Calculous prostatitis is a complication of a chronic inflammatory process in the prostate gland. With this disease, calculus is formed in the excretory ducts of the prostate and acini. As a result of the development of the pathological process, the patient's urge to urinate becomes more frequent, pains in the perineum and lower abdomen occur, and the erection is impaired. You shouldn't go the course of this disease, as it can ultimately lead to a number of health problems.
What is calculous prostatitis
This disease is a form of chronic prostatitis. The disease is characterized by the formation of prostatolytes or stones, being one of the most frequent consequences of a protracted inflammatory process observed in the prostate gland.
Stones in the prostate are most often found during a routine exam in about 9% of men of different ages.
There are three age peaks in the incidence of this form of prostatitis:
- 30-39 years. As a rule, the disease is not detected in patients under the age of 30. However, the disease is gradually getting younger. In people of this age group, the development of calculous prostatitis is associated with a long course of chronic prostatitis caused by gonorrhea, chlamydia, ureaplasmosis or mycoplasmosis.
- 40-59 years. In men of this age group, the disease most often causes prostate adenoma.
- More than 60 years. In this case, calculous prostatitis most often develops against the background of the extinction of sexual function.
Causes and risk factors
The formation of stones in the prostate gland can be due to two types of reasons:
- True or primary, which are characterized by the direct development of the disease in the ducts of the gland or acini.
- Secondary or false, in which there is a migration of stones from the upper urinary tract. Most often, the place of their formation is the bladder, kidneys or urethra. The reason for the development of calculous prostatitis can be urolithiasis.
Depending on the nature of the onset of the disease, the reasons for its development are divided into two groups:
- Exogenous. In this case, we are talking about those factors that do not affect the work of the body, but act on it from the outside. This includes drug addiction, smoking or alcohol abuse.
- Endogenous. Concrements occur against the background of any disturbances in the functioning of the body. We are talking about organ injuries or complications after surgery. Bacterial damage to the prostate is also related to these factors.
Alcohol abuse can trigger the development of stone prostatitis in men.
Calculated prostatitis usually develops against the background of inflammatory and stagnant changes in the prostate. Such processes arise due to insufficient emptying of the prostate glands, so the following factors are the main causes of the disease:
- lack of a regular sex life;
- the predominance of a sedentary lifestyle;
- replace sex with masturbation;
- bad habits, such as alcoholism or smoking;
- inflammatory processes of the prostate gland caused by the penetration of microbes into the organ.
Experts distinguish between two main pathological mechanisms that lead to the formation of stones in the organ and its ducts:
- Violation of the secretory function, as a result of which a significant stagnation of the secretion of the prostate is formed.
- Throwing urine into the cavity of the prostate gland. This can occur against the background of improper functioning of the genitourinary system, the formation of fistulas and the influence of a number of other negative factors.
Symptoms
The signs of calculous prostatitis are in many ways similar to the development of chronic inflammation of the prostate gland, but they are more pronounced. Most patients diagnosed with prostatitis of this form complain of difficulty and pain when urinating.
The difference from chronic prostatitis in this case is the pain present in the patient 24 hours a day and not just at night. The reason for such a clinical picture is most often the disturbed process of the outflow of urine and prostate secretions. This is due to the complete or partial obstruction of the duct with a stone.
A number of other symptoms of the disease should also be highlighted:
- The presence of pain in the pelvis and perineum. In addition, they can manifest themselves not only during urination. Patients have unpleasant sensations in the coccyx and lower abdomen, which do not depend on the specific time of day.
- Pathological impurities appear in the seed. Bloody discharge is often found, and only in extreme cases can pus be present.
- Pain of urination against the background of frequent false desires. Very little urine is excreted in most patients. However, it may be completely absent.
- Erectile dysfunction. Due to the fact that the duct of the prostate gland is blocked, the normal outflow of sperm from the organ is disrupted. All this leads to the inability to complete the relationship.
In severe cases of the development of the disease, the patient can completely lose an erection and significantly decrease libido.
Diagnostics
MRI provides good results for accurately identifying the disease.
Before treating calculous prostatitis, the patient must be carefully examined. The urologist is engaged in the diagnosis of this disease. He is obliged to make a preliminary diagnosis based on the patient's complaints, as well as the subsequent physical and instrumental examination. It includes the following procedures:
- Digital rectal examination of the prostate gland. It is carried out by palpation. In the presence of calculous prostatitis, the patient has a kind of crepitus and an uneven surface of the stones.
- Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate. Through this procedure, calculations are identified that have the appearance of hyperechoic formations with a clearly visible acoustic path. The number of such formations, their size, location and structure are studied.
- Urography investigation. The procedure allows you to identify the presence of prostalitis.
- MRI and CT of the prostate. These techniques are highly effective and are used to confirm the results of previous studies.
Since additional procedures are used: urethrography, pyelography and cystography.
In addition to instrumental techniques, the diagnosis of calculous prostatitis includes laboratory tests, which include the following procedures:
- Study of prostate secretion.
- Analysis by bacteriological culture of urine and material from the urethra.
- PCR study, during which a curettage is performed, studied for the presence of genital infections.
- Blood analysis. Most often, a biochemical analysis is provided.
- Urine analysis.
- Seed analysis for biochemistry.
- Bacteriological seeding of the ejaculate.
If we are talking about conducting differential diagnostics, then its task is to differentiate calculous prostatitis from tuberculosis, prostate adenoma, prostate oncology and various types of prostatitis.
Treatment
How to cure calculous prostatitis? Calculus prostatitis therapy is prescribed by a doctor based on a thorough diagnosis. Depending on the degree of development of the disease, different treatment options are possible. Let's consider each of them in more detail.
Pharmacological therapy
The course of treatment is prescribed by the doctor strictly individually.
Treatment of chronic calculous prostatitis with pills can last from one to three months. This type of therapy is mainly aimed at achieving stable remission and preventing complications of the disease.
Regardless of the cause of the disease, the patient is prescribed antibacterial drugs. Antibiotics are prescribed based on the results of the analysis of urethral secretion and urine culture.
The most common remedies used in the treatment of calculous prostatitis are:
- Fluoroquinolones. This is the most effective group of antibiotics used in the treatment of calculous prostatitis. However, these funds can be used only after the presence of tuberculosis has been completely excluded.
- Tetracyclines. They are used less often, as they often provoke the occurrence of side effects.
- Penicillins. Classic antibiotics that have a wide range of effects on pathogenic microflora.
- Cephalosporins.
Physiotherapy
To enhance the effect of drug therapy and improve the functioning of the prostate, the following physiotherapy techniques are used:
- Magnetotherapy. It is used to eliminate edema and normalize the blood circulation process.
- Laser therapy. Eliminates the pain syndrome and helps reduce the inflammatory process.
- Prostatic massage. It allows to restore the patency of the ducts, improving blood circulation in the prostate gland.
In some cases, the treatment of calculous prostatitis requires a radical approach. In this case, various surgical techniques are used, the most popular of which is prostatectomy.
Possible complications
Sport is the best prevention of calculous prostatitis.
If the patient is not provided with timely treatment, the patient may develop chronic calculous prostatitis. This can be fraught with the following dangerous complications:
- the development of an abscess;
- fibrosis of the prostate;
- problems with potency;
- urinary incontinence;
- various forms of vesiculitis.
Therefore, it is very important to promptly identify calculous prostatitis and start treating it. As a prophylaxis of this disease, one should give up alcohol and smoking, play sports, cure infections in time and prevent hypothermia of the body.