Chronic prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate gland, characterized by changes in organic tissues and functional disorders of the prostate, the male reproductive system, and the urinary tract.
The prostate is a tubular alveolar gland found only in men. This gland is involved in the production of sperm and is located under the bladder around the beginning of the urethra. Chronic prostatitis in men can occur due to an infection in the prostate gland from the bladder through the blood and lymphatic vessels of the pelvis or otherwise. Although the presence of an infection may not cause illness or impotence, it generally does not go away for a man without a trace. At the moment, the man is observing a decrease in the hardness of the penis, sexual dysfunction during intercourse and urinary disorders.
Chronic prostatitis is not life threatening in a man, but it can still cause psychological distress and deterioration in family relationships. It should also be borne in mind that, according to experts, chronic prostatitis, that is, its untimely treatment, can lead not only to the development of serious complications, but also to prostate cancer. In fact, in addition to infection, there are other factors that predispose to chronic prostatitis. However, 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:
- Acute bacterial prostatitis;
- II prostatitis of bacterial genesis. It is found more frequently;
- Non-bacterial chronic prostatitis III is a complex of symptoms 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 elevated level of leukocytes in the secretion of the prostate;
- III B is a non-inflammatory form of chronic prostatitis without an elevated level of leukocytes and pathogens in the secretion of the prostate;
- Type IV is diagnosed as asymptomatic chronic prostatitis, which is painless and is detected by accident based on the results of the analysis of the prostate discharge or its biopsy.
The frequency and causes of this category of chronic prostatitis are still unknown. As for the reasons for the development of other types of the 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 in the human body.
Preventive methods of inflammation of the prostate.
Chronic prostatitis requires long-term treatment. Therefore, it is better to follow preventive measures to avoid it. For this, the patient will only need to make some adjustments in their lifestyle, which will not only be beneficial for the general state of health, but will also alleviate this disease. So, first of all, the following prevention rules should be observed:
- strive to lead a healthy lifestyle;
- completely exclude spicy foods from the diet;
- do not abuse alcohol;
- playing sports, including exercise that helps strengthen muscles and improve blood circulation in the pelvic organs;
- attend yoga classes at will;
- observe methods of prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
- eliminate pelvic congestion and quickly treat diseases of the rectum;
- exclude excessive masturbation;
- try to have a regular sex life, but at the same time safe;
- 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 the fact that chronic prostatitis manifests itself insignificantly. Therefore, if a man observes discharge when urinating or defecating and also experiences mild pain, in this case it is worth immediately consulting a doctor. It is also worth remembering that the course of treatment should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a specialist without any oversights. Also, the selection of drugs during antibiotic therapy is carried out according to the individual condition of the patient and only after he undergoes special studies. The intake of prescription drugs should not be interrupted and, furthermore, additional drugs should not be taken without a prescription. Do not delay your appointment with your doctor. By searching our website, you can easily find a clinic that is suitable for both the location and the pricing policy.
Causes of inflammation of the prostate.
Chronic prostatitis in medicine is positioned as a polyetiological disease. In addition to the penetration of the infection into the ureteral organs, it can occur and recur 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 gland can develop against the background of such diseases as:
- depression;
- neurogenic bladder dysfunction;
- reflex sympathetic dystrophy;
- inflammatory processes of nearby organs located;
- hypertrophy of the neck of the bladder;
- prostate adenoma;
- stricture of the urethra;
- diseases of the rectum.
Given these factors, the following reasons are attributed to the risk of developing inflammation of the prostate:
- a sedentary lifestyle, especially in a sitting position, implies a dysfunction of the blood supply to the pelvic organs;
- local hypothermia of the body;
- frequent constipation;
- irregular sex or sudden exertion;
- chronic infections;
- Previous sexually transmitted diseases. In particular, his late treatment;
- improper nutrition;
- lack of sleep;
- Chronic stress
In addition, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis can be caused by the formation of myofascial trigger points during the course of diseases, injuries, and surgical interventions in 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 disturbed by sharp pain in the perineum and groin area, and may also experience pain when urinating and defecating, 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 feel discomfort when urinating, pain in the perineum, as well as the manifestation of discharge. Chronic inflammation of the prostate causes erectile dysfunction and delayed ejaculation.
The inflammatory process of the prostate penetrates deep into the urinary system, which can lead to cystitis and pyelonephritis. Most of the time, these exacerbations end with an inflammation of the testicles and appendages, which leads to infertility and requires long-term treatment. Therefore, you should not postpone the visit to the doctor. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is required. It is important to remember that chronic prostatitis can be cured if the disease is not triggered.
Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis
As a general rule, the doctor can diagnose this or that type of chronic prostatitis based on the complaints indicated by the patient or after the examination. First, the specialist palpates the prostate gland and then recommends that the patient perform a laboratory study of the urine culture tank and the prostate secretion. This diagnosis allows you to determine the further treatment of chronic prostatitis. In addition, the urologist can apply diagnostic methods such as:
- transrectal ultrasound, which allows you to determine the size and volume of the prostate, as well as identify the presence of neoplasms;
- determination of the urethral pressure profile makes it possible to discover the cause of urinary disorders and the functions of the pelvic floor muscles;
- microscopic examination of the scraping 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 prostate cancer, as well as to identify a type of non-inflammatory 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 gland, 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 medications for several weeks. In the absence of adequate effect, antibiotics can be replaced with another group of drugs;
- physical therapy may include exposure to electromagnetic, ultrasonic and laser waves, which significantly 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 treatment method, but at the same time the most effective. It is based on the elimination of the inflammatory secretion by squeezing it with a finger;
- darsonvalization;
- drug electrophoresis;
- Hormone therapy;
- transurethral electrosurgery. This method of treatment can be used only in the case of complications, which, in addition to violations of the urination process or reproductive function in a man, have led to the appearance of sclerosis of the prostate and bladder neck. If, after surgery, an exacerbation of the chronic inflammatory process is observed, then, in this case, the entire remaining gland can be removed from the patient;
- Immunocorrection aims not only to eliminate the infection, but also to completely eliminate its reappearance. This method of treatment involves the normalization of the lifestyle, which implies an active lifestyle, regular walks, adherence to the daily regimen and proper nutrition;
- Spa treatment.
Also, the prescribed treatment for chronic prostatitis may include a visit to an immunologist and additional special tests. Since the completion of this or that course of therapy does not guarantee the complete destruction of the prostatitis infection, there is a possibility that it will occur again. To cure chronic prostatitis, the patient must strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations and follow the prescribed course of treatment to the end.