Prostatitis is a common urological disease that can occur in any man over 30 years of age, and every year the probability of its development increases. This disease causes serious male problems: acute prostatitis leads to depression, decreased libido and, in general, disorders 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 gland, 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 urine outflow occurs, and the secretion of the prostate is released during ejaculation;
- barrier - prevents the penetration of infectious agents into the upper urinary tract from the urethra, provides an antibacterial barrier, as part of the male immune system.
With prostatitis, the prostate enlarges and begins to squeeze the urethra, which disrupts the normal flow of urine. The organ itself, due to inflammation, cannot fully perform its functions.
The reasons
The source of male health problems, prostatitis, can develop for the following reasons:
- The presence of congestion in the pelvic area. Most often, such blood stasis occurs due to a sedentary, immobile lifestyle and being overweight.
- Infectious infection of the prostate. It can be descending (through the urine) or ascending (through the urethra), it enters the prostate along with 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, especially covering the small pelvis;
- the presence of injuries in the pelvic area;
- weakened immunity;
- malnutrition with an abundance of sweet, fatty and fried foods;
- the presence of bad habits;
- infection with 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 nonbacterial, inflammatory, and noninflammatory.
- Chronic, asymptomatic prostatitis.
In the acute form of the disease, the symptoms appear strongly and clearly, the inflammatory process develops rapidly. Common causes are infection of the prostate gland with infectious agents that enter from 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 the 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.
Chronic asymptomatic 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 ignored and are very difficult to live with:
- an increase in body temperature of more than 38 ° C;
- coldness with sweat and weakness;
- severe pain in the lower abdomen, perineum, genitals;
- urination 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 and rapid urination with compelling urges (sharp and irresistible), more often at night;
- erectile dysfunction;
- decreased quality and duration of sexual intercourse;
- decrease in the severity of orgasm.
The asymptomatic course of prostatitis continues 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 on all symptoms and their development. The following activities are followed:
- Palpation of the prostate through the rectum to identify the size of the organ, its density and pain. For additional bacteriological analysis in the process of probing, the secret of the gland is also collected. The purpose of the study is to exclude a number of diagnoses: prostate adenoma or cancer, rectal cancer.
- Ultrasound and TRUS to complement and clarify the data obtained during palpation.
- Bacteriological analysis of prostatic secretion to detect infections and determine the type of pathogens. Data are needed to select and prescribe antibiotics.
- A blood test for 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 refute 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 group of penicillins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, cephalosporins, or aminoglycosides. The doctor prescribes the specific medicine, depending on the infectious agent that caused the inflammation. Also, patients are prescribed:
- anti-inflammatory drugs to eliminate fever;
- analgesics;
- antispasmodics to normalize the flow of urine;
- 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 surgical intervention, during which the entire prostate or part of it is removed. The operation is necessary for patients with concomitant problems: stones in the prostate or neoplasms of a benign and malignant nature.
Physiotherapy is an addition to drug treatment, it can be done only after the acute inflammatory process has been eliminated. Patients are shown:
- massage;
- exercise therapy (physiotherapy);
- magnet therapy;
- ultrasound treatment;
- electrical stimulation;
- microwave and laser exposure;
- reflexology.
The attending physician carries out the appointment of a specific type of procedure.
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 being overweight;
- protect the body from hypothermia;
- engage in exercise therapy, and the exercises should strengthen the muscles of the lower abdomen and pelvic floor;
- have a regular sex life;
- get rid of bad habits.
Also a useful procedure is prostate massage, due to which it improves blood circulation and the flow of secretion in the organ, and this helps prevent recurrence of the acute stage of the disease.
complications
The complications of prostatitis are manifested both in the prostate gland itself and in the organs that surround it, which is due to the anatomical location. In the acute form, infectious agents can reach the bladder and kidneys, inflammation - go to the fatty tissue of the gland, the venous plexus and the rectum.
Chronic disease is dangerous because it involves not only the tissues and organs surrounding the prostate, but also affects 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;
- sterility;
- violations of the urination process;
- general deterioration of the quality of life.
impotence and infertility
The two most common problems associated with prostatitis are impotence and infertility. The development of each condition occurs in the context of chronic damage to the prostate gland.
Impotence (erectile dysfunction) manifests itself in 40% of cases of neglected and untreated prostatitis. The development of complications occurs for a long time, sometimes for years. Your reasons:
- violation of the prostate with the incorrect passage of nerve impulses and failure to produce hormones;
- impaired control over the pelvic muscles responsible for the appearance of an erection;
- psychological uncertainty;
- pain syndrome, causing fears about possible failure in bed.
It is impossible to talk about the 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 the number and decreased motility of sperm;
- the presence of damage and defects of germ cells;
- scarring of the vas deferens;
- secretory function failure;
- testicular dysfunction.
In acute prostatitis, sperm cells are damaged, their quality and mobility deteriorate, defects are formed, 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 the absence of bad habits;
- engage in physical therapy exercises aimed at removing congestion in the pelvic organs and strengthening the pelvic muscles;
- timely undergo examinations by a urologist and an andrologist;
- watch out for 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 full course of treatment. Without this, an acute condition can become chronic and cause even greater health problems.