Prostatitis: causes, symptoms and treatment of the disease

Inflammation of prostate tissue is unfortunately not uncommon among modern men.Prostatitis most often occurs in patients over 40 years old, but it is possible to develop this disease at an earlier age.By paying close attention to his health and timely contacting a urologist, a man can completely cope with the problem and avoid many complications.In order to detect the disease in time, you need to know what symptoms are characteristic of prostatitis.The diagnosis of this disease is well established in modern medicine and does not pose a problem.Any urologist knows how to treat prostatitis, what methods to use in each specific case.The greatest success comes from complex treatment, including various methods.

Causes and provoking factors of prostatitis

What is prostatitis?This is an inflammation of the prostate tissue that can develop due to infection or congestion.The impetus for the appearance of prostatitis and the provoking factor may be certain diseases or lifestyle features.Age-related changes after 40 years without adequate preventive measures quite quickly lead to stagnation of the pelvic organs and the development of inflammation of the prostate.It has been noticed that the disease prostatitis is most often diagnosed in men belonging to certain groups.

Risk groups are elderly men who lead a sedentary lifestyle and abuse alcohol.There is also an increased risk of developing prostatitis in those who have suffered from urological infections, have intestinal problems, in particular, suffer from constipation.If a man belongs to one of these groups, then he should undergo diagnostic examinations more often, because prostatitis is diagnosed twice as often in members of the risk group.

Symptoms of prostatitis

Although the manifestations of prostatitis may be similar to other diseases of the genitourinary system, there are still signals from the body that should alert a man and become a reason for him to go to the doctor.It is better to do this as soon as the slightest disorder occurs in men's health, then treatment will be easier and more effective.To understand how to treat prostatitis in men, you need to have an idea of the manifestations of the disease.

Main signs of prostatitis

• Urinary problems
• Problems in the sexual sphere,
• Pain in the pelvic region.

Why do these symptoms appear?This is due to changes occurring in the tissues of the prostate.Due to inflammation, it increases and begins to put pressure on the urethra, narrowing its lumen.Such processes lead to problems with urination and worsening urine flow.As inflammation develops, sexual disorders also increase, which also gradually worsen.

When should we sound the alarm?The sooner the better, that is to say at the first signs of prostatitis:

• difficulty urinating,
• there is pain in the pelvic region.

Then there are other signs:

• discomfort during bowel movements,
• the appearance of streaks of blood in the urine,
• discharge from the urethra,
• deterioration of erection,
• weakening of orgasm.

Forms of prostatitis and their characteristics

Prostatitis can be infectious and stagnant, but also acute and chronic.The infectious form can be acute and chronic, while the congestive form is usually only chronic.Acute symptoms are always pronounced, they worry men and often become a reason to consult a doctor.As for a chronic disease, it develops gradually, the symptoms of prostatitis increase slowly.For this reason, men in most cases consult a urologist when the disease is already at an advanced stage and unpleasant complications may have appeared.

Infectious prostatitis is most often caused by bacteria, but viruses and fungi can also lead to inflammation of the prostate.Where does the infection come from?In most cases, this involves the patient's own urinary tract.Cystitis or urethritis often causes the infection to spread to the prostate.Almost any source of infection in the body with deterioration of immunity and the presence of provoking factors can cause inflammation of the prostate.

Symptoms of acute prostatitis

• Difficulty and pain when urinating,
• Frequent urge to urinate,
• Groin pain
• Weakening of erection
• Increase in temperature,
• General weakness
• Discharge from the urethra.

The general condition of the body noticeably suffers, so it is difficult to miss acute infectious prostatitis.If the cause is a bacterial infection, there is a viscous yellowish discharge from the urethra.They appear both during urination and during the act of defecation, that is, during exercise.

The disease begins acutely with obvious symptoms and goes through the following stages:

1. catarrhal,
2. follicular,
3. parenchymal,
4. abscess.

The catarrhal stage is an inflammation in which individual lobules of the prostate are affected and the first urination disorders are observed.Due to inflammation of the tissues, their swelling develops, which leads to stagnation of secretions in the follicles of the gland and progression of inflammation.

After that, the disease of prostatitis passes to the next stage, follicular, and is accompanied by focal suppuration of the prostate lobules.The main symptoms are pain in the perineum, groin, significant urinary problems, and a body temperature of up to 38°C.

