Prostatitis is a common urological disease that can occur in any man over the age of 30, and every year only the likelihood of its development 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 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. The iron performs three
most important functions:
- secretory: produces a special enzyme that regulates the viscosity of the sperm and guarantees the vitality of the male germ cells for a correct 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 gland enlarges and begins to squeeze the urethra, disrupting the normal outflow of urine. The organ itself, due to inflammation, is unable to perform its functions at its best.
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 urine) or ascending (through the urethra), entering 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;
- maintaining a sedentary lifestyle;
- irregular sex life;
- hypothermia, especially covering the small pelvis;
- the presence of lesions 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 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 gland with infectious agents that penetrate 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 non-bacterial prostatitis (also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome) is most commonly found in older men. It can develop both against the background of impaired functioning of the prostate, and as a result of an autoimmune reaction of the body.
Chronic asymptomatic prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland, during which patients do not experience unpleasant sensations.
Clinic
The clinical picture of acute prostatitis has very vivid manifestations that cannot be overlooked and are very difficult to live with:
- an increase in body temperature above 38 ° C;
- cold 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, aching pain in the perineum and lower abdomen, radiating to the sacrum and genitals;
- difficult, painful and rapid urination with imperative impulses (sharp and irresistible), most often at night;
- erectile dysfunction;
- decrease in the quality and duration of sexual intercourse;
- decreased severity of orgasm.
The asymptomatic course of prostatitis proceeds without complaints from the patient. The problem is discovered accidentally 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 further bacteriological analyzes in the investigation process, the secret of the gland is also collected. The purpose of the study is to exclude a number of diagnoses: adenoma or prostate cancer, rectal cancer.
- Ultrasound and TRUS to integrate and clarify the data obtained during palpation.
- Bacteriological analysis of prostatic secretion to detect infection and determine the type of pathogens. Data is 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 refute adenoma and cancer.
Treatment
Modern urology considers three types of treatment for acute prostatitis and exacerbations of the chronic form of the disease:
- drug;
- surgical;
- Physiotherapy.
Drug exposure involves taking antibiotics from the penicillin, fluoroquinolone, macrolides, tetracyclines, cephalosporins, or aminoglycoside groups. 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;
- pain relievers;
- 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 the entire prostate gland 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 acute inflammatory process has been eliminated. Patients are shown:
- massage;
- physical therapy (physiotherapy);
- magnetotherapy;
- 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 during remission, the patient is required to:
- undergo regular examinations and, if necessary, a course of antibiotic therapy;
- eat well, avoiding both fatigue and the appearance of overweight;
- protect the body from hypothermia;
- engage in physical therapy and 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, thanks to which it improves blood circulation and the outflow of secretions into the organ, and this helps to prevent the recurrence of the acute stage of the disease.
Complications
Complications of prostatitis occur both in the prostate gland itself and in the organs surrounding it, due to the anatomical location. In the acute form, infectious agents are able to reach the bladder and kidneys, inflammation - go to the fatty tissue of the gland, venous plexus and rectum.
Chronic disease is dangerous because it involves not only the tissues and organs surrounding the prostate, but also affects the nerve, urological and reproductive areas.
Possible complications of acute prostatitis:
- abscess;
- phlebitis of the venous plexuses in the small pelvis;
- inflammation of the fatty tissue;
- orchitis;
- epididymitis;
- vesiculitis;
- pyelonephritis.
Chronic prostatitis causes the following complications:
- chronic pain syndrome;
- sexual dysfunction;
- infertility;
- violations of the process of urination;
- general deterioration in the quality of life.
impotence and infertility
The two most common problems associated with prostatitis are impotence and infertility. The development of any condition occurs against the background of chronic damage to the prostate gland.
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 wrong passage of nerve impulses and the failure of hormone production;
- deterioration of control over the pelvic muscles 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 against the background of prostate damage:
- decrease in the quality of seminal fluid;
- decreased number and decreased motility of spermatozoa;
- the presence of damage and defects of germ cells;
- scars of the vas deferens;
- failure of secretory function;
- testicular dysfunction.
In acute prostatitis, spermatozoa 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 number of preventive recommendations:
- lead a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, reasonable physical and sexual activity and the absence of bad habits;
- engage in physiotherapy exercises aimed at eliminating congestion in the pelvic organs and strengthening the pelvic muscles;
- timely undergo examinations by a urologist and andrologist;
- beware of hypothermia.
Prostatitis is a serious urological disease 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 comprehensive treatment. Without this, an acute condition can become chronic and cause even greater health problems.