Prostatitis is a pathology that manifests itself as an infectious and inflammatory process in the prostate gland (prostate), affecting its glandular and connective tissues.
The prostate, an organ of the glandular structure located below the bladder in the urethra, is of great importance for the health and functioning of a man's body. Inflammation has an effect on reducing the synthesis of testosterone in the testicles, as a result of which libido decreases, erectile function weakens. At the first signs of prostatitis, problems arise when urinating, discomfort, pain are felt during orgasm.
Treatment of prostatitis began in the 19th century, when there was a tendency for the growth of this disease. The disease is purely male, since the prostate gland is an organ located in the body of men. This ailment mainly affects representatives of the age group from forty and up, but medical statistics say that in recent years the disease has become significantly "younger": among men aged 25-28, prostatitis is detected in 30%of cases. However, the peculiarity of the diagnosis and the likelihood of a latent course of the disease suggest that this figure is much higher. Only a quarter of men between 22 and 50 undergo medical examinations, even from a urologist who diagnoses prostatitis in 15% of this number.
Complications
If the treatment of prostatitis is not started on time, a number of complications can appear, characterized by:
- obstruction of the bladder with acute urinary retention, requiring surgical treatment;
- transition of prostatitis from the acute stage to the chronic course;
- development of some form of male infertility;
- recurrent cystitis;
- narrowing, scarring of the urethra;
- pyelonephritis, other kidney diseases;
- prostate abscess requiring surgery;
- sepsis that threatens the patient's life (patients with weak immunity, diabetes mellitus, renal failure are the most sensitive to this).
Important to know!The disease can lead to prostate cancer (seen in 7% of men over the age of 50), which will seriously worsen a man's life or even lead to death.
Reasons for the development of the pathology
Prostatitis has several types, determined by the causes of the disease.
The main factors causing the onset of prostatitis are the following:
- Infections.Bacteria enter the prostate gland in a variety of ways and routes. Young people who have sexual intercourse without contraception (condoms) have a high risk of disease due to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms (chlamydia, mycoplasma, etc. ). Also, the onset of prostatitis occurs due to any internal chronic diseases. Harmful bacteria reach the prostate gland through the flow of lymph or blood. Pathological microorganisms can also "descend" into the prostate via the urethra. So the disease is provoked by disorders of the urinary system (urethritis, pyelonephritis) with weakened immunity.
- Stagnant processes.They manifest themselves in obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, as the microcirculation of blood in the pelvic organs is disturbed. As a result, the required amount of oxygen and nutrients does not reach the prostate.
- Injuries.Due to mechanical damage to the tissues and organs of the small pelvis (OMT), congestion can occur which causes an inflammatory process. Such cases are often seen among truckers due to professional activities associated with a long-term sitting position and constant injuries from a chair hitting an HTA.
Opinion of doctors. Urologists are confident that prostatitis is not a permanent diagnosis. If the treatment did not give a quick result, the man should not give up and think about whether he followed absolutely all the instructions. Only the joint actions and efforts of the doctor and the patient, who are confident in the success of therapy, will help a man feel healthy, and therefore full.
Types of prostatitis
The classification of prostatitis by type provides the following parameters.
Etiology. According to the origin, the disease is:
- infectious (specific and non-specific);
- non-infectious congestive (the reason is stagnant processes associated with long interruptions in sexual intercourse, interrupted sexual intercourse, bad habits, stress, regular hypothermia).
Pathological trait, divided into the following subspecies:
- catarrhal; follicular
- ;
- parenchymal;
- prostate abscess (can manifest as a complication of prostatitis in the form of dystrophic, fibrocystic, granulomatous and prostatic sclerosis).
Clinical course. Prostatitis can be acute or chronic.
Pathogenesis. Depending on the onset and development of the disease, prostatitis can be:
- hematogenous;
- urethrogenic;
- canalicular;
- calculation;
- allergic;
- endocrine.
Symptoms and signs of prostatitis
The symptoms of prostatitis may be latent and obvious.
The disease is classified into the following forms:
- Sharp.The disease has a sudden development, expressed in an increase in body temperature (up to 39 ° C), intense sharp pains that radiate to the back, groin. Ejaculation, defecation, and urination are accompanied by sharp pain and sometimes bleeding. This is a serious reason to see a urologist.
- Chronic.The symptomatic picture is almost imperceptible, although it is similar to the clinical picture of acute prostatitis. Slight rises in temperature, groin discomfort and urination may occur. The main symptom of the chronic form of prostatitis is the frequent urge to go "small" discharge from the urethra. Over time, the patient records the problem of erectile function due to the transition of the inflammatory process to the nerves responsible for erection, premature ejaculation. The patient's general health and condition is negative, expressed in frequent irritability, depression, discontent, psychological breakdowns.
