The name prostatitis comes from the Latin - prostatitis anatomical term - prostate - this is the prostate gland + - itis - this suffix indicates inflammation.Otherwise, prostatitis is an inflammatory change of the prostate gland.
No more than half of men over the age of 45 face the problem of prostatitis.This disease of the reproductive system brings suffering and significantly reduces the quality of life.In the absence of appropriate therapy, it causes the development of dangerous complications.
Therefore, it is important to remember the symptoms of prostatitis in men, which will help you recognize the problem in time and start the appropriate treatment.
Prostatitis - what is it?
The prostate is one of the most important organs of the male reproductive system.It is not for nothing that they say that the prostate is a person's second heart.It is located between the base of the penis and the anus.Its most important function is the production of mucus, which acts as a nutrient medium for sperm.Therefore, all representatives of the stronger sex should remember what the prostate is and how to keep it healthy.
The inflammatory process localized in the prostate is called prostatitis.The disease is accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms that cause suffering to a person.In severe cases, an abscess forms in the prostate, which threatens not only health, but also a person's life.Prostatitis often acts as a provoking factor for the growth of malignant tumors.
FYI.The disease develops when an infectious agent enters the urogenital system.Pathogenic microflora penetrates the prostate through the urinary system.Prostatitis is often caused by staphylococci, enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus, E. coli and some other microorganisms.
Prostatitis - causes
To understand what kind of disease prostatitis is, you need to understand the causes of its occurrence.The following factors can provoke the development of the problem:
- Entry of pathogenic microflora into the body.It can be carried in urine, lymph or blood.More often, microorganisms move from the area of the urethra.
- Maintaining a sedentary lifestyle.Lack of physical activity leads to congestion in the pelvic organs.They trigger the development of the inflammatory process of the prostate.
- Injuries in the groin area.
- Hypothermia.A man should always ensure that his lower torso remains warm.
- Presence of intestinal diseases, frequent constipation.
- Inflammatory processes in nearby organs.
- Irregular sex life.In men, prostatitis is often the result of prolonged abstinence or interrupted intercourse tactics.
- Chronic diseases of the respiratory system and the urinary system.
- Prolonged exposure to stressful situations, mental overload.
- Decrease in the body's defense functions.
As you can see, although prostatitis is an inflammatory disease, it cannot be caused only by microorganisms.It seems that banal hypothermia is not associated with microorganisms, but the result is inflammation.
Experts have proven that men with bad habits are several times more likely to get sick.Chronic alcohol or nicotine poisoning leads to the body losing its resistance to infections.In order to develop a suitable treatment strategy, it is important to determine which causes of prostatitis have become decisive in your situation.
FYI.The development of the disease may also have a psychological cause.Therefore, if you discover such a problem, it is advisable to consult a psychotherapist.
Symptoms of prostatitis
The first signs of prostatitis can be mild, and often a man simply does not pay attention to them.The following symptoms should alert you:
- Increased body temperature.This will be a consequence of the inflammatory process.
- Increased urge to urinate.
- Unpleasant feeling in the area of the urethra.It intensifies during the process of emptying the bladder.A mild itching and burning sensation occurs.
- There are white spots in the urine.
- Drawing pain in the lower abdomen.
- Decreased libido.
The result of prostatitis is not only a decrease in sexual desire, but also a loss of sensitivity during intercourse.This is called a "fuzzy orgasm."It is characterized by a loss of sensation and a feeling of dissatisfaction.
Classification
The signs of prostatitis depend directly on the form of the disease.We distinguish the following types of the disease:
- Acute bacterial.This is a consequence of the active reproduction of pathogenic microflora.It is often purulent in nature.It is accompanied by a significant increase in body temperature, chills, a feeling of weakness, severe pain in the groin, nausea and difficulty urinating.If you examine the prostate gland, you will notice a significant increase in size.Treatment of prostatitis in such a situation should be started as early as possible.Otherwise, the disease becomes chronic.
- Asymptomatic.Symptoms of this type of disease do not appear.The problem can only be diagnosed with a medical examination.Therefore, men should see a doctor regularly.
- Chronic bacterial.It develops after premature or illiterate treatment of the acute form of the disease.Signs of such prostatitis include excruciating pain in the groin, problems urinating, and a feeling of fullness in the bladder.Many patients experience prolonged erections during sleep.At the moment of intimacy, the erectile function is, on the contrary, greatly weakened.Blood appears in the ejaculate.The clinical picture is complemented by signs of general poisoning of the body: constant weakness, decreased performance, headache, loss of appetite.
