Inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) is a very painful condition. But usually prostatitis is not limited to pain and causes even more serious symptoms. Who? How long does inflammation of the prostate usually last? And what does it help?
What is prostatitis?
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate (prostate gland). The prostate can become inflamed as a result, for example, of bacteria that can enter the prostate tissue from the urinary tract. Depending on whether the cause of prostate inflammation is bacteria or not, the following types of prostatitis are distinguished:
- bacterial;
- abacterial prostatitis.
The prostate is a four-centimeter gland, which in men is located below the bladder. It is one of the internal reproductive organs that produces a secretion that mixes with sperm during ejaculation. This secretion ensures the motility of the spermatozoa and provides support on the way to the female egg.
The prostate gland in men can become inflamed as a result of inflammation of the bladder or urethra (urethra), and the cause of the inflammation can be bacteria migrating from the bladder or urethra to the prostate. In this case we are talking about acute prostatitis. In most cases, the infection can be controlled with antibiotics.
In about 5 out of 100 patients, the bacteria remain in the prostate despite treatment, leaving the inflammation unchanged. Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.
Bacteria are not always the cause of prostate inflammation
Besides bacteria, there are other factors that can cause inflammation of the prostate, such as central nervous system (CNS) disorders, mental problems, stress, and chronic inflammation of the bladder wall. Since prostatitis in this case does not occur due to bacteria, it is called abacterial prostatitis.
Sometimes abacterial prostatitis is called one of the forms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS for short). However, this pain syndrome can also develop without inflammation of the prostate. In addition to inflammatory, there are also non-inflammatory forms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Note: In non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome, the symptoms are similar to those of prostatitis, but neither bacteria nor signs of inflammation are found.
However, the official classification of prostatitis by the US National Institutes of Health includes both inflammatory and non-inflammatory forms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
According to many, this misleads doctors and, in the worst case, can lead to incorrect treatment. Unlike inflammation of the prostate gland, non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome does not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Causes of prostatitis
There are a number of factors that contribute to inflammation of the prostate gland. The most important are:
- recurrent urinary tract infections;
- bladder catheterization;
- operations in the urogenital area;
- unprotected anal sex.
In these and other circumstances, bacteria can easily enter the urinary tract and cause inflammation of the prostate gland. If bacteria enter the prostate, it can lead to bacterial prostatitis.
Abacterial prostatitis can have a variety of causes. Let's take a closer look at the causes of both types of prostatitis.
Bacterial prostate
Most bacterial prostatitis is caused by intestinal bacteria such as Escherichia coli or enterococci. If they enter the urinary tract through the opening of the penis, they first cause an infection of the urethra or bladder, then the pathogens enter the prostate gland, causing inflammation of the prostate.
Men who get prostatitis in the hospital often have Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They enter the urinary tract after catheterization of the bladder.
In rare cases, inflammation of the prostate occurs as a result of sexually transmitted diseases. In this case, the causative agents are mainly chlamydia.
Abacterial prostatitis
In abacterial prostatitis (a form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome), any bacteria can be the culprit. However, after research, leukocytes (white blood cells that protect the body) are found in the prostate and semen. This indicates that the body is fighting inflammation.
What causes this inflammation is not fully understood and studied by specialists. This is probably the result of the combined effect of various factors. The following factors may play a role:
- impaired immune response;
- central nervous system disorders that affect the nerves and muscles of the genitourinary system and prevent a person from emptying their bladder as usual;
- mental disorders such as stress, anxiety or depression.
Some experts suggest that hidden infections may be the cause of chronic pelvic pain syndrome. However, this assumption is controversial.
Characteristic symptoms of prostatitis
Typical symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis are:
- frequent urination;
- burning during urination (usually with a small amount of urine);
- pain in the bladder and perineum;
- pain during bowel movements;
- nausea, vomiting;
- fever and chills.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis also causes pain and problems with urination. However, these symptoms disappear immediately and after some time appear. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a relapsing course with fading and reoccurrence of inflammation. It can last many months.
Another characteristic sign of chronic inflammation of the prostate gland is erectile dysfunction.
Abacterial prostatitis, which is not caused by bacteria, essentially causes symptoms similar to those of chronic bacterial prostatitis. In addition, victims sometimes complain of pain during ejaculation.
Special case: asymptomatic inflammation of the prostate
In rare cases, the doctor may find an increased number of white blood cells in the ejaculate or prostate secretion, but the affected person may not feel pain or other symptoms of inflammation of the prostate.
Such cases are classified as asymptomatic inflammation of the prostate and are usually discovered incidentally as part of screening for cancer or infertility.
Diagnosis
A doctor can diagnose acute bacterial prostatitis by asking the patient about his symptoms and examining the prostate. First, the doctor feels the prostate with a finger. If heat and swelling are felt in the prostate area during palpation and the patient experiences pain, this indicates acute bacterial inflammation.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may also do a urine test and take blood from the patient to examine the level of inflammatory cells.
Chronic bacterial inflammation of the prostate cannot be diagnosed by palpation alone. For example, if the patient is between two attacks of inflammation, the doctor will not be able to detect severe edema during palpation. Therefore, blood and urine tests are needed to diagnose chronic bacterial prostatitis.
To detect chronic prostatitis, one urine sample is not enough. Because if the urine contains white blood cells and bacteria, this can also mean a urinary tract infection. To find out if the inflammation is affecting the prostate, your doctor will need to test several urine samples
Treatment of prostatitis
What treatment will help with inflammation of the prostate depends on the cause: if the inflammation is caused by bacteria, the therapy will differ from the treatment of abacterial prostatitis. However, in both cases, the doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs (so-called antiphlogistics).
