Signs of prostatitis in men and its treatment

12 September 2020

Prostatitis is a pathology that occurs as an infectious and inflammatory process in the prostate gland (prostate), affecting its glandular and connective tissues.

The prostate, an organ of glandular structure located below the bladder in the urethra, is of great importance for the health and functioning of the male body. Inflammation has an effect on reducing the synthesis of testosterone in the testicles, as a result of which libido decreases, erectile function weakens. At the first signs of prostatitis there are problems during urination, discomfort, pain during orgasm.

The treatment of prostatitis began in the 19th century, when there was a tendency for the disease to grow. The disease is purely male, as the prostate gland is an organ located in the body of men. People in the age group of forty and older suffer mainly from this disease, but medical statistics claim that in recent years the disease has become significantly "younger": among men aged 25-28, prostatitis is found in 30% of cases. The peculiarity of the diagnosis and the probability of a latent course of the disease suggests that this figure is much higher. Only a quarter of men aged 22-50 undergo medical examinations, including by a urologist, who diagnoses prostatitis in 15% of those.

Complications

If the treatment of prostatitis is not started on time, a number of complications can occur, characterized by:

obstruction of the bladder 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 is life-threatening for the patient (this is most susceptible to patients with weak immunity, diabetes, kidney failure).

Important to know!The pathology can lead to prostate cancer (seen in 7% of men over the age of 50), which will seriously worsen a man's life or even lead to death.

Causes of pathology

Prostatitis has several types, determined by the causes of the disease.

The main factors that provoke the appearance of prostatitis are the following:

Infections.Bacteria enter the prostate gland in a variety of ways and pathways. Young men who have sex without contraception (condoms) have a high risk of disease due to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms (chlamydia, mycoplasma, etc. ). In addition, the appearance of prostatitis occurs as a result of some internal chronic diseases. Harmful bacteria reach the prostate gland through the flow of lymph or blood. Pathological microorganisms can also "descend" into the prostate through the urethra. Then the disease is provoked by diseases of the urinary system (urethritis, pyelonephritis) with weakened immunity.
Process stalled.They manifest in obesity, sedentary lifestyle, as 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 pelvis (OMT), congestion can occur, provoking an inflammatory process. Such cases are common among truck drivers due to occupational activities involving long-term sitting and constant injury from a chair hitting the HTA.

Opinion of doctors. Urologists are convinced that prostatitis is not a diagnosis for life. If the treatment does not give a quick result, then the man should not give up and think about whether he followed absolutely all the instructions. Only joint actions and efforts of the doctor and the patient, who are confident in the success of the therapy, will help the man to feel healthy and therefore full.

Types of prostatitis

The classification of prostatitis by type provides the following parameters.

Etiology. According to the origin of the disease is:

infectious (specific and nonspecific);
congestive non-infectious (the cause lies in stagnant processes associated with prolonged interruptions in sexual intercourse, interrupted intercourse, bad habits, stress, regular hypothermia).

Pathological feature subdivided into the following subtypes:

catarrhal;
follicular;
parenchymal;
prostate abscess (may manifest as a complication of prostatitis in the form of dystrophic, fibrocystic, granulomatous, and prostate 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

The symptoms of prostatitis can be latent and obvious.

The disease is classified into the following forms:

Sharp.The disease has a sudden development, expressed in fever (up to 39 ° C), intense cutting pain radiating to the back and groin. Ejaculation, defecation and urination are accompanied by sharp pain and sometimes bleeding. This is a good reason to visit a urologist.
Chronic.The symptomatic picture is almost imperceptible, although it is similar to the clinical picture of acute prostatitis. There may be a slight rise in temperature, discomfort in the groin and during urination. The main symptom of the chronic form of prostatitis is the frequent desire to go "a little way", 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 are negative, expressed in frequent irritability, depression, dissatisfaction, psychological breakdowns.
Stagnation.Men who lead an inactive lifestyle and have irregular sex suffer from this form of the disease. The course of the disease is expressed in a violation of the genitourinary system. The onset of the disease is characterized by inflammation of the urinary tract, secretion of epithelium, provoking the appearance of pain during urination. In severe cases, the urethra ceases to function at all. Erection is also impaired, orgasm is weak and indistinct. In general, the development of sexual dysfunction occurs rapidly. The congestive form of prostatitis is also characterized by symptoms of burning and itching in the perineum, urethra. Body temperature is elevated, there are signs of intoxication.

