Prostatitis- a common disease in men of reproductive and adulthood.
What is prostatitis? This is an inflammation of the prostate gland in men, this organ is also called the prostate. The prostate gland is located next to the bladder neck and is an important part of the male reproductive system. Inflammation of the prostate causes it to enlarge, as a result of which the urinary tract is compressed and the process of emptying the bladder becomes difficult and other unpleasant symptoms appear. Therefore, in case of inflammation of the prostate gland, it is not recommended to be inactive.
Symptoms and signs of prostatitis
Usually men pay due attention to the manifestations of prostatitis quite late. The clinical picture for each case is individual, even if we are talking about one form of the disease. However, the first symptoms of prostatitis in men are approximately the same:
- Difficulty urinating. . . The urethra, which compresses under the inflamed prostate, does not excrete urine well. The feeling of incomplete emptying and the constant urge to urinate are also the first signs of prostatitis in men and its symptoms will worsen in the future.
- Sexual disorders. . . These unpleasant signs of inflammation of the prostate appear in men mainly as a violation of the mechanism of erection and weakening of orgasm. Also, the symptoms of prostate inflammation include premature ejaculation.
- Pain. . . Among the signs of inflammation of the prostate gland in men is pain during urination and ejaculation, a characteristic symptom is constant low back pain.
- Nervous tension. . . Symptoms of inflammation of the prostate gland include increased nervousness in men, as an enlarged prostate causes some discomfort.
Causes of prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate gland occurs for various reasons:
- Poor blood circulation. . . Circulation can be disrupted due to physical inactivity (sedentary and sedentary lifestyle) - this is a very common cause of inflammation of the prostate in men. Also, the cause of impaired blood supply to organs is overweight, trauma to the pelvis, constant hypothermia.
- Infection. . . Infectious diseases also often cause prostatitis. The prostate gland is easily infected as a result of venereal and urological diseases, inflammatory processes in the rectum and complications after infectious diseases (tonsillitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis).
- Immune deficiency. . . The weakening of the protective functions of the body due to past illnesses, stresses, etc. It often becomes a cause of prostatitis in men or exacerbation of an existing disease.
Types of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis develops rapidly with the rapid onset of characteristic symptoms. Chronic prostatitis often manifests itself with a gradual and almost imperceptible development of symptoms, typical of men over 55 years.
Also, prostatitis is classified by origin:
- Bacterial.It most often occurs at a young age, but among other types of disease such cases are only 5-10%. Acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis usually occurs due to the vulnerability of the body to pathogenic flora.
- Contagious. . . Infectious prostatitis occurs not only due to bacteria, but also due to fungi, protozoa, which distinguishes it from the bacterial variety. This type of disease can also occur in chronic and acute forms. One of its characteristic variants is chlamydial prostatitis.
- Purulent. . . Purulent prostatitis is one of the most severe types of infectious, with purulent discharge and hyperthermia of the body. The course of the disease is acute, with the appearance of new symptoms at each stage.
- Calculation. . . Calculous prostatitis is a consequence of a prolonged chronic form and is observed mainly in older men. This form of the disease is characterized by the appearance of stones in the prostate.
- She stagnated. . . Nonbacterial prostatitis, which is caused by insufficient blood supply to the tissues of the pelvic organs. Stagnant prostatitis, as it is also called, is usually chronic. Of all the types, congestive prostatitis is the most common.
Why is prostatitis dangerous?
In any man, prostatitis without timely treatment quickly becomes chronic and has serious consequences for reproductive health and general condition of the body. The most common complications of prostatitis include:
- Vesiculitis. . . Inflammation of the seminal vesicles is the first thing that chronic prostatitis is dangerous for men. Vesiculitis can occur without any symptoms or be felt from pain during urination, after intercourse, as well as the appearance of pus and blood in the semen.
- Posterior urethritis and coliculitis. . . The danger of prostatitis lies in the development of posterior urethritis and concomitant coliculitis. Coliculitis is an inflammation of the seminal tubercle that allows sperm to pass. One of the symptoms of coliculitis is blood in the semen.
- Prostate diseases. . . The consequences of prostatitis in men can be other, more serious diseases of the prostate: abscess, sclerosis, cysts and stones, adenoma, cancer. Such complications are much more difficult and longer to treat than prostatitis, and the consequences of some of them are irreversible.
- Sexual dysfunction. . . The consequences of advanced inflammation of the prostate gland can be genital problems, including erectile dysfunction. Although prostatitis impotence can be cured, it is often irreversible.
