Prostatitis is a pathology that occurs as an infectious and inflammatory process in the prostate (prostate), affecting its glandular and connective tissues.
The prostate, a glandular structure organ located below the bladder in the urethra, is of great importance for the health and functioning of the human body. Inflammation has an effect on reducing the synthesis of testosterone in the testes, as a result of which the libido decreases, erectile function weakens. At the first signs of prostatitis, problems arise with urination, discomfort, pain during orgasm is felt.
Treatment for prostatitis began in the 19th century, when there was a tendency for the growth of this disease. The disease is purely male, because the prostate is an organ located in the body of men. This condition mainly affects representatives of the age group from 40 years old, but medical statistics claim that in recent years the disease has become markedly "younger": in men from 25 to 28 years of age, prostatitis isdetected in 30% of cases. However, the peculiarity of the diagnosis and the likelihood of a latent course of the disease suggest that this figure is much higher. Only a quarter of men between the ages of 22 and 50 undergo medical examinations, including by a urologist who diagnoses prostatitis in 15% of that number.
Complications
If the treatment of prostatitis is not started on time, a number of complications may appear, characterized by:
- bladder obstruction with acute urinary retention requiring surgical treatment;
- transition from acute to chronic prostatitis;
- development of some form of male infertility;
- recurrent cystitis;
- narrowing, scarring of the urethra;
- pyelonephritis, other renal pathologies;
- prostate abscess requiring surgery;
- Sepsis which threatens the patient's life (patients with low immunity, diabetes mellitus, kidney failure are most susceptible to this).
Important to know!The pathology can lead to prostate cancer (seen in 7% of men over 50), which will seriously worsen a man's life or even lead to death.
Reasons for the development of pathology
Prostatitis has several types, determined by the causes of the disease.
The main factors provoking the appearance of prostatitis are:
- Infections.Bacteria enter the prostate in different ways. Young men who have sex without contraception (condom) have a high risk of disease due to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms (chlamydia, mycoplasmas, etc. ). In addition, the appearance of prostatitis occurs as a result of chronic internal diseases. Harmful bacteria reach the prostate through circulating lymph or blood. Pathological microorganisms can also “descend” into the prostate through the urethra. Then the disease is provoked by ailments of the urinary system (urethritis, pyelonephritis) with weakened immunity.
- Stagnant processes.They are manifested by obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, because the microcirculation of blood in the pelvic organs is impaired. As a result, the required amount of oxygen and nutrients does not reach the prostate.
- Injuries.Due to mechanical damage to the tissues and organs of the small pelvis (OMT), congestion can occur, causing an inflammatory process. Such cases are often encountered in truckers due to work activities associated with long-term sitting and constant injuries from a chair hitting an HTA.
Opinion of physicians. Urologists are convinced that prostatitis is not a lifelong diagnosis. If the treatment does not give a quick result, the man should not give up and wonder if he followed absolutely all the instructions. Only the joint actions and efforts of the doctor and the patient, who are confident in the success of the therapy, will help a man to feel healthy and therefore full.
Types of prostatitis
Classification of prostatitis by type provides the following parameters.
Etiology. Depending on the origin, the disease is:
infectious- (specific and non-specific);
- congestive non-infectious (the reason for this is stagnant processes associated with long interruptions of sex, interrupted sex, bad habits, stress, regular hypothermia).
Pathological trait, subdivided into the following subspecies:
- catarrhal; follicular
- ;
- parenchyma;
- abscess of the prostate (it may manifest as a complication of prostatitis as dystrophic, fibrocystic, granulomatous or prostatic sclerosis).
Clinical course. Prostatitis can be acute or chronic.
Pathogenesis. Depending on the onset and development of the disease, prostatitis can be:
hematogenous- ;
- urethrogenic; canalicular
- ;
- calculation;
- allergic;
- endocrine.
Symptoms and signs of prostatitis
Symptoms of prostatitis may be latent and obvious.
The disease is classified under the following forms:
- Sharp.The disease has a sudden development, expressed by an increase in body temperature (up to 39 ° C), severe cutting pains radiating to the back, groin. Ejaculation, defecation and urination are accompanied by sharp pain and sometimes bleeding. This is a serious reason to contact a urologist.
- Chronicle.The symptomatic picture is almost imperceptible, although it is similar to the clinical picture of acute prostatitis. There may be slight increases in temperature, discomfort in the groin and during urination. The main symptom of the chronic form of prostatitis is the frequent urge to go "small scale", discharge from the urethra. Over time, the patient registers the problem of erectile function due to the transition of the inflammatory process to the nerves responsible for erection, premature ejaculation. The general health and condition of the patient is negative, expressed by frequent irritability, depression, dissatisfaction, psychological breakdowns.
