Many people are still embarrassed or hesitant to talk about some diseases.This is especially true for urogenital problems, which simultaneously create discomfort and also affect sexual activity.More than 70% of men do not go to doctors in the early stages of the disease, while treatment is most effective if the disease is not too advanced.Identifying the symptoms of the disease in a timely manner is important for prevention and early treatment.
What is prostatitis
The prostate or prostate gland is located in the center of the pelvis, connected to the bladder and spermatic duct.The main function is the production of a substance that is responsible for the viability and motility of sperm.From a chemical point of view, this secretion is a base of immunoglobulins with the addition of vitamins, zinc, iodine - the basis for the nutrition and activity of sperm.The composition of the fluid is an important diagnostic parameter that helps to recognize symptoms at an early stage.
As you can guess from the name, the disease involves inflammatory processes in the prostate gland.This pathology is always associated with the presence of a bacterial infection, although it does not necessarily occur in a form noticeable to humans.The type of disease progression largely depends on age, predisposition, associated factors and characteristics of the body.
Normally, the prostate gland is not felt and does not attract attention.However, despite its rather deep location in the pelvic area, this organ is one of the most vulnerable in the male body.There is an opinion that only older people can experience the symptoms of prostatitis, but this is not true: the disease is typical for mature men aged 20 to 60 years.
At an early stage, it is quite difficult to identify the disease.Signs may appear from time to time, then bother you, then disappear without a trace.Doctors mention that the psychology of men, especially young men, also plays a role: not everyone is ready to go to the doctor and admit to a “shameful” disease.
At the same time, the disease is characterized by dangerous complications, including:
- Infertility due to impaired sperm motility.Sometimes asymptomatic or mild chronic prostatitis becomes the only reason for the absence of a child in a couple.A woman can undergo examinations as much as she wants, but this will not help until her husband decides to be examined himself for his own ability to fertilize.
- Prostate adenoma is a benign tumor, which, however, can become very dangerous for a man.This is due to the anatomical structure - the urinary and vas deferens are located so that if the prostate gland grows abnormally, it interferes with normal urination.There is a risk of a huge number of complications, including bladder rupture.
- Prostate cancer is, according to statistics, one of the most common diseases in men.Oncological disease is one of the ten main causes of death for people over 50 years of age; it is at this age that long-standing chronic prostatitis tends to degenerate into a life-threatening condition.
- Psychological problems associated with erectile dysfunction, infertility, problems with natural functions.This is a side symptom, but also significantly affects the patient’s quality of life.
Every twentieth man over thirty and more than half of those over fifty have experienced symptoms of prostatitis.This is one of the most common diseases.Prevention, early diagnosis and careful treatment can relieve attacks and complications of the disease.
Acute (bacterial)
The disease can appear in men at any age.And if chronic forms of this disease are more typical for older people, then acute bacterial types of the disease can theoretically occur in anyone.Bacteria that cause signs of prostatitis can be either pathogenic or opportunistic.
Here are some things to remember about this form:
- You can become infected at any age, including through unprotected sexual intercourse.
- Prostatitis is not the same as classic STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), such as gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, but can manifest itself as a secondary infection against the background of another disease.
- You can become infected either from your partner if she is sick with candidiasis, ovarian inflammation, vulvitis or vulvovaginitis, or you can pass the infection on to her.It happens that one of the couple becomes a “carrier” of infection, and constant re-infection of each other is possible even within a constant couple.
- The main cause of acute bacterial prostatitis is unprotected sexual intercourse, followed by hypothermia and other situations that reduce local immunity.
Chronic bacterial
In the absence of proper treatment and ignoring the symptoms in its acute form, as well as with regular reinfection, there is a high risk of developing a chronic pathological process.This is due to the fact that the prostate gland is a convenient place for the proliferation of pathogenic organisms: high temperature, humidity, nutrients.Chronic prostatitis is characterized by exposure to opportunistic strains that cause a sluggish, but uncomfortable reaction that significantly worsens the quality of life.
Features:
- Paroxysmal course: the symptoms are almost no different from the acute form, but if it appears initially, then the chronic form recurs regularly.Many people try to relieve the symptoms of prostatitis in men with analgesics and other emergency methods.This works, but does not fix the problem.
- Indeed, symptoms often go away on their own, without additional methods of therapy, especially in young men: the body suppresses bacterial activity using the resources of its own immunity.As a rule, it is not possible to completely destroy the infection, so relapses return again and again.Each one can become heavier than the previous one.
- Relapses are dangerous due to the appearance of purulent foci and damage to neighboring organs: bladder, penis, testicles, kidneys.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is the most common type of disease.Some men suffer from it for years, relieving attacks with painkillers, but not getting rid of the underlying problem.Over time, the condition worsens.
Chronic nonbacterial
Treatment of prostatitis of this form will always be one of the most difficult.The disease is not associated with the activity of bacteria, which also makes it difficult to diagnose and identify provoking factors.Its causes are extremely varied: from an unhealthy lifestyle to working conditions associated with heavy lifting - for example, it is often found among loaders, builders and other persons whose professional activities are related to such activities.
An attack of the disease can be triggered by neurological problems, stress, poisoning, injury to the prostate and pelvic muscles - this occurs in professional athletes.In many cases it is treatable.Often the etiology remains unclear.
