates the abundant production of urine, prevents the symptoms of intoxication, the development of growing cystitis and pyelonephritis.
- For constipation, herbal laxatives are used.
- The urologist and psychologist together with the patient develop an individual long-term program of daily routine, necessary rest, diet, dosed physical activity and sexual activity.
- If the chronic process is resistant to therapy and urine output is blocked, surgical intervention is prescribed: removal of all affected tissue (transurethral resection of the prostate) or complete removal of the gland with surrounding tissue (prostatectomy). Practiced in exceptional cases, it is fraught with impotence and urinary incontinence. Young people do not undergo the operation because it can cause infertility.
Symptoms and treatment of chronic prostatitis
Many men suffer from chronic prostatitis, but attribute the symptoms to other diseases or waste time on ineffective treatment. From our article you will learn comprehensive information about this male problem: causes, exact symptoms and diagnostic methods, various treatment methods.
Despite all the successes of modern medicine, diagnosing a disease such as chronic prostatitis causes some difficulties. This also negatively affects the effectiveness of his treatment.
Causes of chronic prostatitis
The causes of chronic prostatitis are very different. From the variety of negative factors that affect a man's health, it is difficult to single out exactly those that provoked the development of the disease. Often this is a complex of situations and circumstances that accompany a person's life.
The main causes of chronic bacterial prostatitis are as follows:
- dysrhythmia (irregularity) of sexual relations;
- physical inactivity, which is typical for overweight people;
- long-term stressful conditions;
- predominance of foods rich in fat in the diet;
- negative impact on the body in hazardous industries.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is the result of bacterial prostatitis not completely cured. Or the man ignored the diseases and did not seek help from a urologist. Therefore, no treatment was performed.
Chronic abacterial prostatitis develops due to exposure to infectious agents against the background of decreased immunity. As a rule, such patients are diagnosed with diseases of the endocrine system.
The factors that provoke the development of chronic bacterial prostatitis are:
- surgical operations on the prostate (if antibacterial therapy was not carried out before the operation);
- refusal to use contraception;
- lack of habit to keep the body clean.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis
Today there are many myths about chronic prostatitis. For this reason, any temporary disturbance in sexual function is attributed to this disease. You can often hear the opinion that decreased sexual desire and erectile dysfunction are due to prostatitis, and if an elderly man, then from chronic prostatitis.
This is not true, as sexual dysfunction has many other causes, and the main symptom of chronic prostatitis is pain. All other signs can be considered accompanying and indirect.
Chronic prostatitis is often confused with pelvic pain syndrome, as the symptoms of these diseases are largely similar. This is due to the formation of myofacial trigger zones near the prostate, which appear as a result of injuries and surgical interventions. Pain in these areas can be mistaken for a symptom of prostate inflammation.
In the diagnosis of the disease, complaints of pain and discomfort in the perineum and pelvis, lasting at least 3 months, stand out. The pain is localized near the prostate, radiating to the sacrum, rectum and scrotum. With prolonged exposure to negative factors (carrying heavy objects, excessive physical activity, standing for a long time), the pain intensifies.
A characteristic sign of the disease is premature ejaculation. Patients experience decreased sexual desire and erectile dysfunction. These symptoms are also characteristic of other genitourinary diseases. Therefore, it cannot be said that they are distinctive signs of chronic prostate disease.
An important symptom is the fading of orgasm. If the patient begins to notice that the severity of sensations during ejaculation has disappeared, this is a reason for a more attentive attitude to his health and a signal for the need to visit a urologist.
The structure of the inflamed prostate becomes denser, the pressure in the urinary tube increases and the quality of urination worsens. Patients with chronic prostatitis notice a frequent urge to urinate at night. The process of urine secretion is accompanied by a burning sensation, stinging and pain. Urinary incontinence often occurs.
Signs of chronic prostatitis can be fully or partially expressed. Much depends on the patient's state of health and the presence or absence of other diseases. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a wave-like course, with symptoms of waxing and fading. With this disease, the inflammatory process is not acute.
Laboratory research methods
If chronic prostatitis is suspected, first of all they find out what is its nature: bacterial or bacterial. In the first case, it is necessary to identify the pathogen or pathogens and to find out to which the drugs are sensitive. To do this, laboratory tests of urine and prostate secretions are performed.
If, after a 10-day period after DRE, the PSA test shows that the level of prostate-specific antigen exceeds 4. 0 ng/ml, this is a reason to refer the patient for a biopsy to exclude an oncological process.
The following search methods are recommended:
- itching from the urethra;
- general and biochemical analysis of urine;
- LHC culture of prostate secretion.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
Treatment of chronic prostatitis requires an integrated approach. Just taking medicine is not enough. Physiotherapy procedures and therapeutic exercises are necessary. In general, chronic prostatitis is difficult to treat and requires a radical revision of lifestyle, changes in habits and in some cases, a change of job. Urologists insist that only a series of measures will help to completely eliminate this disease or ensure long-term remission.
Regardless of whether the disease is bacterial or bacterial in nature, congestion in the prostate has played a major role in its formation. The viscous secretion deposited in the ducts of the gland is a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms. Therefore, the main attention should be paid to the elimination of stagnation.
The issue can be resolved by changing lifestyle and including physical therapy classes in the daily schedule.
Exercise complexes have been developed that are suitable for different life situations:
- for those men who are forced to sit most of the time (drivers, office workers, managers);
- for people with excess body weight;
- for those who do not have time to exercise.
Thinking about how to treat chronic prostatitis, you should decide to seriously review your attitude to your health.