- Infertility. . . Because the reproductive system of the male body with prostate inflammation does not perform its functions well, infertility usually results from chronic prostatitis. It all starts with a deterioration in sperm quality and patency of the vas deferens.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
The diagnosis of prostatitis in men begins in the first minutes with a doctor's appointment, as the patient's complaints are an important part of it. Also, to identify the disease and its characteristics, other types of diagnostics are used:
- Medical examination. . . During the medical examination, a rectal digital examination is used, which is performed through the anus and allows you to identify the size, shape, condition of the surface and other characteristics of the prostate gland. Because prostatitis is extremely easy to diagnose in this way, it is actually the first and foremost method of confirming the diagnosis.
- Laboratory researches. . . Prostatitis tests in men are used to test blood, urine, semen, plus prostate secretions. One of the most effective methods is the analysis of urine for prostatitis (general, bacteriological, cytological). Also, a general blood test is prescribed for prostatitis. In each case, the doctor determines what tests are done for prostatitis and whether more in-depth research methods are needed.
- Non-invasive methods. . . These are ultrasound, X-ray diagnostics and MRI.
Treatment of prostatitis
Self-medication for prostatitis is strongly discouraged. If the man does not know which doctor treats prostatitis, you can ask your therapist about it. But usually all patients know that the urologist specializes in the treatment of prostatitis in men. It is also permissible to contact a therapist or surgeon, but only for the initial appointment.
Many patients face a natural question: is it possible to cure prostatitis? It all depends on the form of the disease. But in any case, the diagnosis and treatment of inflammation of the prostate gland in men is necessary at the first warning signs, as chronic prostatitis will require more time and financial costs. Modern methods of treating prostatitis allow you to deal with any form and stage of the disease with minimal consequences for the body.
How long is prostatitis treated?
How much prostatitis is treated and whether it can be cured without consequences depends on the complexity of the case. The sooner a person turns to a specialist, the greater the chance of effective treatment of prostatitis. The duration of treatment for prostatitis can be from 1 to 6 months, depending on the form of the disease. It is worth considering the time spent on diagnosis, which will also affect the duration of treatment for prostatitis.
How and what to treat
There is no single treatment regimen for prostatitis, as this disease is very diverse and requires an individual approach. But regardless of the form, the following methods are used to treat prostatitis:
- Drug therapy. . . Antibiotics are used to treat both chronic and acute prostatitis. This is a mandatory and essential part of the treatment of all types of inflammation of the prostate. In the acute course of the disease, the use of analgesics is permissible, as usually the treatment of prostatitis takes a long time.
- Physiotherapy. . . The treatment regimen for prostatitis certainly includes physiotherapy as a method of light prostate massage. In addition, herbal enemas and other procedures may be prescribed.
- Diet. . . As it is difficult to cure chronic prostatitis or its acute form with an unhealthy gut, diet or dietary correction is prescribed.
- Exercise. . . This method of treating prostatitis is necessary to improve blood circulation in the internal organs.
Prophylaxis of prostatitis
To avoid prostatitis, both after a previous illness and in the absence of such experience, you will need to follow simple recommendations:
- Stable sex life. . . Having sex with a healthy partner will avoid not only sexually transmitted diseases, after which prostatitis often appears, but also its stagnant form.
- Rejection of bad habits. . . An unhealthy lifestyle reduces the body's defenses, so smoking, alcohol and junk food are best avoided.
- Sports activities. . . Exercise keeps the body in good shape and improves blood flow to the prostate gland, reducing the risk of prostatitis.
- Prostate massage. . . This is a measure for the secondary prevention of prostatitis in men for those who have already had the disease.
- Preparations for prophylaxis. . . These are vitamin complexes that will help both to avoid prostatitis and to strengthen the immune system. It is used according to the doctor's instructions.
Prostatitis and conception of a child
Whether it is possible to get pregnant with chronic prostatitis in a spouse is a question that worries many families. It should be understood that the prostate is responsible for many of the most important functions associated with conception, therefore prostatitis increases the likelihood of male infertility. The presence of infections and inflammation in the prostate affects the quality of the ejaculate, and although it is possible to conceive a child with prostatitis, the chances of success are reduced.
Prostatitis and infertility are closely related, because when the esophagus is blocked, pregnancy after intercourse may not occur. The presence of purulent and bloody discharge in male sperm with prostatitis significantly impairs its quality and reduces the likelihood of conception.
With prostatitis you can conceive a child, but for best results you must first cure the disease and prevent possible infertility. Only after the man has cured prostatitis, it's time to think about planning a pregnancy. For the treatment of prostatitis and birth planning it is best to contact specialized centers, which will definitely help solve all problems.