Chronic prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate characterized by changes in organ tissues and functional disorders of the prostate, male reproductive system, and urinary tract.
The prostate is a tubular alveolar gland that is only found in men. This gland is involved in the production of sperm and is located under the bladder at the beginning of the urethra. Chronic prostatitis in men can occur due to infection of the prostate of the bladder by the blood and lymph vessels in the pelvis or in some other way. While the presence of an infection may not cause illness or impotence, it usually does not go away in a man without leaving a trace. At this time, the man observes a decrease in the hardness of the penis, sexual dysfunctions during intercourse and urinary disorders.
Chronic prostatitis does not threaten a man's life, but it can still cause psychological distress and deterioration of family relationships. It should also be noted that, according to experts, chronic prostatitis, namely its untimely treatment, can lead not only to the development of serious complications, but also to prostate cancer. Indeed, in addition to the infection, there are a number of other predisposing factors to chronic prostatitis. Nevertheless, the manifestation and exacerbation of chronic prostatitis have different specificities.
Stages of chronic prostatitis
Although there is still no single specificity for the development of chronic prostatitis, experts distinguish the following types:
- I acute bacterial prostatitis;
- II prostatitis of bacterial genesis. It is most often found;
- Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis III is a symptom complex of chronic pelvic pain, the duration of which is more than 3 months;
- category III A is a type of inflammatory form of chronic prostatitis with an increased level of leukocytes in the secretion of the prostate;
- III B is a non-inflammatory form of chronic prostatitis without an increase in the level of leukocytes and pathogens in the secretion of the prostate;
- Type IV is diagnosed as chronic asymptomatic prostatitis, which does not cause pain and is detected quite by accident on the basis of the results of the analysis of the secretion of the prostate or its biopsy.
The frequency and causes of this category of chronic prostatitis are still not known. As for the reasons for the development of other types of disease, it should be noted here that they may be due to the penetration of various infectious microorganisms into the ureter, as well as a violation of various functions inthe human body.
Preventive methods of inflammation of the prostate
Chronic prostatitis requires long-term treatment. Hence, it is better to follow preventive measures to avoid it. To do this, the patient will only have to make a few adjustments to his lifestyle, which will not only be beneficial for the general state of health, but also alleviate this disease. So, first of all, the following prevention rules must be observed:
- strive for a healthy lifestyle;
- completely exclude spicy foods from the diet;
- do not abuse alcohol;
- playing sports, including exercises that help strengthen muscles and improve blood circulation to the pelvic organs;
- take unlimited yoga classes;
- observe methods of prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
- eliminate pelvic congestion and promptly treat rectal diseases;
- exclude excessive masturbation;
- try to have a regular, but at the same time safe sex life;
- avoid hypothermia;
- do not sit on cold surfaces;
- during sedentary work warm up more often.
In addition to these preventive measures, men should take into account that chronic prostatitis manifests itself insignificantly. Therefore, if a man observes discharge during urination or defecation, and also feels slight pain, in this case it is worthwhile to seek immediate medical attention. It should also be remembered that the treatment should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a specialist without any negligence. In addition, the selection of drugs during antibiotic therapy is carried out depending on the individual condition of the patient and only after undergoing special studies. The taking of prescribed medications should not be interrupted, and more importantly, additional medications should not be taken without medical prescription. Don't delay your doctor's appointment. By searching our website, you can easily find a clinic that suits both location and pricing policy.
Causes of prostate inflammation
Chronic prostatitis in medicine is positioned as a polyetiological disease. In addition to the penetration of infection into the ureteral organs, it can occur and reappear due to the appearance of neurovegetative and hemodynamic disorders, as well as a weakening of the immune system and autoimmune, hormonal or biochemical processes. Inflammation of the prostate can develop against the background of such diseases as:
- depression;
- neurogenic bladder dysfunction;
- reflex sympathetic dystrophy;
- inflammatory processes of localized neighboring organs;
- enlarged bladder neck;
- prostate adenoma;
- stricture of the urethra;
- diseases of the rectum.