If the disease is not stopped at this stage, the process spreads to a large number of prostate lobules and its parenchymal tissue.This is the parenchymal stage.It is accompanied by fever, fever, the temperature rises to 39°C.The patient suffers from severe pain in the groin and perineum, urination is frequent and painful.At this point, a dangerous complication such as acute urinary retention may develop, requiring emergency care.

With the development of the disease, prostatitis can become dangerous.When small abscesses coalesce, an abscess forms in the prostate.It may open, then pus will flow into the bladder, urethra and rectum.This is accompanied by severe pain, dysfunction of the pelvic organs, suppuration of their tissues and the risk of sepsis.

Characteristics of chronic prostatitis

If acute prostatitis has not received normal treatment in a timely manner, the risk of it becoming chronic is high.Then the disease progresses slowly, not remembering for some time, but periods of exacerbation will occur periodically.It is possible that the symptoms of prostatitis appear constantly, but not as forcefully as in the acute form of the disease.

The second and most common cause of chronic prostatitis is congestion of the prostate and pelvic organs.Venous stagnation, which disrupts blood flow and nutrition of organic tissues, and stagnation of prostate secretion, which reduces its functionality, are dangerous.

Symptoms of the chronic form

• Aching pain that may be felt in the abdomen, epididymis, perineum, rectum,
• Painful erection
• Frequent trips to the toilet
• Painful urination,
• Decreased sexual desire
• Difficulty ejaculating
• With bacterial causes of the disease, discharge from the urethra is present.

The disease of prostatitis is called insidious.Consulting a urologist at an advanced stage is not always proof of a man's inattention to his health.Inflammation of the prostate can last for years without clinical manifestations and visible symptoms, and at some point, when exposed to a provoking factor, all manifestations develop very quickly.

Prostatitis pain

The prostate itself does not hurt, but nerve endings come from it that react to the inflammatory process.The location of the prostate and nerve pathways is such that pain impulses diverge throughout the pelvic organs, so pain can be felt in different locations.

Localization of pain in prostatitis

• Lower abdomen
• Sacrum,
• the scrotum,
• Crotch.

The nature of painful sensations depends on the intensity, prevalence of the process, as well as the characteristics of the human body.In some cases, even slight inflammation can cause quite severe pain in the patient, in others the man hardly feels it even with an intense inflammatory process.In any case, if measures are not taken to treat the inflammation, it will progress and the pain will gradually increase.The pain syndrome can be so intense that a man cannot live at his usual pace.In such cases, urgent measures are necessary.Various factors can contribute to increased pain:

• physical activity,
• excessive sexual activity,
• abstinence.

The nature of the pain associated with prostatitis is similar to that associated with urethritis, cystitis or osteochondrosis.To make a diagnosis, you must therefore undergo an examination.Hormones play an important role in the body's response.A high level of testosterone acts as a kind of pain reliever, so men of active age may not feel the manifestations of diseases.

Urination problems

Impaired urination always accompanies prostatitis.This symptom is present in acute and chronic forms, both in infectious and congestive inflammation of the prostate.

How do urinary disorders manifest in prostatitis?

• The stream of urine becomes weaker
• To begin the act of urinating, one must force,
• There is a frequent urge to urinate, which may be painful,
• Possible pain and tingling when urinating,
• After going to the toilet, shooting pain in the perineum is possible,
• Stagnation of urine with severe narrowing of the lumen of the urethra.

Causes of urination problems due to inflammation of the prostate

• The relative position of the prostate and the urethra,
• Tissue changes
• Disturbance of nerve conduction in the pelvic region,
• Deterioration of bladder function.

One of the causes of urinary problems lies in the anatomical structure of the male genitourinary system.The prostate covers the urethra, so even a slight inflammatory process leads to narrowing of the urethra, as the prostate swells and increases in volume.The manifestations of such disorders can be of varying intensity, ranging from a barely noticeable weakening of the urine stream to pain requiring effort to urinate.

If the disease lasts for a long time, changes in scar and sclera tissue occur.They disrupt the normal flow of urine, leading to problems.

Sclerotic scar processes can cause not only the formation of mechanical obstacles to the flow of urine or deterioration of peristalsis of the urinary tract, but also disruption of innervation.Nerve impulses transmitted through the bladder cannot completely pass through damaged tissue.This is why “confusion” occurs: either there is a false urge to urinate, or on the contrary the man does not feel that his bladder is full.It is possible to stop the act of urinating even before the bladder is emptied.

