Prostatitis: causes, symptoms and treatment of the disease

Inflammation of prostate tissue, unfortunately, is not uncommon in modern men.Prostatitis occurs most frequently in patients over 40 years of age, but it is possible to develop this disease at an earlier age.With close attention to your health and timely contact with a urologist, a man can completely cope with the problem and avoid many complications.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 represent a problem.Any urologist knows how to cure prostatitis, what methods to use in each specific case.The greatest success comes from complex treatments, including multiple methods.

Causes and provoking factors of prostatitis

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

The 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 urological infections, have intestinal problems, in particular, suffer from constipation.If a man belongs to one of these groups, he should undergo diagnostic tests more frequently, as prostatitis is diagnosed twice as often in members of the risk group.

Prostatitis symptoms

Although the manifestations of prostatitis may be similar to other diseases of the genitourinary system, there are still signs of the body that should alert a man and serve as a reason for him to see a doctor.It is better to do this as soon as the slightest disturbance in men's health occurs, then the 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 disorders
• Problems in the sexual sphere,
• Pain in the pelvic region.

Why do these symptoms appear?This is due to changes that occur in the prostate tissues.Due to inflammation, it increases and begins to press on the urethra, narrowing its lumen.These processes lead to problems urinating and deterioration of urinary flow.As inflammation develops, so do sexual disorders, which also gradually worsen.

When should you sound the alarm?The sooner the better, that is, 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,
• secretion from the urethra,
• deterioration of erection,
• weakening of orgasm.

Forms of prostatitis and their characteristics

Prostatitis can be infectious and stagnant, as well as acute and chronic.The infectious form can be acute and chronic, and the congestive form, as a rule, is only chronic.Acute symptoms are always pronounced, worry men and often become a reason for a doctor's appointment.As for the chronic disease, it develops gradually, the symptoms of prostatitis increase slowly.For this reason, in most cases, men seek out a urologist when the disease is already at an advanced stage and some unpleasant complications may have arisen.

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

Symptoms of acute prostatitis

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

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

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

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

The catarrhal stage is an inflammation in which individual lobes of the prostate are affected and the first urinary 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 the progression of inflammation.

After that, the disease of prostatitis passes into the next follicular stage and is accompanied by focal suppuration of the prostate lobes.The main symptoms are pain in the perineum, groin, significant problems urinating, 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 lobes and 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 stage, a dangerous complication such as acute urinary retention may develop, which requires emergency care.

As the disease develops, prostatitis can become dangerous.When small abscesses merge, an abscess forms in the prostate.It may open and 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 threat of sepsis.

Features of chronic prostatitis

If acute prostatitis does not receive timely normal treatment, there is a high risk of it becoming chronic.Then the disease proceeds slowly, unremarkably for some time, but periods of exacerbation will periodically occur.It is possible that the symptoms of prostatitis appear constantly, but not as strongly 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.Both venous stagnation, which disrupts the flow of blood and nutrition of organ tissues, and stagnation of prostate secretion, which reduces its functionality, are dangerous.

Symptoms of the chronic form

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

The disease prostatitis is called insidious.Consulting a urologist at an advanced stage is not always evidence of a man's inattention to his health.Prostate inflammation can last for years without clinical manifestations or noticeable 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 through the pelvic organs, so pain can be felt in different locations.

Location of pain in prostatitis

• Lower abdomen
• Sacrum,
• Scrotum,
• Groin.

The nature of painful sensations depends on the intensity, prevalence of the process, as well as the characteristics of the man's body.In some cases, even a slight inflammation can cause quite severe pain in the patient, in others the man barely 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 the man cannot live at his usual pace.In these cases, urgent measures are needed.Several factors can contribute to increased pain:

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

The nature of pain in prostatitis is similar to pain in urethritis, cystitis or osteochondrosis, therefore, to make a diagnosis it is necessary to undergo an examination.Hormones play a significant role in the body's response.A high level of testosterone acts as a kind of painkiller, so men of working age may not feel the manifestations of diseases.

Problems with urination

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

How are urinary disorders manifested in prostatitis?

• The urine stream becomes weaker
• To start urinating, you have to make an effort,
• There is a frequent urge to urinate, which can be painful,
• Possible pain and burning when urinating,
• After going to the bathroom, it is possible to feel a dull pain in the perineum,
• Stagnation of urine with severe narrowing of the lumen of the urethra.

Causes of problems urinating due to prostate inflammation

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

One of the reasons for urinary problems lies in the anatomical structure of the male genitourinary system.The prostate gland covers the urethra, therefore, even a mild inflammatory process leads to a narrowing of the urethra, because the prostate gland swells and increases in volume.The manifestations of such disorders can be of varying intensity, from an almost imperceptible weakening of the urine stream to painful, requiring effort to urinate.

If the disease lasts a long time, changes in scar and sclerotic tissue occur.They disrupt the normal flow of urine, which leads to disorders.

Cicatricial-sclerotic processes can provoke not only the formation of mechanical obstacles to the outflow of urine or a deterioration in the peristalsis of the urinary tract, but also disruption of innervation.Nerve impulses transmitted by the bladder cannot fully pass through the 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 urinating even before the bladder empties.