- Chronic non-bacterial or also known as "chronic pelvic pain syndrome".In the case of this type of prostatitis, monotonous discomfort appears in the groin area.Their intensity may decrease or increase depending on the influence of external factors.The disease is accompanied by decreased sexual desire and difficulty urinating.This problem often causes a man depression, insomnia and frequent mood swings.
Maintaining health is only possible if the symptoms of prostatitis are detected in time and the treatment is started correctly.It is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis on your own, so you should contact a specialist at the first warning signs.
Complications of prostatitis
If the signs of prostatitis in men are not detected in time, the disease becomes a complicated form.It causes the development of related complications:
- Prostate abscess.The process of the formation of a purulent focus in the prostate gland begins.At the same time, the body temperature rises to 40 degrees.Severe pain occurs in the lower abdomen.If medical help is not provided in time, the abscess will open.The pus spreads in the rectum and urethra.This can cause blood poisoning.
- Spread of infection to nearby organs.Pathogenic microflora spreads through the urinary system and causes pyelonephritis, cystitis, inflammation of the testicles and appendages.
- Infertility.In men, the characteristics of the prostate clearly show that it is an important organ of the reproductive system.Its normal functioning is responsible for sperm quality.In case of prostatitis, the activity of sperm decreases significantly.Complete infertility is often diagnosed.
According to recent studies, prostatitis can cause the growth of malignant tumors in the prostate gland.This disease is fatal.Therefore, it is extremely important to identify the causes of the problem in time and start treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
Diagnosis of prostatitis
It is impossible to distinguish the symptoms of prostatitis from others and start treatment on your own.You must consult a doctor.The specialist assesses the severity of the disease and develops a treatment method.The following diagnostic techniques are used for the examination:
- History taking and rectal examination of the patient.The doctor identifies the presence of aggravating factors, assesses the state of the prostate and the severity of the symptoms.
- Analysis of secretions secreted by the prostate.The presence, type and characteristics of pathogenic microflora in biological material can be identified under laboratory conditions.
- Ultrasound of the prostate.It allows the assessment of the condition of the gland and neighboring organs.
- Blood test.Together with the biochemical test, the prostate antigen level is determined.
- Urine test.
- Uroflowmetry.This technique can be used to identify urinary tract disorders.
By collecting the results of all tests, the doctor can determine the state of the prostate and the characteristics of prostatitis.After that, the appropriate therapy is selected.
Prostatitis - treatment
Every man who has crossed the 45-year mark should remember what prostatitis is and how to treat it correctly.The treatment program must be developed by a urologist or andrologist.Hospital treatment is only necessary in particularly severe cases.Most often, the disease can be treated on an outpatient basis.The following methods are used:
- Use of medicines.
- Following a special diet.
- Physiotherapy.
- Massage.
- Exercise.
- Surgical intervention.
Prostatitis cannot be self-medicated;this leads to the development of complications.In order to achieve a positive result, you must strictly follow all the recommendations of the specialist.
Use of medicines
It is possible to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of prostatitis, stop the development of inflammation and treat the root causes of the disease with the help of drugs.The following drug groups are used:
- Antibiotics.They help to quickly suppress the activity of the pathogenic microflora that causes the disease.It is prescribed for both acute and chronic forms.These should be taken strictly as directed.It is important to complete the full course of medication.Otherwise, the relapse of the disease will happen very quickly.
- Anti-inflammatory.They help to get rid of the inflammatory process of the prostate and relieve negative symptoms.
- Pain relievers.It is used when a man is in severe pain.
- Immunomodulators.The disease begins against the background of a sharp decrease in immunity.A positive result can only be achieved by restoring the body's protective functions.
Please note that it is better to use suppositories for prostatitis.This type of administration of the active ingredient meets all safety and speed requirements.
If the patient shows signs of depression, apathy and stress, sedatives are prescribed to restore calmness.
It is strictly forbidden to independently interrupt the treatment or replace the prescribed drugs with analogues.This leads to the development of complications.
Diet therapy
Manifestations of prostatitis cause suffering to a man.In order to speed up the treatment as much as possible and to increase the effectiveness of the techniques used, a diet should be followed.You should follow several recommendations:
- Avoid eating unhealthy foods: smoked foods, processed foods, sweet sodas, fatty and fried foods.Minimize the amount of sweets and baked goods in your diet.