- Stagnant.Men who lead an inactive lifestyle and have irregular sexual intercourse suffer from this form of the disease. The course of the disease is expressed in a violation of the genitourinary system. For the onset of the disease, inflammation of the excretory tracts, detachment of the epithelium, which provokes the onset of pain when urinating, are characteristic. With a severe form of the disease, the urethra ceases to function at all. Erection is also impaired, orgasm is weak and unexpressed. In general, the development of sexual dysfunction occurs at a rapid pace. Stagnant form of prostatitis is also characterized by symptoms of burning and itching in the perineum, urethra. The body temperature is elevated, there are signs of intoxication.
How symptoms of developing prostatitis are detected
Only a urologist is able to make an accurate diagnosis of a patient, but based on the existing signs that occur with the genitourinary system and observed by a man, they can serve as a signal for an urgent appeal to a specialist. This applies to:
- an act of defecation, accompanied by unpleasant sensations;
- burning sensation in the perineum for short and long periods;
- frequently need to urinate, but the process itself is painful and difficult;
- weak orgasm effect (also called "canceled orgasm");
- increased fatigue and often for no apparent reason;
- decreased erectile function;
- regular stressful condition.
Important to remember!The detection of these symptoms requires an immediate visit by a doctor to influence the disease in the beginning. The development of chronic prostatitis proceeds in an unspoken form, but is fraught with its consequences and complications.
Diagnosis of the disease
Prostatitis in men is diagnosed mainly on the basis of the analysis of patient complaints. With the help of a specially filled out questionnaire, the doctor finds out and studies the symptoms of the disease.
Further diagnostic measures are performed:
- study of the composition of the prostate secretion (if there is no acute form of the disease: it is impossible to carry out the procedure with it due to severe pain);
- palpation rectal examination;
- ultrasound examination of the prostate to confirm the suspicion of prostatitis and make an accurate diagnosis;
- biopsy;
- tomography (computed / nuclear-magnetic) of the small pelvis - if necessary;
- cystoscopy;
- urography.
In addition, men undergo some general tests that can clarify the picture of the disease:
- uroflowmetry;
- urine sample, measured in three glasses;
- study according to Mears & Stamey, measured by two glasses of urine (the first portion excludes urethral contamination (infection, infection), the second - the absence / presence of an inflammatory process in the kidneys, bladder);
- urine sample to determine the residual volume, ultrasound of the prostate gland;
- clinical urinalysis;
- medium portion of urine for microbiological examination.
Diagnosis requires differentiation of prostatitis with cystitis, urethritis, prostate adenoma and prostate cancer.
A man should refrain from sexual intercourse for five days before the appointment of an ultrasound examination. On the eve of this day, it is necessary to apply a cleansing enema and before entering the ultrasound room, urinate.
How prostatitis is treated
There is no standard treatment for prostatitis. A comprehensive therapeutic approach prescribed by a doctor is performed on an individual basis and has adaptations in its process for greater efficiency. When treating the prostate gland, the form of the disease is taken into account. For example, the acute form is easier to cure than the chronic form.
Prostatitis is mainly treated conservatively and outpatient.
An integrated approach is:
- Antibacterial therapy (hygiene of places infected with bacteria).
- To improve the blood supply to the prostate (massage, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises).
The use of physical therapy methods is carried out with the following objectives:
- Relief of the inflammatory process (by anti-inflammatory methods), pain reduction (by analgesic methods).
- Reduction of stagnant processes, changes in the sclerotic nature in the future (by means of defibrillating treatment methods).
- Strengthen the protective properties of the body (by immunostimulating methods).
Treatment of prostatitis is usually performed in conjunction with prostate massage. The procedure, due to its delicacy, is often considered humiliating by men, but it is very effective. Prostate massage can be performed at home, but for this you need to purchase a special hardware device.
Drug for the treatment of prostatitis
The therapeutic approach is implemented through the administration of drugs. The treatment regimen uses antibiotics, as only they are able to destroy the causative agents of the disease. Which drugs to take, the doctor decides on the basis of the results of analyzes and studies. The patient, pending the appointment of a suitable antibiotic, takes drugs for anesthetics, anti-inflammatory and other directions.
Antibiotic therapy involves the use of acceptable doses and route of administration. The optimal dose of an antibiotic is considered to be the one that has doubled or tripled the "efforts" against the concentration of pathogens.
In the case of chronic prostatitis, which usually manifests itself on the basis of immunodeficiency, antibiotic therapy is carried out in combination with immunocorrective drugs.
