Prostatitis, inflammation of the prostate, can manifest itself in acute and chronic forms.
It is difficult to ignore acute inflammation: its signs are clearly pronounced, which cannot be said about the chronic manifestation of the disease.thatasymptomatic, but it does its job “excellently”, damaging the tissues of the organ, reducing its functions.
About chronic prostatitis: types and characteristics.
Prostate inflammation is considered chronic,if your indolent symptoms persist for more than 3 months.
According to statistics, only 5% of cases are acute, the remaining 95% are chronic prostatitis.It affects men of reproductive age, and even young men between 18 and 20 years old are susceptible to this disease.
There may be two reasons for the development of chronic prostatitis: infection and stagnation of blood in the pelvis.
Infectionenters the prostate in various ways:
- with blood flow from infectious foci in the body: carious teeth, pneumonia, inflamed maxillary sinuses, pustular formations,
- with lymph flow from nearby organs, for example, from the intestines with hemorrhoids, dysbacteriosis,
- sexually
- descends or ascends from the infected urinary tract: bladder or urethra.
Inflammation of the prostate caused by a sexually transmitted pathogen, such as gonococcus, chlamydia, and pale treponema, requires special attention.The symptoms of this type of prostatitis and genital infections are similar to each other and can "hide" behind the signs of these diseases.This type of prostatitis is easy to trigger.
Reduced immunity and hormonal imbalances.Especially stimulate the development and spread of infection.
Non-infectious or congestive prostatitisIt appears as a result of a violation of the flow of blood and lymph from the pelvis, as well as stagnation of prostate juice in the ducts of the gland.
Cause such phenomenathe following factors:
- alterations in sexual life: prolonged abstinence, interrupted acts, unsatisfied desire,
- smoking: nicotine causes spasms in blood vessels and interferes with normal blood circulation,
- sedentary lifestyle,
- tight clothing,
- alcohol abuse.Alcoholic beverages irritate the walls of the gland ducts, causing them to become inflamed.
- constipation
Congestive prostatitis occurs 8 times more often than infectious prostatitis and very rarely develops as a complication of acute inflammation of the prostate.
Abacterial prostatitis
This type of disease is also calledchronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).The main symptom is pain in the pelvic area, but the absence of pathogenic microorganisms in the microbiological examination of urine and prostatic secretions.
Painful sensations acquire different severity and location.They spread to the perineum or bladder, genitals.The ejaculation process is also painful.Problems with urine excretion and in the sexual sphere are also present, but they are secondary.
The diagnosis is made if the pain persists for 3 months or more.
There are 2 types of CPPS:
- inflammatory CPPS– A greater number of leukocytes is detected in the urine and secretions of the prostate, which indicates inflammation.No microorganisms are detected.There are several reasons for the appearance of this type of inflammation.On the one hand, this is possible with the reflux (reflux) of clean urine from the urethra into the gland.This is facilitated by anatomical defects or disturbances in the contractions of the muscles of the bladder, prostate and perineum.Urine, or rather the urates it contains, cause inflammation of the prostate.On the other hand, it is believed that the culprits of this process are still bacteria that are not determined by the classical method.To identify them, molecular diagnosis must be used.The third reason is autoimmune processes in the body.
- non-inflammatory CPPS– the analyzes do not contain leukocytosis or microorganisms.Instrumental diagnostics are used to establish a diagnosis.It allows you to identify innervation problems or muscular changes in the prostate and other organs:
- cervical part of the bladder: stenosis or proliferation,
- pelvic area: myalgia, muscle tension, interruption of the passage of nerve impulses,
- urethra: narrowing, increased pressure,
- Prostate: urine reflux, increased pressure.
OftenNervous disorders are observed in patients with CPPS.: anxiety, irritability, depressive tendencies.
bacterial prostatitis
Chronic inflammation of the prostate of bacterial etiology.It begins to manifest itself with slight discomfort when urinating.This includes mild pain, itching or burning, and decreased stream flow.The color of the urine changes and acquires an unpleasant odor.Unpleasant sensations can also disturb you during bowel movements.A weak, dull pain appears in the perineum.
emergeproblems in sexual life.At the beginning of the disease, they are situational: weakening of the erection or increased frequency of its appearance during the night, acceleration of ejaculation, disturbances in orgasmic sensations.