In view of these factors, the following reasons are attributed to the risk of developing inflammation of the prostate:
- a sedentary lifestyle, especially in a sitting position, leads to dysfunction of the blood supply to the pelvic organs;
- local hypothermia of the body;
- frequent constipation;
- irregular sex or sudden straining;
- chronic infections;
- previous sexually transmitted diseases. In particular, their delayed treatment;
- poor nutrition;
- lack of sleep;
- chronic stress.
In addition, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis can be caused by the formation of myofascial trigger points during diseases, injuries, and surgeries on the pelvic organs.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis
The symptoms of chronic prostatitis do not bother a man much. Inflammation of the prostate occurs suddenly. The patient may be bothered by sharp pain in the perineum and groin, and may also experience pain during urination and defecation, accompanied by discharge from the urethra. All of these signs of chronic prostatitis can be accompanied by fever, fever, and fever. Most often, these symptoms are intermittent. Also, chronic prostatitis can be expressed in the form of complications of sexually transmitted diseases. During the course of the disease, the patient may experience discomfort when urinating, pain in the perineum, as well as the manifestation of discharge. Chronic inflammation of the prostate leads to erectile dysfunction and delayed ejaculation.
The inflammatory process in the prostate penetrates deep into the urinary system, which can lead to cystitis and pyelonephritis. Most often, these exacerbations end with inflammation of the testes and appendages, which leads to infertility, requiring long-term treatment. Therefore, you should not postpone the doctor's consultation. Timely diagnosis and treatment is necessary. It is important to remember that chronic prostatitis can be cured if the disease is not started.
Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis
As a rule, the doctor can diagnose this or that type of chronic prostatitis based on the complaints reported by the patient or after the examination. First, the specialist palpates the prostate, then recommends that the patient do a laboratory study of the urine culture reservoir and secretion of the prostate. This diagnosis allows you to determine the further treatment of chronic prostatitis. In addition, the urologist can apply such diagnostic methods as:
- transrectal ultrasound, which allows you to determine the size and volume of the prostate, as well as to identify the presence of neoplasms;
- the determination of the urethral pressure profile allows to know the cause of urinary disorders and the functions of the muscles of the pelvic floor;
- microscopic examination of the scratching of the mucous membrane of the urethra, which helps to determine the presence of a specific flora that causes infectious diseases; X-ray of the prostate;
- MRI of the pelvic organs, which helps to differentiate from prostate cancer, as well as to identify a non-inflammatory type of bacterial prostatitis;
- determination of the state of humoral and cellular immunity in the secretion of the prostate. This type of research helps not only to diagnose the category of the inflammatory process of the prostate, but also to solve the question of what method can be used to cure chronic prostatitis.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
Chronic prostatitis is considered an insidious and complex disease, the method of its treatment requires an integrated approach. Urologists use treatments such as:
- antibiotic therapy, during which drugs are prescribed that destroy the hidden microorganisms of the infection. The patient takes these drugs for several weeks. In the absence of the appropriate effect, antibiotics can be replaced with another group of drugs;
- physiotherapy can include exposure to electromagnetic, ultrasonic and laser waves, which greatly increases the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy;
- magnetic laser therapy has an anti-congestive effect and improves blood microcirculation in the pelvic organs;
- Transrectal prostate massage is the most painful and uncomfortable method of treatment, but at the same time the most effective. It is based on the removal of inflammatory secretion by squeezing it with a finger;
- darsonvalization;
- electrophoresis with drugs;
- hormonal therapy;
- transurethral electrosurgery. This method of treatment can be used only in case of complications which, in addition to violations of the process of urination or reproductive function in a man, led to the development of sclerosis of the prostate and cervix. the bladder. If after surgery an exacerbation of the chronic inflammatory process is observed, then in this case the patient can have all the remaining gland removed;
- immunocorrection is aimed not only at eliminating the infection, but also completely eliminating its reappearance. This method of treatment involves the normalization of lifestyle, which involves an active lifestyle, regular walks, observance of the daily regimen and proper nutrition;
- Spa treatment.
In addition, the treatment prescribed for chronic prostatitis may include a visit to an immunologist and additional special tests. Since stopping this or that treatment does not guarantee the complete destruction of the prostatitis infection, therefore, it is possible that it recurs. To cure chronic prostatitis, the patient should strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor and follow the prescribed treatment to the end.