- Stagnant.Men who lead an inactive lifestyle and have irregular sex suffer from this form of the disease. The course of the disease is manifested by a violation of the genitourinary system. For the onset of the disease, inflammation of the excretory tract, detachment of the epithelium, provoking the appearance of pain during urination, are characteristic. In severe cases, the urethra completely stops functioning. The erection is also impaired, the orgasm is weak and unexpressed. In general, the development of sexual dysfunction occurs at a rapid rate. The stagnant form of prostatitis is also characterized by symptoms of burning and itching in the perineum, urethra. The body temperature is high, there are signs of intoxication.
How the symptoms of the development of prostatitis are detected
Only a urologist is able to make an accurate diagnosis of a patient, but depending on the existing signs occurring with the genitourinary system and observed by a man, they can serve as a signal for an urgent call to a specialist. This applies to:
- an act of defecation, accompanied by unpleasant sensations;
- burning sensation in the perineum for short and long periods;
- frequent urge to urinate, but the process itself is painful and difficult;
- weak orgasm effect (also called "erased orgasm");
- increased fatigue and often for no apparent reason;
- decrease in erectile function;
- regular stressful condition.
Important to remember!Detection of these symptoms requires an immediate visit to a doctor to influence the disease in its very early stages. The development of chronic prostatitis takes place in an unexpressed form, but is fraught with its consequences and complications.
Diagnosis of diseases
Prostatitis in men is diagnosed mainly on the basis of the analysis of patient complaints. Using a specially developed questionnaire, the doctor discovers and studies the symptoms of the disease.
Further diagnostic measurements are performed:
- study of the composition of the secretion of the prostate (if there is no acute form of the disease: it is impossible to perform the procedure with it due to severe pain);
- rectal palpation;
- ultrasound examination of the prostate to confirm suspicion of prostatitis and make an accurate diagnosis;
- biopsy;
- tomography (calculated / magnetic-nuclear) of the small pelvis - if necessary; cystoscopy
- ;
- urography.
In addition, men undergo general tests that can clarify the picture of the disease:
- uroflowmetry;
- urine sample, measured in three glasses;
- study according to Mears & Stamey, measured with two glasses of urine (the first portion excludes urethral contamination (infection, infection), the second determines the absence / presence of an inflammatory process in the kidneys, bladder);
- urine sample to determine its residual volume, ultrasound of the prostate;
- clinical urinalysis;
- medium portion of urine for microbiological examination.
Diagnosis requires differentiation of prostatitis with cystitis, urethritis, prostate adenoma, and prostate cancer.
A man should refrain from sexual intercourse for five days before the appointment of an ultrasound. On the eve of this day, you need to apply a cleansing enema, and before entering the ultrasound room, urinate.
How is prostatitis treated
There is no standard treatment for prostatitis. A comprehensive, physician-prescribed therapeutic approach is performed on an individual basis and has adjustments in its process for greater effectiveness. When treating the prostate, the form of the disease is taken into account. For example, the acute form is easier to cure than the chronic form.
Prostatitis is mainly treated conservatively and on an outpatient basis.
An integrated approach is:
- Antibacterial treatment (sanitation of places infected with bacteria).
- Improved blood supply to the prostate (massage, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises).
The use of physiotherapy methods is carried out with the following objectives:
- Relief of the inflammatory process (by means of anti-inflammatory methods), reduction of pain (by means of analgesic methods).
- Reduction of stagnant processes, changes in the sclera nature in the future (by methods of defibrosis treatment).
- Strengthening of the protective properties of the body (by means of immunostimulatory methods).
Treatment for prostatitis is usually combined with massage of the prostate. The procedure, due to its delicacy, is often considered humiliating by men, but it has a very good effectiveness. Prostate massage can be performed at home, but for this you need to purchase a special hardware device.
Drugs for the treatment of prostatitis
The therapeutic approach is carried out by the administration of drugs. The treatment regimen uses antibiotics, since they are the only ones that can destroy the causative agents of the disease. What drugs to take, the doctor decides on the basis of the results of analyzes and studies. The patient, while waiting for the appointment of an appropriate antibiotic, takes anesthetic, anti-inflammatory and other drugs.
Antibiotic therapy involves the use of acceptable doses and route of administration. The optimal dose of an antibiotic is considered to be one that has doubled or tripled the "efforts" against the concentration of pathogens.
In the case of chronic prostatitis, which usually occurs on the basis of immune deficiency, antibiotic therapy is carried out in combination with immunocorrective drugs.
The best massage for treatment is sex
Doctors believe that the natural method of massage in the treatment of prostatitis is orgasm obtained during intercourse. The ejaculation of semen occurs with active muscle contraction in the anus, which is also effective for the prostate: it is successfully massaged during this. Many have heard that it is forbidden to have sex for the entire duration of treatment, but this is not true. The main thing is, if possible, not to change the old partner (so that the microflora "does not conflict"), not to interrupt or prolong sexual intercourse.
