We have selected 22 basic questions about prostatitis and its treatment. All answers are written by our leading male health specialist, andrologist. We hope this article will help you and provide you with the necessary answers to your questions.
Symptoms of prostatitis: pain, burning, discharge, tingling, incontinence
Symptoms of prostatitis are most often of 3 types:
- violation of urination: difficult, frequent, nocturnal urination.
- pain symptoms: pain in the perineum, lower abdomen, groin. The pain may radiate (give) to the scrotum or sacrum.
- mixed form, in which there are urinary disorders and pain.
What causes prostatitis?
With bacterial prostatitis
The infection enters the prostate from nearby organs:
- urethra;
- Bladder
- by blood and lymphatic vessels from a distant inflammatory focus (tonsillitis, sinusitis, caries).
The bacteria most frequently detected in prostatitis are: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus.
The role of sexually transmitted infections is discussed: chlamydia, mycoplasma, Trichomonas.
The activity and, therefore, the manifestation of the inflammatory process depends on the properties of the microorganism, the condition of the pelvic organs, their blood circulation, concomitant diseases and other predisposing factors.
With non-bacterial prostatitis
Stagnation plays an important role. Violation of blood flow causes edema, exudation of prostate tissue and creates conditions for the development of an inflammatory process that is not associated with a bacterial agent.
STDs and prostatitis
The question of the involvement of sexually transmitted infections in the development of prostatitis is widely discussed in scientific medical circles. There is no consensus on this issue.
We consider ourselves to be in favor of a direct link between infections, the onset and progression of prostatitis.
Why is prostatitis dangerous?
Prostatitis does not pose a threat to the life of the patient, the process is chronic and worsens the quality of life.
Beginning of prostatitis. How to determine? First signs
The first signs of prostatitis are changes in the nature of urination: difficult and frequent urination, frequent urge to urinate, especially at night. Discomfort during urination and pain of varying intensity in the groin area.
Age of prostatitis? Is it a disease of the young and / or the old?
Prostatitis is an inflammatory disease, so it can occur at any age. But prostate adenoma or hyperplasia is an age-related disease in men after age 50 and is associated with the development of a benign prostate tumor.
Chronic prostatitis. Is it possible to be cured?
The presence of a diagnosis of chronic prostatitis implies the presence of changes in the structure of the tissues of the gland, which last a lifetime. Like any chronic disease, prostatitis proceeds with alternating periods of exacerbation and remission - a period during which the patient does not worry about anything. With proper treatment and lifestyle, periods of remission can be very long and complaints never bother the patient again.
Bacteria and other types of prostatitis
There are different classifications, the most commonly used being developed by the US Institutes of Health in 1995:
- Category I.Acute prostatitis.
- Category II.Chronic bacterial prostatitis.
- Category III.Non-bacterial prostatitis / Chronic pelvic pain syndrome - with no obvious signs of infection and lasting 3 months or more.
- Sub-category III A.Chronic inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (with leukocytes in the secretion of the prostate and excretion of the pathogen).
- Sub-category III B.Chronic non-inflammatory pelvic pain syndrome (no leukocytes in the secret of the prostate).
- Category IV.Asymptomatic prostatitis (with leukocytes in the secret of the prostate, but without complaints).
To facilitate understanding, the classification can be presented in 3 types:
Acute prostatitis- manifests itself by intense pain, fever, urinary disorders. The secret of the prostate is a large number of leukocytes, which indicates a clear inflammatory process. It usually occurs for the first time in a given patient. If these symptoms occur in a patient with chronic prostatitis, then they are called an exacerbation of chronic prostatitis.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis- Symptoms that periodically disturb the patient are usually less pronounced than in acute prostatitis. When diagnosing an increase in leukocytes in the secret of the prostate, it is possible to identify the causative agent of inflammation.
The most problematic for the diagnosis isnon-bacterial prostatitis, or what we callchronic pelvic pain syndrome. . . This is due to the fact that the complaints are very similar to prostatitis, but associated with diseases of other organs and systems, in which it is not possible to detect signs of inflammation and pathogenic bacteria: spasm of the musclespelvic, impaired interaction between the muscles of the bladder and its sphincter, anatomical disorders - strictures (narrowing) of the urethra, lead to inflammation due to increased pressure inside the prostate lobules.
Who treats prostatitis - andrologist or urologist?
Prostatitis is treated by both a urologist and an andrologist.
An andrologist is a urologist specializing in male reproductive and reproductive diseases.