All of the above changes lead to stagnation of urine, deterioration of its flow, a change in the sensitivity of this organ and a weakening or, conversely, strengthening of its muscle tone.A fairly common disorder associated with prostatitis is something called overactive bladder.What happens in such an organ?High pressure is created inside, even when it is only lightly filled.As a result, an impulse enters the brain, which turns into the urge to urinate.With an overactive bladder, these urges can be so strong that they can lead to urinary incontinence.Of course, such situations don't happen too often;they are caused by the progressive development of the disease and the absence of appropriate treatment.As a rule, incontinence appears with old and advanced forms of chronic prostatitis.

Sexual disorders

Problems that arise in men in the sexual sphere are perceived by them more acutely than other manifestations of prostatitis.In the acute form of the disease, they disappear quite quickly as soon as the patient recovers.With chronic inflammation of the prostate, sexual dysfunction often becomes persistent and can be difficult to manage.

Manifestations of sexual disorders

• Slight discharge from the urethra,
• Blood in semen
• Decreased libido
• Decrease in sperm quality, which can lead to infertility,
• Painful erection or ejaculation
• Decrease in the intensity of orgasm or its absence,
• premature ejaculation
• Potency disorder which can go as far as total absence of erection.

Why is this happening?What is the link between prostatitis and male sexual functions?The main causes of problems in the sexual sphere related to prostatitis are disorders of nerve conduction and hormonal balance due to inflammation and damage to organ tissues.

Nerve conduction disorder

The receptors in the prostate that send the appropriate impulses are responsible for erection and ejaculation.Advanced male prostatitis leads to damage to the tissues of the gland, scars form on its surface, which prevent the receptors from conducting impulses as well as before.As a result, the erection may decrease, ejaculation problems may occur and the man no longer feels the pleasure of sexual intercourse as clearly.If there is significant swelling of the prostate due to overflow of blood into the pelvic organs during intercourse, there may be too much pressure on the nerve plexuses.This leads to pain during erection or ejaculation.

Hormonal imbalance

The prostate in men is an organ that regulates hormonal balance and is responsible for the production of testosterone.In addition, it converts this hormone into a more active form: dihydrotestosterone.As you know, a normal concentration of testosterone ensures the level of libido and the possibility of sexual intercourse, that is, an erection.In case of inflammation of the prostate, its functions are also disrupted and the production of male sex hormones is reduced accordingly, which is manifested by a decrease in a man's sexual abilities.

The severity of the disorder largely depends not on the degree of tissue damage, but on the sexual constitution of the man, and the possibility of recovery depends on his attitude and cooperation with the attending physician.

How to make a diagnosis

How to properly treat prostatitis, as well as the results of treatment, depend on an accurate diagnosis.It is impossible to make a diagnosis of prostatitis without instrumental studies.The fact is that its symptoms and manifestations are similar to other diseases of the prostate and urinary tract.In some cases it is necessary to carry out differential diagnosis even in cases of spinal diseases.

Diagnostic measures

• History taking during a consultation with a urologist,
• Digital rectal examination,
• Laboratory tests,
• Transrectal ultrasound of the prostate,
• Urodynamic studies,
• Determination of PSA,
• Urethroscopy,
• Cystoscopy,
• Prostate biopsy.

The list of studies is quite long, but it is not always necessary to carry out a complete set of them.

How is the patient examined?

As a rule, men who consult a urologist are more interested in how to quickly cure prostatitis.It depends on his reasons and the wishes of the patient himself.At the first appointment with a specialist, a detailed medical history is collected, then it is necessary to carry out a rectal examination.It will determine the pain in the prostate, its size and swelling.Then TRUS (transrectal ultrasound) and laboratory tests are prescribed.Only after a set of procedures can a specialist understand how to cure prostatitis in a particular case.

What does TRUS give?

• Reveals the exact dimensions of the prostate and its individual sections,
• Allows you to examine and assess in detail the condition of soft tissues and seminal vesicles.

What tests should be taken

• General urine and blood tests,
• Bacteriological culture of urine,
• Urethral smear
• Prostatic secretion.

Other types of studies are prescribed if necessary.Determination of urodynamics is necessary in cases of pronounced urination disorders in order to assess bladder functions.If a prostate adenoma or tumor development is suspected, a blood test is performed for the tumor marker PSA (prostate specific antigen) and a biopsy of glandular tissue for histological examination.