Treatment of bacterial prostatitis
In case of bacterial inflammation of the prostate, antibiotics will help to eliminate the symptoms.
- For mild acute prostatitis, the doctor should prescribe antibiotics from the fluoroquinolone group, and the patient should take them for 10 days.
- If the inflammation is severe, the doctor may give the patient broad-spectrum antibiotics.
- If the inflammation is chronic, the patient usually takes a fluoroquinolone for 4-6 weeks.
Treatment of abacterial prostatitis
Doctors usually try to control non-bacterial inflammation of the prostate gland by using a combination of different drugs. For example, in addition to anti-inflammatory drugs, they may also prescribe so-called alpha-1 blockers. They relax the prostate and bladder muscles and thus promote bladder emptying.
Depending on your doctor's suspicions about the cause of the inflammation, additional measures may be necessary. For example, it has been suggested that psychological problems may also play a role in the development of nonbacterial prostatitis. In this case, the doctor may recommend psychotherapy.
In addition, thermal treatments such as baths can often be used to relieve symptoms.
Treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies
Folk remedies for the treatment of prostatitis serve as an alternative to drug therapy. It is used in bacterial prostatitis. Before using folk remedies, consult your doctor.
Fire grass
Fireweed has proven to be an excellent remedy for prostate ailments.
Fireweed is a perennial herbaceous plant. It has small, usually white flowers, but they also come in various shades of red.
The seeds of the fire grass are small, there is moss on their surface, with the help of which they spread.
There are about 200 species of fireweed, the plant is often considered a weed and can be very toxic, but beneficial effects have only been demonstrated in fireweed. Flowers and root are used. The content of biologically active substances (myricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, lectin and sitosterol) has a positive effect on the activity of the prostate.
Uses of Fire Grass:
- 1 tablespoon of the herb is poured with 1/4 liter of water, brought to a boil and left to brew for a short time (15 minutes). It should be drunk in sips throughout the day (up to 2 glasses) chilled.
This medicinal plant is used for various urological diseases, in particular:
- for all prostate diseases, including prostate cancer;
- in kidney diseases;
- in diseases of the bladder;
- for bladder cancer;
- for wound healing.
Fireweed is effective against inflammation of the urological tract, as a rule, it is combined with other herbs, depending on the nature of the problems, most often with cranberry, goldenrod, horsetail or birch.
Green tea
Medicines in the form of green tea are perhaps the most pleasant way to treat prostatitis.
It is recommended to drink 3 cups of green tea a day.
This drink encourages frequent urination, which helps cleanse the entire body. In addition, green tea is directly involved in the detoxification of the body.
advice! Men are advised to urinate while sitting. In this way, complete emptying of the bladder is achieved. A sitting position completely releases all the pelvic muscles, as a result of which there is no residual urine in the bladder, in which some pathogenic bacteria would otherwise quickly multiply.
Nettles
2 handfuls of freshly picked nettle leaves - about 15 cm from the top of the plant - are poured with 300 ml of drinking water and left to stand overnight (about 12 hours). In the morning, the infusion should be slightly warmed and drunk.
Cranberry
Cranberry is one of the most famous fighters against prostatitis. Cranberry home remedies include eating them dried, fresh or canned. In the latter case, however, you should beware of added sugar.
Cranberry juices are also available in stores. You should also be careful here and read the label carefully to make sure that the juice does not contain additional juices from other fruits or artificial sweeteners.
Only 100% cranberry juice has a healing effect.
Add dried cranberries to porridge or oatmeal.
For whom cranberries are not suitable:
Cranberry is contraindicated for people taking blood thinners. Cranberry can reduce the antiplatelet effects of the drug, which will lead to bleeding.
ginger
In the treatment of prostatitis, you can pay attention to another useful product - ginger root. Ginger is a promising product for the treatment of this disease. It has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant properties, interrupts the reproductive cycle of cancer cells (which is especially important in the treatment of prostate cancer) and promotes apoptosis. Along with this, ginger is not toxic to other rapidly growing cells.
It should be taken after a meal, adding the root to tea (preferably green).
Pumpkin seeds
As practice shows, the most effective method of treating prostatitis is the use of fresh, not dried pumpkin seeds.
Method of preparation: Pumpkin seeds are crushed. The resulting mass is mixed with honey in equal proportions and slightly heated. Then you need to leave it in the fridge for a few hours, after which you need to form balls the size of a walnut.
The balls are taken before meals, 1-2 times a day, daily.
For preventive purposes, you can eat 4-5 pumpkin seeds every day. They contain zinc, selenium and other biochemical substances that reduce inflammation in the body, including the prostate gland, and have a positive effect on the formation of the male hormone testosterone.
chestnuts
Chestnuts are also effective and have no side effects, which is very important for the elderly.
Chestnuts should be peeled, crush the kernel into small pieces, pour boiling water over it and let it boil for an hour.
The decoction is taken 3 times a day before meals, 30 drops each.
Regular sex
Regular sex, like masturbation, cleans the prostate, promotes blood circulation and prevents local inflammation.
Prognosis: duration and course of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis usually responds well to treatment. If the patient takes the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, the pain and fever usually disappear within 36 hours. After a few days, the symptoms should decrease significantly.
Chronic prostatitis lasts for several months and usually occurs in relapses, between which the patient experiences little or no discomfort. Chronic prostatitis is usually more persistent than acute prostatitis: antibiotic therapy often lasts several weeks.
Is it possible to prevent prostatitis?
Early treatment of urinary tract infections can prevent the spread of germs to the prostate and therefore inflammation of the prostate. Using condoms can also help prevent inflammation of the prostate caused by some sexually transmitted diseases.