How to detect the symptoms of developing prostatitis

Only a urologist can make an accurate diagnosis of a patient, but according to the existing signs of the genitourinary system and observed by a man, they can serve as a signal for urgent appeal to a specialist. This applies to:

act of defecation accompanied by unpleasant sensations;
burning sensation in the perineum for short and long periods;
frequent urges to urinate, but the process itself is painful and difficult;
weak orgasm effect (also called "deleted orgasm");
increased fatigue and often for no apparent reason;
decreased erectile function;
regular stress.

Important to remember!Detection of these symptoms requires an immediate visit to a doctor to influence the disease at its very beginning. The development of chronic prostatitis occurs in an unexpressed form, but is fraught with consequences and complications.

Diagnosis of diseases

Prostatitis in men is diagnosed mainly on the basis of the analysis of patients' complaints. With the help of a specially designed questionnaire, the doctor detects and studies the symptoms of the disease.

Additional diagnostic measures are being performed:

examination of the composition of prostate secretion (if there is no acute form of the disease: it is impossible to carry out the procedure with it due to severe pain);
rectal examination by palpation;
ultrasound examination of the prostate to confirm the suspicion of prostatitis and to make an accurate diagnosis;
biopsy;
tomography (computer / magnetic-nuclear) of the small pelvis - if necessary;
cystoscopy;
urography.

In addition, men undergo some general tests that can clarify the picture of the disease:

uroflowmetry;
urine sample measured in three cups;
Mears & Stamey study, measured with two cups of urine (the first portion excludes contamination of the urethra (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 gland;
clinical analysis of urine;
medium portion of urine for microbiological examination.

Diagnosis requires differentiation of prostatitis with cystitis, urethritis, prostate adenoma and prostate cancer.

The man should abstain from sexual intercourse for five days before the appointment of an ultrasound examination. On the eve of this day it is necessary to apply a cleansing enema and before entering the ultrasound room, urinate.

How to treat prostatitis

There is no standard treatment for prostatitis. A holistic therapeutic approach prescribed by a doctor is performed individually and there are adjustments in the process for greater effectiveness. In the treatment of the prostate gland, the form of the disease is taken into account. For example, the acute form is easier to treat than the chronic one.

Prostatitis is mainly treated conservatively and on an outpatient basis.

The integrated approach is:

Antibacterial therapy (remediation of areas infected with bacteria).
Improving the blood supply to the prostate (massage, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises).

The use of physical therapy methods is done for the following purposes:

Relieving the inflammatory process (by anti-inflammatory methods), reducing pain (by analgesic methods).
Reduction of stagnant processes, changes in the sclerotic nature in the future (through defibrotic methods of treatment).
Strengthening the protective properties of the body (through immunostimulatory methods).

Prostatitis is usually treated with prostate massage. The procedure, due to its delicacy, is often considered humiliating by men, but has very good effectiveness. Prostate massage can be performed at home, but for this you need to buy a special hardware device.

Prostatitis drug

The therapeutic approach is carried out by administering drugs. The treatment regimen uses antibiotics, as only they are able to destroy the pathogens. What drugs to take, the doctor decides based on the results of tests and research. The patient, in anticipation of the appointment of an appropriate antibiotic, takes drugs for anesthesia, anti-inflammatory and other directions.

Antibiotic therapy involves the use of acceptable doses and route of administration. The optimal dose of antibiotic is considered to be that which has doubled or tripled the "effort" against the concentration of pathogens.

In the case of chronic prostatitis, which usually occurs on the basis of immunodeficiency, antibiotic therapy is carried out in conjunction with immunocorrective drugs.