Treatment with medications
For chronic prostatitis, outpatient treatment is mainly carried out. If the pathological process continues and it is not possible to achieve remission with this method, hospitalization is recommended. In a hospital, under the supervision of medical personnel, there are many more opportunities for compliance with the regimen and monitoring of changes in the patient's condition.
Chronic prostatitis in men develops against the background of endocrine disorders. In this regard, 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and alpha 1-blockers are recommended. They help to normalize hormonal levels and eliminate the symptoms of pathology.
An integrated approach includes taking medications such as:
Methods of treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is treated with antibiotics. The most effective drug for a particular patient is determined using a preliminary laboratory study of prostate secretions.
There is no universal drug to suppress and destroy pathogenic microflora. What helps one patient may not help another. For this reason, there are many negative reviews of drugs advertised for the treatment of chronic prostatitis.
The drugs recommended for antibacterial therapy are fluoroquinolones. Most bacteria are sensitive to them.
Treatment with herbal medicines
Many people doubt whether chronic prostatitis can be cured with the help of herbal medicines. The answer to this question was obtained from the many years of use of these healing agents in urological practice.
Today, the following treatment complexes are recommended:
All these drugs have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the male genitourinary system. Effective treatment of chronic prostatitis is possible provided that the urinary function is normalized. The components included in herbal medicines perform this task. They help reduce the frequency of urges and eliminate slow current syndrome.
For patients with chronic prostatitis, herbal mixtures containing pumpkin extract or pumpkin seeds are recommended. The latter have a unique chemical composition and act in three directions at once:
- normalization of metabolism;
- strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
- activate blood circulation in the pelvic organs.
Taking herbal medicines cannot be considered as the main method of treatment. These health-enhancing agents are considered adjunctive to drug therapy.
Non-drug treatment
Drug-free therapy methods allow you to act directly on the prostate, increase the concentration of drugs in its tissues and help eliminate congestion.
Today, non-drug treatment focuses on laser therapy. The possibilities of this technique are wide. Under the influence of a laser, the following processes occur in the prostate gland:
- activation of redox reactions;
- blood microcirculation improves;
- new capillaries are formed;
- pathogenic microflora is suppressed;
- The process of cell division is activated, which promotes tissue regeneration.
During the research period of the effects of laser therapy on prostate patients, a side effect, but positive for treatment purposes, was observed. Those who completed the course increased potency, eliminated erectile dysfunction and restored vitality. To achieve this result, it is necessary to use a beam with a specific wavelength. In general, low-intensity laser radiation is used to treat chronic prostatitis.
This technique can have several positive effects:
Patients, on their own initiative, can undergo a course of laser therapy if it has not been prescribed by the attending physician.
Surgical treatment of chronic prostatitis
Chronic prostatitis does not pose a threat to the patient's life, but it can significantly reduce its quality. The most serious complication of this disease is the formation of stones in the tissue of the gland. To free it from prostatitis, transurethral resection is used.
The surgical intervention is performed under the control of TRUS.
If complications such as prostate sclerosis occur, transurethral electrosurgery is performed. If sclerosis of the bladder neck is observed in combination with this pathology, partial resection of the prostate is performed.
When the seminal and excretory ducts are blocked, endoscopic operations are indicated to eliminate the obstruction of secretion permeability. For this purpose, an incision is made in the seminal vesicles and excretory ducts. In case of an abscess, it is possible to completely remove the gland.
Exercises for the treatment of chronic prostatitis
There are a number of exercises that are effective in stimulating the prostate, which helps relieve congestion. This complex was created for patients with hip joint problems. Practice has shown that these exercises are also useful for those diagnosed with prostatitis. Classes can be held at a convenient time; the complex will take no more than 15 minutes to complete.
Exercise no. 1
- Lying on an exercise mat, stretch both arms up.
- Bend your knees and pull them towards you, simultaneously spreading them in different directions.
- Lift the pelvis as high as they can. Repeat 10-12 times.
Exercise no. 2
Standing on the mat, do deep squats.
Repeat 10-12 times.
Exercise no. 3
- Lie on your stomach.
- Lift one leg up, then the other. Repeat 10-12 times.
Exercise number 4
They lie on their side.
When performing this set of exercises, all movements should be smooth. This is the main condition to obtain a high therapeutic effect.
Treatment prognosis
Few men can completely cure chronic prostatitis. Prostate inflammation often goes into a phase of long-term remission. But when the conditions are created for the activation of the pathology, a relapse occurs. An aggravation begins with the appearance of pain in the prostate. They are often associated with urinary disorders. At the first symptoms of relapse, you should seek help from a specialist.
Patients are recommended to visit a urologist regularly, at least once every six months. With the same frequency, they perform examinations of the state of the prostate and do a PSA test. By systematically monitoring the state of the gland, the processes that provoke a relapse of the disease can be identified in time. But even with long-term remission there is no guarantee that it will not be interrupted.
The patient should follow the recommendations to prevent the worsening of the disease. It is recommended to balance your diet by excluding fatty and spicy foods. The use of herbal medicines and traditional medicine must be agreed with the attending physician. With this approach, you can minimize the risk of exacerbation of chronic prostatitis.
Is it possible to cure prostatitis yourself?
If there are severe symptoms, it is better to be treated by a specialist; the time factor plays a big role in the treatment, since the longer the inflammation lasts, the greater the likelihood of irreversible changes in the organ.
But it is better to do the prevention yourself; no doctor will do it for you.
Avoid hypothermia, stagnation during prolonged sitting, sexually transmitted infections, irregular sex life - all this is the way to effective prevention of prostatitis.