Prostatitis is a common urological disease that can occur in any man over the age of 30, and the probability of its development only increases every year. This disease causes serious problems in men: acute prostatitis causes depression, loss of libido and, in general, disruption of the genitourinary system; a chronic condition causes diseases of the urological field, infertility, impotence.
General Information
Prostatitis is an inflammatory lesion of the prostate gland, an organ found only in men. Demir plays three
most important functions:
- secretor - produces a special enzyme that regulates the viscosity of sperm and ensures the viability of male germ cells for successful fertilization of the egg;
- motor - controls the muscle tissue of the urethral sphincter, thanks to which the correct process of urine flow occurs and the secretion of the prostate is released during ejaculation;
- barrier - prevents infectious agents from entering the upper urinary tract from the urethra, providing an antibacterial barrier as part of the male immune system.
During prostatitis, the prostate gland enlarges and begins to compress the urethra, which disrupts the normal outflow of urine. The body itself cannot fully perform its functions due to inflammation.
The reasons
The source of male health problems - prostatitis can develop for the following reasons:
- Obstruction in the pelvic region. Often, such blood stagnation occurs due to a sedentary, inactive lifestyle and excess weight.
- Infectious infection of the prostate. It can be descending (through the urine) or ascending (through the urethra), entering the prostate along with blood or lymph.
The development of prostatitis usually occurs against the background of the presence of certain risk factors:
- lack of physical activity;
- maintain a sedentary lifestyle;
- irregular sex life;
- hypothermia, especially involving the pelvis;
- the presence of injuries in the pelvic region;
- weakened immunity;
- eating an abundance of sweet, fatty and fried foods;
- the presence of bad habits;
- infection with sexually transmitted infections.
Species
According to ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases), 4 types of prostatitis are distinguished:
- Acute prostatitis.
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis.
- Chronic prostatitis is non-bacterial, inflammatory and non-inflammatory.
- Chronic prostatitis is asymptomatic.
In the acute form of the disease, the symptoms appear strongly and clearly, the inflammatory process develops rapidly. Common causes are infection of the prostate gland with infectious agents that penetrate through the urethra or blood.
Chronic bacterial form - acute prostatitis that is not treated in time. The same factors that affect acute inflammation contribute to the development of the pathological condition - infections of the genitourinary system and blood stagnation in the pelvic organs.
Nonbacterial chronic prostatitis (also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome) is most common in older men. It can develop both against the background of prostate dysfunction and as a result of the body's autoimmune reaction.
Chronic asymptomatic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland, during which patients do not experience any unpleasant sensations.
Clinic
The clinical picture of acute prostatitis has very bright manifestations, they cannot be ignored and it is very difficult to live with them:
- increase in body temperature above 38 ° C;
- chills with perspiration and weakness;
- severe pain in the lower abdomen, perineum, genitals;
- urinary disorders - difficulty, pain, acute urinary retention.
With the problem of chronic prostatitis, similar, but less noticeable symptoms occur, which are often not paid attention to:
- dull pain in the perineum and lower abdomen, spreading to the sacrum and genitals;
- difficult urination, with painful and rapid imperative (sharp and irresistible) urges, mostly at night;
- erectile dysfunction;
- decrease in the quality and duration of sexual intercourse;
- decrease in intensity of orgasm.
Asymptomatic course of prostatitis passes without complaints of the patient. The problem is discovered incidentally during prostate and/or urine tests.
Diagnostic methods
If you suspect prostatitis, the doctor makes a diagnosis, the first step is to clarify the complaints and study the medical history. Information about all symptoms and their development is collected. The following activities are carried out:
- Palpation of the prostate through the rectum to determine the size, density and pain of the organ. During the probing process, gland secretion is also collected for additional bacteriological analysis. The purpose of the study is to exclude a number of diagnoses: adenoma or prostate cancer, rectal cancer.
- Ultrasound and TRUS to supplement and clarify information obtained during palpation.
- Bacteriological analysis of prostate secretion to detect infection and identify the type of pathogens. Information is needed to select and prescribe antibiotics.
- A blood test to determine the level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) allows you to rule out adenoma and gland cancer.
- Biopsy - examination of a sample of prostate tissue under a microscope to confirm or rule out adenoma and cancer.