- Vegetable foods strengthen the immune system.The menu should include fruits, herbs and berries.
- Eat more foods that have a positive effect on blood circulation.These include onions, garlic, citrus fruits and seafood.
- Drink more fluids.Vegetable juices, fruit drinks, compotes, rosehip decoction are beneficial.
- During the treatment of prostatitis, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
- Legumes, sorrel, offal, spices and fatty pork also cause damage.These products cause stagnation in the body.
If you follow the diet, you can cure prostatitis in a man faster.Proper nutrition strengthens the immune system and relieves increased stress on the digestive system.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy techniques are an effective way to treat prostatitis and its negative symptoms in men.They help improve tissue trophism and increase blood circulation in the area of the gland.The following procedures help to treat the disease:
- Transrectal microwave hyperthermia.With the help of a special device, the prostate gland is heated.This method helps to avoid surgery.It is suitable in situations where the use of medicines has not brought any results.
- Diadynomophoresis.The essence of the technique is the simultaneous influence of the gland with diadynamic currents and the administration of drugs.The procedure enables effective treatment of prostatitis and eliminates pain.
- Laser therapy.The prostate gland is exposed to a laser beam.As a result, the body heats up.Which increases blood circulation and restores metabolic processes.This technique quickly cures the disease in its early stages of development.It is forbidden to use it to treat the acute phase of the disease.
- Ultrasonic phonophoresis.During the procedure, ultrasound is applied to the glandular tissue.This increases their trophism and promotes the rapid absorption of infiltrates.
The choice of a specific method for treating the disease depends on its form and severity.The patient's age and body characteristics must be taken into account.
The use of physiotherapy therapeutic methods is contraindicated for humans.He suffers from epilepsy, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, anemia and a tendency to bleed.In the presence of malignant tumors, this method of treatment is also not used.
Massage
Massage is used to effectively eliminate prostatitis syndromes.It enables the secretion accumulated in the gland to be removed and the blood circulation to be increased.The procedure makes it possible to maintain the tone of the prostate, which has a beneficial effect on its condition.
Prostatitis in men is treated with digital prostate massage.The man is placed on his side or on all fours.The doctor coats his finger with petroleum jelly and inserts it into the anus.You feel that the gland is three to five centimeters from the anus.After that, the massage begins.The movements are smooth and skillful.The finger moves up and down, in circles and figure eights.
In some cases, the man may experience pain during the procedure.Complete relaxation helps to avoid this.A person's psychological mood is also important.If the patient understands the importance and benefits of massage, then his treatment is as effective as possible.
Exercise
One of the causes of male prostatitis is congestion of the pelvic organs.Regular exercise helps to cope with this problem.Training strengthens the muscles, keeps the glands in good shape, and increases metabolic processes.
The following exercises are considered the most effective:
- Contraction and relaxation of the sphincter muscles.This operation is repeated 30 times.There may be some discomfort at first.Later, the muscles become stronger and the discomfort disappears.
- Contrast shower.You can also massage the perineal area separately with a water jet.
- Massaging the area around the sphincter by hand.It is better to perform the procedure lying down.
Sports activities and walks in the fresh air complement the training.Swimming is especially beneficial.
Surgery
The treatment method is determined based on the manifestation and condition of the disease.In severe cases, surgery is prescribed.If the prostate is blocking the urethra, the inflamed tissue needs to be removed.This is done using the following methods:
- Transurethral resection.Any tissue affected by the infection is excised.
- Proteectomy.During the operation, the prostate and seminal vesicles are removed.Impotence and enuresis may result from such treatment.
The surgery has serious complications.Therefore, it is important to prevent the disease from worsening.As soon as alarming symptoms appear, treatment should be started.
Preventive techniques
The emerging symptoms of the disease bring moral and physical suffering.Following the basic prevention rules will help prevent this:
- Prostatitis can start after hypothermia.Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to sit on a cold surface.Always dress for the weather and try to avoid the rain.
- Give up bad habits.
- Get regular medical check-ups and treat any identified problems immediately.
- Have a regular sex life.However, it is better to remain loyal to a reliable partner.Missed contacts can lead to sexually transmitted diseases.
- Move as much as possible.Spend your free time walking.If possible, visit the gym.
Prostatitis is a dangerous disease that threatens the health of the male reproductive system.Everything must be done to prevent its development.If the disease has already manifested itself, do not self-medicate, consult a specialist immediately.