The best massage treatment is sex

Doctors believe that the natural way to massage in the treatment of prostatitis is orgasm during sex. Sperm ejaculation occurs when the muscles in the anus contract actively, which is also effective for the prostate: it is massaged successfully during this time. Many have heard that it is forbidden to have sex during the entire treatment period, but this is not true. The main thing is, if possible, not to change ex-partners (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 gland and seminal ducts from stagnant processes. Horror stories about the dangers of masturbation should be taken as jokes, but you should not forget about moderation and personal hygiene.

It is impossible to overcome prostatitis with sex and medication, you must lead an active lifestyle, have proper rest and nutrition, sleep well, avoid stressful situations. Alternative treatments are also welcome, but apply after consulting a doctor.

Important to know!The use of antibiotics also includes probiotics to avoid 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 surgery used takes into account aspects of the disease, the patient's condition.

Operations prescribed by a doctor are divided into types, namely:

Transurethral resection.During the operation, the closed removal of the prostate gland is performed using a tube inserted through the urethra.
Transurethral incision.The tissue near the bladder neck is cut, thus relieving the pressure on it. A similar operation is indicated for men with a slight enlargement of the prostate. Complications practically do not arise, patients recover quickly.
Radical prostatectomy.In this case, the entire prostate is removed. This type of surgery is difficult, traumatic, accompanied by significant blood loss.

Traditional medicine for the treatment of prostatitis

Alternative medicine offers over a hundred prescriptions designed to combat prostatitis, relieve symptoms and supplement basic treatments. It is worth remembering that not all of the proposed options may be suitable for a person with a certain form of the disease, some can cause an allergic reaction and other complications.

Here are some proven, popular and effective recipes:

Pumpkin seeds.They contain a large amount of zinc, which the male body needs. The man should eat 30-35 raw seeds a day for preventive and therapeutic purposes. You can make special balls of seeds, crushed in a blender (without peel), mixed with honey (200 ml). From the resulting mass, mold balls the size of walnuts, place in refrigerator. Eat 1 ball twice a day, half an hour before meals, chew slowly, sucking the healing juices from it. Powerful and effective, can be used once a year.
Vegetable and fruit juices.Help your body produce more uric acid. Natural freshly squeezed juices from cucumbers, carrots, asparagus are especially successful in this. They can be drunk in a mixture, the proportions of each varying according to your taste. It is necessary to consume more than half a liter of fluid per day in several doses.
Natural honey.In addition to bee products, they have proven to be excellent in the treatment of prostatitis. Herbal medicine based on them has a powerful anti-inflammatory, analgesic effect. For example:

Propolis candles.40 g of propolis is evaporated in a glass of alcohol, then this extract (0, 1 g) is mixed with two grams of rye flour and cocoa. Candles are formed, placed in the rectum before bedtime for a month.
Propolis tincture.20% tincture (40 drops), diluted with water (100 ml), taken before meals for 20 minutes.
Herbal infusion with honey.Used in acute prostatitis. The flowers of calendula (30 g), horsetail herb (25 g), elecampane root (15 g), dioecious nettle leaves, salvia officinalis, mint (10 g of each plant) are crushed and mixed. Then take three tablespoons of the resulting mixture and pour 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, left for an hour in a thermos, drunk three times a day before meals, one third of a glass. You can add milk, honey. This tea is recognized as the best remedy for prostatitis.
Pharmacy chamomile.10 g is poured into 100 ml of very hot water, infused for half an hour, filtered. It is used as a solution for microenemas (70-80 ml).
Wild pear.Patients observe the effect a few days after starting to take pear compote / tea. With prolonged use there is almost complete cure of prostatitis. The fruits and leaves are used not only fresh but also dried to prepare a decoction in winter. This drink is an excellent preventive measure.

The list of folk recipes is endless, but only a doctor will recommend in any case one or more important in an integrated approach to treatment.

Prostatitis prevention

Measures to prevent disease, recurrence in the chronic course are based on:

active and healthy lifestyle;
sports, physical education;
smoking cessation, alcohol consumption;
having sex with a regular partner (indiscriminate relationships will lead to sexually transmitted infections that provoke prostatitis);
regular sex life and achieving ejaculation;
regular (twice a year) follow-up by a urologist;
timely treatment of urological diseases;
balanced diet;
respect for your own health.