In the absence of a sexual partner, doctors recommend masturbation to free the prostate and seminal ducts from stagnant processes. Horror stories about the dangers of masturbation should be considered jokes, but you shouldn't forget about moderation and personal hygiene.
It is impossible to beat prostatitis with sex and medication, you need to lead an active lifestyle, get proper rest and nutrition, sleep well, avoid stressful situations. Alternative treatment methods are also welcome, but are applied after consultation with a doctor.
Important to know!Antibiotic intake also includes probiotics to prevent cases of dysbiosis and other negative aspects.
Surgical treatment of the prostate
Surgical treatment is used for advanced stages of prostatitis:
- with disease progression;
- in case of abscess inside the prostate;
- for cysts or strictures.
These situations require radical solutions to eliminate the inflammatory process.
The type of operation used takes into account the aspects of the disease, the state of the patient.
The operations prescribed by a doctor are divided into types, namely:
- Transurethral resection. During surgery, the closed ablation of the prostate gland is performed using a tube inserted into the urethra.
- Transurethral incision.The tissue near the neck of the bladder is incised, reducing the pressure on it. Such an operation is indicated for men with a slight increase in the prostate. Complications practically do not occur, patients recover quickly.
- Radical prostatectomy.In this case, the entire prostate is removed. This type of operation is difficult, traumatic, accompanied by significant blood loss.
Traditional medicine for the treatment of prostatitis
Alternative medicine offers more than a hundred recipes designed to fight prostatitis, relieve symptoms and complement traditional treatments. It should be remembered that not all of the offered options may be suitable for a person with a certain form of the disease, some can cause an allergic reaction and other complications.
We offer several proven, popular and effective recipes:
- Pumpkin seeds.They contain a large amount of zinc, which the male body needs. A man should eat 30-35 raw seeds per day for preventive and therapeutic purposes. You can make special balls from crushed seeds in a blender (without peel), mixed with honey (200 ml). From the resulting mass, mold balls the size of a walnut, put them in the refrigerator. Eat 1 scoop twice a day, half an hour before meals, chewing slowly, sucking on the healing juice. Powerful and efficient, it can be used once a year.
- Fruit and vegetable juices.Helps the body to produce more uric acid. Especially effective in this regard are freshly squeezed natural juices of cucumbers, carrots, asparagus. They can be drunk in a mixture, varying the proportions of each to your liking. It is necessary to consume more than half a liter of liquid per day in several doses.
- Natural honey.In addition, bee products have been shown to be excellent in the treatment of prostatitis. Herbal medicine based on them has a powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. For example:
- Propolis candles.40 g of propolis are evaporated in a glass of alcohol, then this extract (0, 1 g) is mixed with two grams of rye and cocoa flour. Candles are formed, inserted into the rectum before a night's sleep for a month.
- Tincture of propolis.20% tincture (40 drops) diluted with water (100 ml), to be taken before meals for 20 minutes.
- Herbal infusion with honey.It is used for acute prostatitis. Calendula flowers (30 g), field horsetail (25 g), elecampane root (15 g), stinging nettle leaves, medicinal sage, mint (10 g of each plant) are crushedand mixed. Then take three tablespoons of the resulting mixture and pour them with half a liter of boiling water. Insist in a thermos for three hours, strain, add honey to taste, drink a third of a glass three times a day half an hour before meals.
- Decoction of red root.The chopped root (25 g) is poured with a liter of boiling water, leave for an hour in a thermos, drink three times a day before meals for a third of a glass. You can add milk, honey. This tea is recognized as the best remedy for prostatitis.
- Pharmacy chamomile.10 g are poured with 100 ml of very hot water, infused for half an hour, filtered. Used as a solution for microclysters (70-80 ml).
- Wild pear.Patients observe the effect a few days after the start of taking applesauce / pear tea. With prolonged use, there is an almost complete cure for prostatitis. The fruits and leaves are used not only fresh, but also dried to brew a potion in winter. This drink is an excellent preventive measure.
The list of folk recipes is endless, but only a doctor will recommend in each case one or more recipes that are important in an integrated approach to treatment.
Prevention of prostatitis
Measures for the prevention of chronic illness and relapse are based on:
- active and healthy lifestyle;
- playing sports, physical education;
- smoking cessation, alcohol consumption;
- having sex with a regular partner (promiscuity in relationships will lead to sexually transmitted infections which lead to prostatitis);
- having a regular sex life and achieving ejaculation;
- regular follow-up (twice a year) by a urologist;
- rapid treatment of urological diseases;
- a balanced diet;
- respect for their own health.