Prostatitis is a common urological disease that can occur in any man over the age of 30, and each year the likelihood of its development only increases. This disease causes serious male problems: acute prostatitis leads to depression, decreased libido and, in general, rupture of the genitourinary system; a chronic condition causes diseases of the urological sphere, infertility, impotence.
General information
Prostatitis is an inflammatory lesion of the prostate, an organ that only men have. Iron performs three
most important functions:
- secretory - 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, due to which the correct process of exiting urine occurs and the secretion of the prostate is released during ejaculation;
- barrier - prevents the penetration of infectious agents into the upper urinary tract of the urethra, provides an antibacterial barrier, as part of the male immune system.
With prostatitis, the prostate gland enlarges and begins to squeeze the urethra, which interrupts the normal flow of urine. The organ itself, due to inflammation, is not able to perform its functions to the fullest.
The reasons
The origin of male health problems - prostatitis - can develop for the following reasons:
- The presence of congestion in the pelvic area. Most of the time, this blood stasis is due to a sedentary and immobile lifestyle and being overweight.
- Infectious infection of the prostate. It can be descending (through the urine) or ascending (through the urethra), entering the prostate along with the 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, mainly covering the small pelvis;
- the presence of lesions in the pelvic region;
- weakened immunity;
- malnutrition with an abundance of sweet, fatty and fried foods;
- the presence of bad habits;
- infection by sexually transmitted infections.
types
According to the 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, asymptomatic prostatitis.
In the acute form of the disease, the symptoms appear strongly and clearly, the inflammatory process quickly develops. Common causes are infection of the prostate with infectious agents that enter the urethra or blood.
Chronic bacterial form - acute prostatitis, which was not cured in time. The development of the pathological condition is facilitated by the same factors that affect acute inflammation - infections of the genitourinary system and blood stasis in Organs pelvic organs.
Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome) is more commonly found in older men. It can develop both against the background of impaired prostate function and as a result of an autoimmune reaction of the body.
Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate, during which patients do not manifest unpleasant sensations.
Clinic
The clinical picture of acute prostatitis has very vivid manifestations that cannot be neglected and are very difficult to live with:
- an increase in body temperature above 38 ° C;
- chills with sweat and weakness;
- severe pain in lower abdomen, perineum, genitals;
- micturition disorder - difficulty, pain, acute urinary retention.
With the problem of chronic prostatitis, similar but less pronounced symptoms occur, which are often overlooked:
- dull pain in the perineum and lower abdomen, radiating to the sacrum and genitals;
- difficult, painful, rapid urination with imperative urges (sharp and irresistible), more often at night;
- erectile dysfunction;
- decreased quality and duration of sexual intercourse;
- decreased orgasm severity.
The asymptomatic course of prostatitis proceeds without complaints from the patient. The problem is discovered incidentally during prostate and/or urine tests.
diagnostic methods
If prostatitis is suspected, the doctor makes a diagnosis, the first step of which is to clarify the complaints and study the medical history. Information is collected about all symptoms and their development. The following activities follow:
- Palpation of the prostate through the rectum to identify the size of the organ, its density and pain. For further bacteriological analysis in the probing process, the secret of the gland is also collected. The aim of the study is to exclude a number of diagnoses: adenoma or prostate cancer, rectal cancer.
- Ultrasound and TRUS to complement and clarify the data obtained during palpation.
- Bacteriological analysis of prostate secretion to detect infection and determine the type of pathogens. Data are needed to select and prescribe antibiotics.
- A blood test to determine the level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) - allows you to exclude adenoma and cancer of the gland.
- Biopsy - examination of a sample of prostate tissue under a microscope to confirm or disprove adenoma and cancer.
Treatment
Modern urology considers three types of treatment for acute prostatitis and exacerbations of the chronic form of the disease:
- medicine;
- surgical;
- physiotherapy.
Drug exposure involves taking antibiotics from the penicillin, fluoroquinolone, macrolide, tetracycline, cephalosporin, or aminoglycoside groups. The specific drug is prescribed by the doctor, depending on which infectious agent caused the inflammation. In addition, patients are prescribed:
- anti-inflammatory drugs to eliminate fever;
- analgesics;
- antispasmodics to normalize urine output;
- alpha blockers to relieve symptoms and restore healthy urination.
In the absence of the effect of drugs or in advanced cases of acute prostatitis, the doctor may prescribe a surgical intervention, during which the entire prostate or part of it is removed. The operation is necessary for patients with concomitant problems: prostate stones or neoplasms of a benign and malignant nature.
Physiotherapy is a complement to drug treatment, it can only be done after the acute inflammatory process has been eliminated. Patients are shown:
- massage;
- exercise therapy (physiotherapy);
- magnetotherapy;
- ultrasound treatment;
- electrical stimulation;
- exposure to microwaves and laser;
- reflexology.
The appointment of a specific type of procedure is carried out by the attending physician.
In chronic prostatitis during remission, the patient should:
- undergo regular examinations and, if necessary, a course of antibiotic therapy;
- eat well, avoiding both exhaustion and the appearance of excess weight;
- protect the body from hypothermia;
- engage in exercise therapy, and the exercises should strengthen the muscles of the lower abdomen and pelvic floor;
- having a regular sex life;
- get rid of bad habits.
Also a useful procedure is prostate massage, due to the improvement of blood circulation and the flow of secretion in the organ, and this helps to prevent recurrence of the acute stage of the disease.
complications
Complications of prostatitis are manifested both in the prostate itself and in the organs that surround it, due to the anatomical location. In the acute form, infectious agents are able to reach the bladder and kidneys, inflammation - they go to the fatty tissue of the gland, venous plexus and rectum.
Chronic disease is dangerous because it involves not only the tissues and organs that surround the prostate, but also the nervous, urological, and reproductive areas.
Possible complications of acute prostatitis:
- abscess;
- phlebitis of the 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;
- infertility;
- violations of the urination process;
- general deterioration in 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.
Impotence (erectile dysfunction) is manifested in 40% of cases of neglected and untreated prostatitis. Complications develop for a long time, sometimes for years. Your reasons:
- violation of the prostate with the wrong passage of nerve impulses and failure to produce hormones;
- deterioration of control over the pelvic muscles responsible for the occurrence of an erection;
- psychological uncertainty;
- pain syndrome, which causes fears about a possible failure in bed.
It is impossible to talk about unconditional connection of prostatitis with infertility. This disease has an indirect effect on the reproductive capacity of a man and only with an advanced chronic course. Causes of fertility problems in the context of prostate damage:
- decreased quality of seminal fluid;
- decrease in number and decrease in sperm motility;
- the presence of germ cell damage and defects;
- vas deferens healing;
- secretory function failure;
- testicular dysfunction.
In acute prostatitis, sperm are impaired, their quality and mobility deteriorate, defects form, and fewer male germ cells are produced.
Prevention
It is possible to prevent prostatitis, but it is necessary to constantly follow a series of preventive recommendations:
- lead a healthy lifestyle with adequate nutrition, reasonable physical and sexual activity and absence of bad habits;
- practice physical therapy exercises aimed at eliminating congestion in Organs pelvic organs and strengthening the pelvic muscles;
- timely undergo examinations by a urologist and andrologist;
- beware of hypothermia.
Prostatitis is a serious disease of the urological sphere that 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 a complete treatment. Without this, an acute condition can become chronic and cause even greater health problems.