Treatment
Modern urology considers three types of treatment for acute prostatitis and exacerbation of the chronic form of the disease:
- medicine;
- surgical;
- physiotherapy.
Drug exposure includes taking antibiotics from the groups of penicillins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, cephalosporins, or aminoglycosides. A specific drug is prescribed by the doctor depending on which infectious agent provokes the inflammation. In addition, patients are prescribed:
- anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve fever;
- pain relievers;
- antispasmodics to normalize urine flow;
- alpha blockers to relieve symptoms and restore healthy urination.
If there is no effect of drugs or in advanced cases of acute prostatitis, the doctor may prescribe surgical intervention, during which either the entire prostate gland or a part of it is removed. The operation is necessary for patients with accompanying problems: stones in the prostate gland or benign and malignant neoplasms.
Physiotherapy is a supplement to drug treatment, it can be done only after the acute inflammatory process has been eliminated. Patients are shown:
- massage;
- exercise therapy (physiotherapy);
- magnetotherapy;
- ultrasound treatment;
- electrical stimulation;
- microwave and laser exposure;
- reflexology.
The appointment of a certain type of procedure is carried out by the attending physician.
During remission in chronic prostatitis, the patient is required to:
- undergo regular examinations and, if necessary, undergo a course of antibiotic therapy;
- eating right, avoiding the appearance of both exhaustion and excess weight;
- protect the body from hypothermia;
- engage in exercise therapy and exercises should strengthen the muscles of the lower abdomen and pelvic floor;
- have a regular sex life;
- get rid of bad habits.
Prostate massage is also a useful procedure, thanks to which the blood circulation and secretion flow in the organ improves, which helps to prevent the recurrence of the acute stage of the disease.
Complications
Complications of prostatitis are manifested both in the prostate gland itself and in the organs surrounding it, which is related to the anatomical location. In an acute form, infectious agents can reach the bladder and kidneys, inflammation - passes to the fatty tissue of the gland, venous plexus and rectum.
Chronic disease is dangerous because it affects not only the tissues and organs surrounding the prostate, but also the nervous, urological and reproductive areas.
Possible complications of acute prostatitis:
- abscess;
- phlebitis of venous plexuses in the small pelvis;
- inflammation of adipose tissue;
- orchitis;
- epididymitis;
- vesiculitis;
- pyelonephritis.
Chronic prostatitis causes the following complications:
- chronic pain syndrome;
- sexual dysfunction;
- infinity;
- violation of the urinary process;
- general deterioration of the quality of life.
impotence and infertility
The two most common problems associated with prostatitis are impotence and infertility. The development of each condition occurs against the background of chronic damage to the prostate gland.
Impotence (erectile dysfunction) occurs in 40% of cases of neglected and untreated prostatitis. The development of complications occurs over a long period of time, sometimes years. Its reasons:
- disorder of the prostate with the wrong passage of nerve impulses and failure of hormone production;
- deterioration of control of the pelvic muscles responsible for the occurrence of erection;
- psychological uncertainty;
- pain syndrome that causes fear of a possible failure in bed.
It is impossible to talk about the unconditional connection of prostatitis with infertility. This disease indirectly affects the reproductive capacity of a person and only with an advanced chronic course. Causes of fertility problems due to prostate damage:
- decrease in the quality of seminal fluid;
- decrease in the number and decrease in sperm motility;
- damage and defects of germ cells;
- scars in the vas deferens;
- violation of excretory function;
- testicular dysfunction.
In acute prostatitis, spermatozoa are damaged, their quality and motility deteriorate, defects are formed, and fewer male sex cells are produced.
Prevention
It is possible to prevent prostatitis, but a number of preventive recommendations should always be followed:
- lead a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, reasonable physical and sexual activity, absence of bad habits;
- engage in physiotherapy exercises aimed at removing congestion in the pelvic organs and strengthening the pelvic muscles;
- undergo a timely examination by a urologist and andrologist;
- avoid hypothermia.
Prostatitis is a serious disease of the urological sphere and can cause significant damage to the male body. It is very important to pay attention to the first signs of its appearance and visit specialists who will prescribe full treatment. Without it, an acute condition can become chronic and lead to even greater health problems.