Prostatitis is a common urological disease that can occur in any man over 30 years old, and every year the likelihood of its development only increases. This disease causes serious male problems: acute prostatitis leads to depression, decreased libido and, in general, disruption of the genitourinary system; a chronic condition provokes diseases of the urological sphere, infertility, impotence.
general informations
Prostatitis is an inflammatory lesion of the prostate, 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 prostate secretion 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 grows and begins to compress the urethra, which disrupts the normal flow of urine. The organ itself, due to inflammation, is not able to 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 region. 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 urine) or ascending (through the urethra), entering the prostate with blood or lymph.
The development of prostatitis usually occurs against the background of the presence of certain risk factors:
- lack of physical activity;
- maintaining a sedentary lifestyle;
- irregular sex life;
- hypothermia, especially covering the small pelvis;
- the presence of injuries in the pelvic region;
- weakened immunity;
- malnutrition with an abundance of sweet, fatty and fried foods;
- the presence of bad habits;
- infection with sexually transmitted infections.
Kinds
According to the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases), there are 4 types of prostatitis:
- Acute prostatitis.
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis.
- Chronic prostatitis is non-bacterial, inflammatory and non-inflammatory.
- Chronic, asymptomatic prostatitis.
In the acute form of the disease, the symptoms appear sharply and clearly, the inflammatory process develops rapidly. Common causes are infection of the prostate by infectious agents entering 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) most commonly affects older men. It can develop both against the background of impaired functioning of the prostate gland, and as a result of an autoimmune reaction of the body.
Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland, during which patients do not show any unpleasant sensations.
Clinical
The clinical picture of acute prostatitis presents very vivid, unavoidable and very difficult manifestations:
- an increase in body temperature above 38 ° C;
- chills with sweating 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 appear, which are often overlooked:
- dull, aching pain in perineum and lower abdomen, radiating to sacrum and genitals;
- difficult, painful, and rapid urination with imperative (fast, irresistible) urination, most often at night;
- erectile dysfunction;
- decrease in the quality and duration of sexual intercourse;
- decrease in the severity of orgasm.
The asymptomatic course of prostatitis proceeds without complaints from the patient. The problem is discovered incidentally during prostate and/or urine tests.
Diagnostic methods
If prostatitis is suspected, the doctor conducts 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 course. The following activities are tracked:
- Palpation of the prostate through the rectum to identify the size of the organ, its density and its pain. For further bacteriological analysis in the process of sounding, the secret of the gland is also collected. The aim of the study is to exclude a certain number of diagnoses: adenoma or cancer of the prostate, cancer of the rectum.
- Ultrasound and TRUS to complete and clarify the data obtained during palpation.
- Bacteriological analysis of prostatic secretion to detect infection and determine the type of pathogens. Data are needed to select and prescribe antibiotics.
- A blood test to determine 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 rule out adenoma and cancer.
Treatment
Modern urology considers three types of treatment for acute prostatitis and exacerbations of the chronic form of the disease:
- medication;
- surgical;
- physiotherapy.
Drug exposure involves taking antibiotics from the group of penicillins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, cephalosporins or aminoglycosides. The specific drug is prescribed by the doctor, depending on the infectious agent that caused the inflammation. In addition, patients are prescribed:
- anti-inflammatory drugs to eliminate fever;
- painkillers;
- antispasmodics to normalize the outflow 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 surgery, during which either 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 performed only after the elimination of the acute inflammatory process. Patients are shown:
- massage;
- exercise therapy (physiotherapy);
- magnetic therapy;
- ultrasound treatment;
- electrical stimulation;
- microwave and laser exposure;
- reflexology.
The appointment of a specific type of procedure is carried out by the attending physician.
In chronic prostatitis in remission, the patient should:
- undergo regular examinations and, if necessary, antibiotic treatment;
- eat right, avoiding both exhaustion and the appearance of excess weight;
- protect the body from hypothermia;
- engage in exercise therapy, and exercises should strengthen the muscles of the lower abdomen and pelvic floor;
- have a regular sex life;
- get rid of bad habits.
Prostate massage is also a useful procedure, due to which blood circulation and the outflow of secretions in the organ improves, which helps to prevent the recurrence of the acute stage of the disease.
Complications
Complications of prostatitis are manifested both in the prostate itself and in the organs surrounding 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, venous plexus and rectum.
The chronic disease is dangerous because it affects 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 of the small pelvis;
- inflammation of fatty tissue;
- orchitis;
- epididymitis;
- vesiculitis;
- pyelonephritis.
Chronic prostatitis leads to the following complications:
- chronic pain syndrome;
- sexual dysfunction;
- infertility;
- violations of the process of urination;
- general deterioration in quality of life.
impotence and sterility
The two most common problems associated with prostatitis are impotence and infertility. The development of each condition occurs against the background of chronic lesions of the prostate.
Impotence (erectile dysfunction) occurs in 40% of cases of neglected and untreated prostatitis. The development of complications occurs for a long time, sometimes for years. His reasons:
- violation of the prostate with the improper passage of nerve impulses and failure of hormone production;
- deterioration of pelvic muscle control responsible for the occurrence of an erection;
- psychological uncertainty;
- pain syndrome, which raises fears of 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:
- decrease in the quality of seminal fluid;
- decreased number and decreased motility of sperm;
- the presence of damage and defects of germ cells;
- scarring of the vas deferens;
- failure of secretory function;
- testicular dysfunction.
In acute prostatitis, sperm are damaged, their quality and motility deteriorate, defects form, and fewer male germ cells are produced.
Prevention
It is possible to prevent prostatitis, but it is necessary to constantly follow a number of preventive recommendations:
- leading a healthy life with adequate nutrition, reasonable physical and sexual activity and freedom from bad habits;
- participate in physiotherapy exercises aimed at eliminating congestion in the pelvic organs and strengthening the pelvic muscles;
- timely undergo examinations by a urologist and andrologist;
- Watch out for hypothermia.
Prostatitis is a serious disease of the urological sphere that can cause significant harm to the male body. It is very important to pay attention to the first signs of its appearance and consult specialists who will prescribe a comprehensive treatment. Without it, an acute illness can become chronic and cause even more serious health problems.