Treatment of prostatitis

Modern medicine offers many possibilities for combating prostatitis.The most effective treatment of prostatitis in men is based on an integrated approach including several methods.Specific methods of treating prostatitis depend on the stage, time of onset of the disease, degree of prevalence and severity of symptoms, as well as individual characteristics of the body in each specific case.Typically, all treatments are performed on an outpatient basis by a urologist.In rare cases, in case of dangerous complications, the patient is hospitalized.

Treatment methods

• Drugs,
• Massages,
• Therapeutic gymnastics,
• Surgery,
• Minimally invasive methods of destroying inflamed tissues and dilating the urethra.

Drug treatment

The first question that arises after the examination is how to treat prostatitis in men.First, they turn to drug therapy.It is prescribed depending on the causes of prostatitis and existing symptoms.

Medicines for the treatment of prostatitis:

• Antibacterial agents (for bacterial prostatitis),
• Antiviral drugs (for viral form),
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories,
• Alpha blockers,
• Painkillers,
• Decongestants,
• Antipyretic.

Many medications for the treatment of prostate inflammation are prescribed in the form of suppositories.This form allows you to achieve a faster effect.In no case should you prescribe medications yourself, because each drug has contraindications and side effects that only a specialist can fully take into account.

Massage

This method of treating prostatitis is used as an additional method when using drug therapy.It allows faster treatment of prostatitis and much better results.Internal and external massage methods are used.

The main and most effective way to massage the prostate is digital rectal stimulation.The specialist performing the massage inserts a finger into the patient's rectum, palpates the prostate and performs massage movements.

Benefits of massage:

• Improved blood supply,
• Stimulation of the gland,
• Eliminate stagnant secretions.

Thanks to prostate massage, the effect of medications is enhanced and recovery is much faster.

External massage does not involve penetration into the body;massage movements are performed through the skin of the perineum.This procedure is a good prevention of prostatitis in men, but its effectiveness is not sufficient to treat the disease.

Therapeutic gymnastics

How to treat prostatitis with therapeutic exercises?When performing exercises, there is an inflow of arterial blood to the prostate and an improvement in the outflow of venous blood, that is, stagnation in the organ is eliminated.Of course, this happens gradually with regular physical activity.The complex, aimed at maintaining men's health, is a set of simple exercises performed while lying, sitting or standing.One of the simplest and most effective exercises is periodic tension and relaxation of the muscles of the anus.It can be done anytime, almost anywhere, even at work, because it is completely invisible to others.This exercise is an excellent prevention of prostatitis in men;it helps maintain good muscle tone of the perineum and active blood circulation.

Minimally Invasive Methods to Correct Prostate Problems

Modern medicine offers minimally invasive methods for treating prostatitis in men, which were developed quite recently.They are used in cases where a set of conservative therapeutic measures does not solve the problem.Such methods are indicated in cases where it is necessary to ensure the flow of urine and reduce inflammation.

Suggested techniques:

• Transuretal microwave therapy helps reduce the size of the prostate by applying high temperature.
• Ultrasound treatment of the prostate helps relieve inflammation.
• Laser methods make it possible to coagulate tissues, which leads to their renewal and strengthening local immunity.
• Cryodestruction is a method of removing areas of inflamed tissue at low temperatures.
• Urethral balloon dilation is a mechanical dilation of the urethra using a special inflatable balloon, inserted by catheterization.
• Urethral stenting can be used alone or in conjunction with balloon dilation.The urethra is dilated using a stent.

Surgical treatment

The radical method of treating prostatitis is surgery.Today it is used quite rarely, only in difficult cases, when other methods do not bring results.The essence of the operation is resection of the prostate, which leads to reduction of pressure on the urethra, improvement of urodynamics and relief of symptoms of inflammation.

The operation can be carried out openly or transurethally, that is to say through the urethra.

Men suffering from this disease wonder whether it is possible to cure prostatitis and forget about it forever.As long as there are no significant scar changes in the glandular tissue, complete healing is possible.The most important thing for success in the treatment of prostatitis is a timely visit to a urologist.As soon as problems with urination appear, you should go to a medical institution, undergo an examination and, if necessary, receive treatment prescribed by a doctor.To avoid the question of how to recover from prostatitis, it is worth engaging in its prevention: leading an active lifestyle, eating right, not abusing alcohol and being attentive to everything related to the preservation of men's health.