All of the above changes lead to stagnation of urine, a deterioration in its outflow, a change in the sensitivity of this organ and a weakening or, conversely, a strengthening of its muscle tone.A very common disorder in prostatitis is the so-called overactive bladder.What happens in such an organ?High pressure is created inside it, even when it is only slightly full.Because of this, an impulse enters the brain, which is converted 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 do not occur very often;are caused by the gradual development of the disease and the lack of adequate treatment.As a rule, incontinence appears in old and advanced forms of chronic prostatitis.

Sexual disorders

The 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 pass quickly as soon as the patient recovers.With chronic prostate inflammation, sexual dysfunctions often become persistent and can be difficult to deal with.

Manifestations of sexual disorders

• Mild discharge from the urethra,
• Blood in semen
• Decreased libido
• Decreased sperm quality, which can lead to infertility,
• Painful erection or ejaculation
• Decrease in the intensity of orgasm or its absence,
• Premature ejaculation
• Potency disturbance up to the complete absence of erection.

Why is this happening?How are prostatitis and male sexual functions related?The main causes of problems in the sexual sphere with prostatitis are disturbances in nerve conduction and hormonal balance that arise due to inflammation and damage to organ tissues.

Nerve conduction disorder

Prostate receptors that send appropriate impulses are responsible for erection and ejaculation.Advanced male prostatitis causes damage to the gland tissue, forming scars on its surface, which prevent the receptors from conducting impulses as well as before.Because of this, the erection may decrease, ejaculation problems may arise 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 sexual intercourse, there may be a lot of pressure on the nerve plexuses.This causes 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.Furthermore, it converts this hormone into a more active form - dihydrotestosterone.As you know, a normal concentration of testosterone guarantees the level of libido and the possibility of sexual intercourse, that is, an erection.If inflammation of the prostate gland occurs, its functions are also disturbed and the production of male sex hormones is correspondingly reduced, which is manifested by a decrease in the man's sexual capabilities.

The severity of the disorder depends largely 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

Proper treatment of prostatitis, as well as treatment results, depend on an accurate diagnosis.It is impossible to diagnose 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 make differential diagnoses even with spinal diseases.

Diagnostic measures

• Taking anamnesis in 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 large, but it is not always necessary to complete a complete set.

How is the patient examined?

Typically, men who see a urologist are more interested in how to quickly cure prostatitis.It depends on the patient's own motives and wishes.During the first consultation with the specialist, a detailed medical history is collected and then a digital rectal examination is required.This will allow you to determine the pain in the prostate area, its size and swelling.Then, TRUS (transrectal ultrasound) and laboratory tests are prescribed.Only after a set of procedures will a specialist be able to understand how to cure prostatitis in a specific case.

What does TRUS offer?

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

What tests need to be done

• General urine and blood tests,
• Urine bacteriological culture,
• Urethral swab
• Prostate secretion.

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

Prostatitis treatment

Modern medicine provides many opportunities to deal with prostatitis.The most effective treatment of prostatitis in men is based on an integrated approach, which includes several methods.Specific methods of treating prostatitis depend on the stage, timing of the disease, the degree of prevalence and severity of symptoms, as well as the individual characteristics of the body in each specific case.As a rule, all treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis by a urologist.In rare cases, if there are dangerous complications, the patient is hospitalized.

Treatment methods

• Medication,
• Massage,
• 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 of all, they resort 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 medications (for the viral form),
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
• Alpha blockers,
• analgesics,
• Decongestants,
• Antipyretic.

Many medications for treating prostate inflammation are prescribed in the form of suppositories.This form allows you to achieve a faster effect.Under no circumstances should you prescribe medication on your own, as each medication has contraindications and side effects that only a specialist can take into account.

Massage

This method of treating prostatitis is used as an additional method when using drug therapy.Provides 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:

• Better blood supply,
• Gland stimulation,
• Removing stagnant secretions.

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

External massage does not involve penetration of 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 enough to treat the disease.

Therapeutic gymnastics

How can prostatitis be treated with therapeutic exercise?When performing exercises, there is an influx of arterial blood to the prostate and an improvement in the flow of venous blood, that is, stagnation in the organ is eliminated.Of course, this happens gradually with regular exercise.The complex, aimed at maintaining men's health, is a set of simple exercises performed in lying, sitting or standing positions.One of the simplest and most effective exercises is periodic tension and relaxation of the anal muscles.It can be performed at any time, almost anywhere, even at work, as it is completely invisible to other people.This exercise is an excellent prevention of prostatitis in men;allows you to maintain good muscle tone in 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 have been developed 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:

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

Surgical treatment

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

The operation can be performed open or transuretically, that is, through the urethra.

Men suffering from this disease are interested in whether it is possible to cure prostatitis and forget about it forever.As long as there are no extensive scarring changes to the gland tissue, a complete cure is possible.The most important thing for successful treatment of prostatitis is a timely visit to the urologist.As soon as problems with urination appear, it is necessary to go to a medical center, 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 paying attention to everything that concerns the preservation of men's health.