A characteristic symptom of this stage.– the appearance of discharge from the urethra during defecation.
These symptoms of sluggishness can persist for quite some time.A man may not pay attention to them and attribute everything to other reasons.If there is no treatment, they progress and an exacerbation of the chronic process occurs, the intensity of the sensations increases.
Urination becomes very painful., the urge to go to the bathroom becomes more frequent.At a certain point, these manifestations weaken due to compensatory growth of the bladder muscles, and then resume again, with greater force.
The pain in the perineum also intensifies.It radiates to the lumbar area, pubis, leg, scrotum.The nature of the pain also changes: it becomes stronger and sharper and bothers at night.
Sexual dysfunction increases and becomes permanent.Ejaculation is accompanied by pain, erection and decreased libido.
Patients are also accompanied by increased sweating, including in the perineum.Body temperature is slightly elevated: 37-37.5°.
In the context of sexual disorders in men.mental disorders develop.They become irritable, nervous and may become depressed.
Treatment of the disease at this stage reduces the intensity of symptoms and the exacerbation stage goes into remission.
Other types of chronic prostatitis
There is a conceptcalculous prostatitis.This disease is extremely rare and affects older men.It is characterized by the formation of stones composed of prostatic juice, inflammatory effusion, as well as phosphates and calcium.
Signs of this type of disease are pain, which has a typical location for prostatitis.They intensify with movement, after sexual relations.Blood appears in ejaculate.There are other signs of inflammation of the gland.
The stones are a consequence of prolonged prostatitis or adenoma.
congestive prostatitisThere are bacterial and non-bacterial ones.Its peculiarity is the mild symptoms:
- low fever,
- uncomfortable sensations in the groin,
- problems urinating,
- irritability,
- sexual disorders.
There are also suchtypes of chronic prostatitis:
- autoimmune– develops in immune diseases, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus,
- hormonal-dystrophic– appears due to hormonal imbalances, with hormonal diseases (diabetes mellitus), as a result of physiological aging of the body,
- vegetovascular– formed against the background of vegetative-vascular dystonia.It causes problems with blood circulation.
How the disease is detected: diagnosis
Chronic prostatitis is diagnosed.the same methods as acute.
first of allThe doctor interviews and examines the patient..The examination is performed through a digital rectal examination of the prostate.It may be enlarged, painful, asymmetrical and hardened.In rare cases (non-inflammatory CPPS) it is not modified.
next doctorwill order tests.Laboratory methods include a general blood and urine test and an analysis of prostate secretions.They will show an increase in white blood cell count.Bacteriological examination of urine and prostate juice reveals the pathogen.Sometimes these indicators may be normal, but the process is still present.
To confirm the disease, the blood is tested for PSA.Instrumental methods will also help: ultrasound, TRUS, uroflowmetry.
Very often it turns out that a man does not suspect that he has such a disease, ignoring the symptoms.It is detected by chance, during systematic examinations.Therefore, it is recommended not to disturb the system and not to neglect scheduled inspections.
Pharmacological treatment
First of all, for the treatment of chronic prostatitis.antibiotics are prescribed.The course is long: 1-1.5 months.Before prescribing antibacterial agents, the type of pathogen and its sensitivity to drugs are determined.
Requesteduse immunocorrective medications, because reduced immunity is a common cause of inflammation.The help of an immunologist is possible.
Therapy for chronic inflammation of the prostate.I can't do without anti-inflammatory medications..To begin with, non-steroidal medications are prescribed.They are used in the form of tablets or injections.If the desired result is not achieved, hormones are used.
Alpha blockersIt will help relieve muscle tension in the bladder and perineum.They act symptomatically, reducing pain and improving urination.
If unbearable pain occurs,painkillers are relevant.