Methods and treatment regimens for prostatitis
All treatment regimens for the prostate consist of drugs:
- anti-inflammatory
- antibacterial
- biogenic stimulants
- drugs that improve prostate and bladder contraction while relaxing the sphincter.
Good results are achieved by the simultaneous appointment of drugs and physiotherapy (prostate massage, complexes for the treatment of prostatitis).
What tests are given for prostatitis?
Fordiagnosis of prostatitisconsultation with a urologist (andrologist) is required in order to collect patient complaints, medical history, microscopy of prostatic secretions and ultrasound diagnoses.
For diagnosis, transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUS) and prostatic secretions obtained after massage of the prostate are used for microscopic examination.
In addition, the inoculation of the secretion of the prostate on the bacterial flora with determination of the sensitivity of the inoculated microflora to antibiotics can be used.
Interventions and surgeries for prostatitis
With prostatitis, operations are practically not used. With the exception of abscess of the prostate - a process in which foci with purulent contents are formed.
Is it possible to cure prostatitis on your own?
In the presence of severe symptoms, it is better to seek treatment from a specialist, the time factor plays a big role in the treatment, because the longer the inflammation lasts, the more likely it is that irreversible changes in the organ are.
But it is better to do prevention yourself, no doctor will do it for you.
Avoid hypothermia, congestion during prolonged sitting, sexually transmitted infections, irregular sexual activity - all these are the means of effective prevention of prostatitis.
Medicines for prostatitis: finalgon, vitaprost, prostamol, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, omnix and others
Drugs for the treatment of prostatitis are divided into groups according to the mechanism of action:
Antibacterial agents (antibiotics)are prescribed only in case of diagnosis: chronic bacterial prostatitis. The most commonly used fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and the doxycycline group of drugs.
Alpha-blockers:are prescribed to restore impaired urination, increase the contraction of the bladder and relax its detrusor.
Big groupbiogenic stimulants and herbal preparations: candles.
Effective treatment is possible only with the correct diagnosis, since there are no universal drugs for all types of prostatitis. Often, patients take drugs for the treatment of prostatitis if they have a completely different disease, but with similar symptoms.
Nuts, roots, parsley, cucumber, honey, bees, leeches and other popular treatments for prostatitis
Traditional methods of treatment have a right to exist, but you should understand that it is very difficult to choose a folk method that is suitable for you. On request, the search engine gives 70 million results for the treatment of prostatitis with traditional methods.
No one has researched folk methods for effectiveness. Just because it helped a patient with such treatment (and if it helped) doesn't mean it will help you.
Exacerbation of prostatitis after treatment. Remission, relapse
All chronic inflammatory processes have periods of exacerbation and remission, when the patient is not worried about anything. The duration of remission can vary and depends on many factors, including whether the patient is on prophylactic treatment. Patients who periodically carry out preventive therapy without waiting for a deterioration in well-being usually have rarer exacerbations.
Home prostate massage. Is massage always necessary for prostatitis?
Prostate massage can also be done at home if you are married to a urology nurse. All medical manipulation has its own subtleties and nuances. Only a doctor can determine the indications for this intervention, therefore for certain diseases: adenoma of the prostate (in the presence of acute urinary retention), prostate massage is not desirable, and in the event of tumors, it is contraindicated. indicated.
Alcohol and prostatitis
Alcohol in itself does not cause the development of prostatitis, but is a factor that increases congestion and swelling of the prostate and thus contributes to its development.
Sexual life and prostatitis
There is a direct link between the intensity of sexual activity and prostate disease. With prolonged abstinence from the prostate, stagnation occurs, which worsens metabolic processes and disrupts blood microcirculation, contributing to the development of inflammatory processes. Regularity is more important for prostate health than the intensity of sexual intercourse. Excessive sex, especially with different partners who are not protected from infection, is the fastest way to cause prostatitis.
Does prostatitis affect women?
Of course, there is an effect on the health of a woman with prostatitis in a partner. The prostate, along with the seminal vesicles, produces a liquid component of semen which, during intercourse, enters the partner's genital tract. The main danger may be the presence of a sexually transmitted infection or bacterial prostatitis, which can cause inflammatory diseases in a woman.
Pregnancy and prostatitis
Since the prostate produces a liquid part of the semen that contains nutrients for the semen, prostatitis often causes a decrease in the quality of the semen, which makes it difficult to become pregnant.
Prevention. What to do to avoid prostatitis?
Prevention is directly linked to the patient's climate and his profession.
Prevention of prostatitis involves avoiding and minimizing the factors that contribute to the development of prostatitis. Hypothermia should be avoided, alternating sedentary work and periods of physical activity. Regular sex life is important for prostatitis.