The best massage for treatment is sex
Doctors believe that the natural way of massage in the treatment of prostatitis is orgasm obtained during sex. Sperm ejaculation occurs with active muscle contraction in the anus, which is also effective for the prostate: during this it is successfully massaged. Many have heard that it is forbidden to have sex for the entire treatment period, but this is not true. The main thing is, if possible, not to change former partners (so that the microflora "does not conflict"), not to interrupt or prolong sexual intercourse.
In the absence of a sexual partner, doctors recommend masturbation to free the prostate gland and seminal ducts from stagnant processes. Horror stories about the dangers of masturbation should be taken as jokes, but you shouldn't forget about restraint and personal hygiene.
It is impossible to overcome prostatitis with sex and drugs, you should lead an active lifestyle, rest and eat properly, sleep well, avoid stressful situations. Alternative treatment methods are also welcome, but they are applied after consulting a doctor.
Important to know!Taking antibiotics also includes probiotics to avoid cases of dysbiosis and other negative aspects.
Surgical treatment of the prostate
Surgical treatment is used for advanced stages of prostatitis:
- with disease progression;
- in case of abscess inside the prostate;
- for cysts or strictures.
These situations require radical solutions to eliminate the inflammatory process.
The type of operation used takes into account the aspects of the disease, the patient's condition.
The operations prescribed by a doctor are divided into types, namely:
- Transurethral resection. During surgery, closed removal of the prostate gland is performed using a tube inserted through the urethra.
- Transurethral incision.The tissue near the bladder neck is cut, thus relieving the pressure on it. This operation is indicated for men with a slight increase in the prostate. Complications practically do not arise, patients recover quickly.
- Radical prostatectomy.In this case, the entire prostate gland is removed. This type of operation is difficult, traumatic, accompanied by significant blood loss.
Traditional medicine for the treatment of prostatitis
Alternative medicine offers over a hundred recipes designed to combat prostatitis, relieve symptoms and complement traditional treatments. It is worth remembering that not all of the proposed options may be suitable for a person with a certain form of the disease, some can cause an allergic reaction and other complications.
We offer several proven, popular and effective recipes:
- Pumpkin seeds.They contain a large amount of zinc, which the male body needs. A man should eat 30-35 raw seeds per day for preventive and therapeutic purposes. You can make special balls from crushed seeds in a blender (without peel), mixed with honey (200 ml). From the resulting mass, shape balls the size of nuts, put them in the refrigerator. Eat 1 ball twice a day, half an hour before meals, chewing slowly, sucking the healing juices. Powerful and effective, it can be used once a year.
- Fruit and vegetable juices.Helps the body produce more uric acid. Freshly squeezed natural juices of cucumbers, carrots, asparagus are especially successful in this. They can be drunk in a mixture, varying the proportions of each to your taste. It is necessary to consume more than half a liter of fluids per day in several doses.
- Natural honey.As well as beekeeping products have proved excellent in the treatment of prostatitis. Herbal medicine based on them has a powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. For example:
- Propolis candles.40 g of propolis is evaporated in a glass of alcohol, then this extract (0. 1 g) is mixed with two grams of rye and cocoa flour. Candles are formed, inserted into the rectum before sleeping overnight for a month.
- Tincture of propolis.20% tincture (40 drops) diluted with water (100 ml), taken before meals 20 minutes.
- Herbal infusion with honey.It is used for acute prostatitis. Marigold flowers (30 g), horsetail herb (25 g), elecampane root (15 g), dioecious nettle leaves, medicinal sage, mint (10 g of each plant) are chopped andjumbled up. Then take three tablespoons from the resulting mixture and pour them with half a liter of boiling water. Insist in a thermos for three hours, strain, add honey to taste, drink a third of a glass three times a day half an hour before meals.
- Red root decoction.The chopped root (25 g) is poured with a liter of boiling water, left for an hour in a thermos, drink three times a day before meals for a third of a glass. You can add milk, honey. This tea is recognized as the best remedy for prostatitis.
- Pharmacy chamomile.10 g are poured with 100 ml of very hot water, infused for half an hour, filtered. Used as a solution for microclysters (70-80 ml).
- Wild pear.Patients observe the effect a few days after starting compote / pear tea. With prolonged use, there is an almost complete cure of prostatitis. The fruits and leaves are used not only fresh, but also dried to make a potion in the winter. This drink is an excellent preventative measure.
The list of popular recipes is endless, but only a doctor will advise in each case one or more important ones in an integrated approach to treatment.
Prevention of prostatitis
Measures to prevent the disease, relapse into the chronic course are based on:
- active and healthy lifestyle;
- doing sports, physical education;
- cessation of tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption;
- having sex with a regular partner (promiscuity in relationships will lead to sexually transmitted infections that cause prostatitis);
- having a regular sex life and getting ejaculation;
- regular follow-up (twice a year) by a urologist;
- timely treatment of urological diseases;
- a balanced diet;
- respect for one's health.