It is worth mentioning separatelyabout the use of a pharmaceutical form such as suppositories.They are perfect for treating chronic prostate processes.Most of the time, its symptoms are mild and the gentle action of the suppositories is enough to relieve them.
They are inserted into the rectum.Its location close to the prostate gland allows you to achieve results quickly and effectively.In addition, the harmful effects of tablets on the gastrointestinal tract and difficulties with injections are eliminated.Suppositories have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect on the organ.
Physiotherapy and other methods.
In addition to medications, other methods are used to treat chronic prostatitis:
- rectal prostate massage– Performed through the rectum.The procedure eliminates stagnation of prostate juice and also improves the effect of medications.Contraindicated in case of exacerbation of the disease and in the presence of stones in the prostate,
- Physiotherapy improves blood circulation in the affected organ and improves its nutrition.Methods usedUHF, electrophoresis, darsonvalization.and others.They are indicated only in the remission stage,
- Prostatitis affects not only the organs, but also the psyche of a man.he might needhelp from a psychologist or psychotherapist,
- acupunctureIt is a common method to treat chronic prostatitis.The procedure affects the organ indirectly, through acupuncture points,
- exercises, such as squatting, walking, jumping will increase blood circulation in the pelvis and eliminate congestion.
- actively usedbalneotherapy– treatment with mineral waters.
Medications are an integral part of the treatment of chronic prostatitis.But they can cause a number of complications.And since the treatment of this type of disease is long-term, people have found ways to partially replace such medications.came to the rescuetraditional medicine.
The leader among home remedies for the treatment of prostatitis ispumpkin seeds.They contain a lot of zinc, essential for men's health.The seeds can be consumed separately: 30 grams will replenish the daily needs of the essential microelement.You can also grind them in a meat grinder and mix them with honey, forming the resulting mixture into balls.They should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed 1 piece before meals.
It is very useful for inflammation of the prostate to drink.freshly squeezed beet, carrot, cucumber and asparagus juices.The volume per day should be at least 0.5 liters.
blueberriesPerfect for restoring the prostate gland.It contains many useful substances, microelements and vitamins.
In rare cases, in the treatment of prostatitis.having to resort to surgery.Indications include lack of improvement with conservative treatment, as well as acute processes: abscesses and other purulent inflammations of the prostate, acute urinary retention, proliferation of glandular tissue, as well as benign and malignant formations.
Surgical treatment is carried out by various methods.: It can be the partial resection of an organ, the opening of ulcers, the excision of the foreskin or the removal of the entire gland.
How to prevent the development of chronic prostatitis.
Prevention of this disease.can be primary or secondary.
Primary preventionis to prevent the appearance of the disease, and is reduced to the following measures:
- maintain immunity,
- regularity of sexual activity,
- Physical exercises and moderate loads.This is especially important for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle,
- avoid hypothermia,
- stop infectious foci in the body,
- timely treatment of urogenital infections,
- be sure to undergo routine medical examinations,
- Do not abuse alcohol or smoking.
Secondary preventionincludes measures to prevent disease relapse.During the first year after suffering from prostatitis, a man should visit the urologist once every 3 months.Then – once every 6 months.If an exacerbation of the disease does not occur, the patient is removed from dispensary observation.
Excellent for the prevention of prostatitis.sanatorium-resort treatment is adequate.Modern sanatoriums offer complexes of physiotherapy and balneotherapy procedures and other natural resources.
importantAlso control your diet.Include more vegetables and fruits and a variety of cereals on the menu.You should also enrich your diet with fermented dairy products.Eating seafood will compensate for the lack of zinc.
You should avoid salty, spicy and smoked foods, and do not abuse spices.Legumes, fatty foods and flour products should be excluded.
Chronic prostatitis is a slow but long-term process.He is insidious with complications.:
- cystitis, pyelonephritis - urolithiasis,
- vesiculitis - an inflammatory process in the seminal vesicles,
- Epididymoorchitis is an inflammatory process of the testicles,
- gland hypotrophy,
- infertility and impotence.
Treatment of the disease -quite a long process.But it is worth following this path to the end to preserve your health and preserve the possibility of having healthy offspring.