Asymptomatic chronic
Another “insidious” type of prostatitis in men, since it develops without symptoms characteristic of the disease, as a result of which a person does not suspect that he has the disease.The reasons may be different, but more often they are associated simultaneously with the activity of bacteria and lifestyle characteristics.
The biggest risk is that without symptoms, it rarely occurs to a person to get tested.In this regard, doctors recommend that people over 40 years of age undergo preventive diagnostics: donate urine for the content of leukocytes, as well as fluid secreted by the prostate.Asymptomatic prostatitis is becoming one of the common causes of male infertility.
Causes of the disease
The most obvious cause of symptoms is bacteria entering the genitourinary tract.Systemic urogenital infections are extremely common, that is, a person simultaneously suffers from, for example, pyelonephritis.
Among the predisposing factors:
- unhealthy lifestyle - poor diet, alcohol abuse, it is believed that excess weight also contributes to the development of the disease;
- hypothermia;
- irregular or promiscuous sex life;
- unprotected sex with persons who may be carriers of infection;
- physical inactivity, constant sitting position - prostatitis is typical for professional drivers;
- injuries in the pelvic area.
The main factor always remains age: if there are not so many twenty-five-year-old men suffering from prostatitis, then after fifty - more than half of all males.The quality of treatment for prostatitis depends on early diagnosis, so after forty years everyone should visit a doctor for an examination.
Symptoms
The intensity of the symptoms depends on the form of the disease.We must not forget about the asymptomatic type, which does not manifest itself at all, but also has a destructive effect on health.You should consult a doctor for medicine for prostatitis if the following symptoms appear:
- pain, burning when urinating;
- painful sexual intercourse, deterioration of potency;
- pain during bowel movements;
- difficulty urinating - a dangerous symptom that causes stones;
- high temperature - in acute form;
- blood in urine, semen.
All signs vary in intensity.Treatment of prostatitis must begin with diagnosis; even one of these manifestations is a reason to be checked by a doctor.Painful sensations can change location, but are most often felt in the lower abdomen and rectum.In acute cases, they are unbearable, increasing pain is a bad sign, indicating a purulent form of the disease.
Diagnostics
To treat prostatitis, correct diagnosis is necessary.The patient is sent for a general urine test to identify the leukocyte formula, which indicates the presence of inflammation.Be sure to check the blood, as well as sperm - this helps determine the activity of sperm and often reveals infertility.Prostate secretions are taken for analysis, as well as a smear to identify specific pathogens and prescribe antibiotics for prostatitis.
Treatment
Methods for treating prostatitis are complex, including physical therapy, medicinal techniques, correction of the patient’s diet and lifestyle.Even advanced chronic forms can be cured without serious complications if you follow the recommendations and proper therapy.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is used for chronic forms and is prescribed only by a doctor, since in some cases it is contraindicated.
Among the methods, the most effective are the following:
- prostate massage - helps get rid of congestion;
- warming up in warm baths;
- ultrasound therapy;
- electropheresis;
- acupuncture.
The technique depends on the type of disease, as well as on the condition of the body.For example, warming up at high temperatures and acute forms is contraindicated; you must first carry out therapy with medications for prostatitis.
Medication
For pain in the perineum, medications for prostatitis with an analgesic effect are prescribed.Bacterial forms require the use of antibiotics, and a specific drug is prescribed only after BAC culture and identification of the sensitivity of microorganisms to a particular group.
Other drugs:
- Drotaverine - tablets for prostatitis to relieve spasms and pain;
- Tamsulosin is an alpha blocker, prostatitis tablets that improve smooth muscle contractions, improving urine flow;
Self-administration of antibiotics is contraindicated, but drugs of the cephalosporin group are most often prescribed - they work well on almost all types of urogenital infections in men and women.
Candles
Rectal suppositories, also known as suppositories for prostatitis, are great for relieving pain, inflammation, and reducing all the discomfort associated with the disease.Most recommended by doctors:
- Prostate extract - suppositories for prostatitis with a complex effect;
- Ketoprofen - relieves pain, swelling;
- Indomethacin.
Most drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Taking it as a rectal suppository not only improves efficacy, but also helps minimize side effects.
Diet
Diet therapy also becomes part of the overall treatment strategy.People who are overweight are advised to normalize their weight in order to get rid of congestion in the pelvic area.It is prescribed to exclude fatty foods, limit carbohydrates, and avoid alcohol, which is often not compatible with antibiotics.Seafood, nuts, avocados, and lean meat are healthy if there are no other contraindications.A proper diet also serves to prevent prostatitis.
Forecast
With timely diagnosis, complete cure is possible.The most important thing is not to allow the disease to become chronic, otherwise complications are inevitable: from prostate adenoma to cancer.In general, with proper therapy and patient compliance with treatment conditions, the prognosis is favorable.
Prevention
Prostatitis is a “youth-growing” disease: recently it has been diagnosed even in teenagers, and thirty- to thirty-five-year-old men are facing the problem more and more often.Therefore, prevention of prostatitis is important, which consists of:
- correct thermal regime - the pelvic organs should neither be overheated nor overcooled;
- avoid general hypothermia;
- sexual activity using personal protective equipment - condoms effectively block the path of bacteria;
- proper nutrition;
- Avoid both a sedentary lifestyle and irrational stress, especially those associated with lifting heavy objects.
All these methods will help prevent the development of an unpleasant disease.In older and older people, even in the absence of complaints, it is necessary to visit doctors from time to time: a urologist and an andrologist.