Chronic prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate that is characterized by organic tissue changes and dysfunction of the prostate, male reproductive system, and urinary tract.
The prostate is a tubular alveolar gland that is unique to men. This gland is involved in the production of sperm and is located below the bladder around the beginning of the urethra. Chronic prostatitis in men can occur due to an infection of the prostate from the bladder, through the blood and pelvic lymph vessels, or otherwise. Although the presence of an infection may not cause disease or impotence, it usually does not go away without a trace for a man. At the moment, the man observes a decrease in the hardness of the penis, sexual dysfunction during sex and urinary disorders.
Chronic prostatitis does not threaten a man's life, but it can cause psychological distress and deterioration in family relationships. It should also be noted that, according to experts, chronic prostatitis, namely, its untimely treatment, can lead not only to the development of serious complications, but also to prostate cancer. In addition to infection, there are a number of other factors that predispose to chronic prostatitis. However, the manifestation and exacerbation of chronic prostatitis has different peculiarities.
Stages of chronic prostatitis
Although there is still no single specificity for the development of chronic prostatitis, experts distinguish the following types of it:
- I have acute bacterial prostatitis;
- II prostatitis of bacterial genesis. It is most commonly found;
- III chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is a complex of symptoms of chronic pelvic pain, the duration of which is more than 3 months;
- Category III A is a type of inflammatory form of chronic prostatitis with an increased level of leukocytes in the prostate secretion;
- III B is a non-inflammatory form of chronic prostatitis without an increased content of leukocytes and pathogens in the secretion of the prostate;
- Type IV is diagnosed as asymptomatic chronic prostatitis that does not cause pain and is detected quite accidentally based on the results of the analysis of prostate secretion or its biopsy.
The incidence and causes of this category of chronic prostatitis are not yet known. As for the reasons for the development of other types of the disease, it should be noted here that they may be due to the penetration of various infectious microorganisms into the ureter, as well as a violation of various functions in the man's body.
Preventive methods of prostate inflammation
Chronic prostatitis requires long-term treatment. Hence, it is better to take preventive measures to avoid it. To do this, the patient just needs to make some lifestyle adjustments, which is not only beneficial for the general state of health, but also relieves this disease. Therefore, the following prevention rules must first be observed:
- strive to lead a healthy lifestyle;
- completely exclude spicy foods from the diet;
- Don't abuse alcohol.
- Engage in sports, including exercise that helps strengthen muscles and improve blood flow to the pelvic organs;
- participate in yoga classes at will;
- Adhere to methods of prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
- Eliminate pelvic blockages and treat rectal disease immediately;
- exclude excessive masturbation;
- try to have a regular, but at the same time safe, sex life;
- Avoid hypothermia;
- do not sit on cold surfaces;
- Warm up more often during sedentary work.
In addition to these preventive measures, men should take into account that chronic prostatitis is only marginally manifest. If a man observes discharge when urinating or defecating, and also has slight pain, in this case it is worthwhile to consult a doctor immediately. It should also be remembered that treatment should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of a specialist, without neglect. In addition, the selection of drugs during antibiotic therapy is made depending on the individual condition of the patient and only after special studies have been carried out. Prescription medication should not be interrupted, and most importantly, additional medication should not be taken without a doctor's prescription. Don't hesitate to get your doctor's appointment. If you search our website, you can easily find a clinic that is suitable for both the location and the pricing policy.
Causes of Prostate Inflammation
Chronic prostatitis in medicine is positioned as a polyetiological disease. In addition to the penetration of an infection into the ureteral organs, it can occur and recur due to the appearance of neurovegetative and hemodynamic disorders, as well as a weakening of the immune system and autoimmune, hormonal or biochemical processes. Inflammation of the prostate can develop against the background of such diseases as:
- Depression;
- neurogenic bladder dysfunction;
- reflex sympathetic dystrophy;
- localized inflammatory processes of neighboring organs;
- Bladder neck hypertrophy;
- Prostate adenoma;
- Stricture of the urethra;
- Diseases of the rectum.
Given these factors, the following reasons are attributed to the risk of prostate inflammation:
- A sedentary lifestyle, especially in a sitting position, leads to a dysfunction of the blood supply to the pelvic organs.
- local hypothermia of the body;
- frequent constipation;
- irregular sexual relationships or sudden exertion;
- chronic infections;
- previous sexually transmitted diseases. In particular, their delayed treatment;
- wrong diet;
- Lack of sleep;
- chronic stress.
In addition, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis can be caused by the formation of myofascial trigger points in the course of illness, injury, and surgery on the pelvic organs.
Chronic prostatitis symptoms
The symptoms of chronic prostatitis do not bother the man very much. Inflammation of the prostate occurs suddenly. The patient may be disturbed by acute pain in the perineum and groin, and may also have pain when urinating and defecating, accompanied by a discharge from the urethra. All of these signs of chronic prostatitis can be accompanied by a fever, fever, and fever. Most of the time these symptoms are intermittent. Chronic prostatitis can also be expressed in terms of sexually transmitted disease complications. During the course of the disease, the patient may feel discomfort when urinating, pain in the perineum, as well as the manifestation of discharge. Chronic inflammation of the prostate leads to erectile dysfunction and delayed ejaculation.
The inflammatory process of the prostate penetrates deep into the urinary system, which can lead to cystitis and pyelonephritis. Most often these exacerbations end with inflammation of the testicles and limbs, leading to infertility and requiring long-term treatment. Therefore, you should not postpone your visit to the doctor. Timely diagnosis and treatment is required. It is important to remember that if the disease is not triggered, chronic prostatitis can be cured.
Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis
As a rule, the doctor can diagnose this or that type of chronic prostatitis based on the symptoms indicated by the patient or after the examination. First, the specialist palpates the prostate and then recommends that the patient conduct a laboratory examination of the urine culture tank and prostate secretion. With this diagnosis, you can determine further treatment for chronic prostatitis. In addition, the urologist can use diagnostic methods such as:
- transrectal ultrasound, which allows you to determine the size and volume of the prostate, as well as determine the presence of neoplasms;
- Determining the urethral pressure profile makes it possible to find out the cause of urinary disorders and the functions of the pelvic floor muscles.
- microscopic examination of scraping the mucous membrane of the urethra, which helps determine the presence of a specific flora that causes infectious diseases; X-ray of the prostate;
- MRI of the pelvic organs, which helps differentiate prostate cancer and identifies a non-inflammatory type of bacterial prostatitis;
- Determination of the state of humoral and cellular immunity in secretion of the prostate. This type of research will help not only diagnose the category of the inflammatory process of the prostate, but also solve the question of what method can be used to cure chronic prostatitis.
Chronic prostatitis treatment
Chronic prostatitis is considered an insidious and complex disease. The treatment method requires an integrated approach. Urologists use treatments like:
- Antibiotic therapy, which involves prescribing drugs that destroy the hidden microorganisms of the infection. The patient takes these drugs for several weeks. In the absence of proper effect, antibiotics can be replaced with another group of drugs.
- Physiotherapy can include exposure to electromagnetic waves, ultrasound waves, and laser waves, which greatly increases the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy.
- The magnetic laser therapy has a congestion-inhibiting effect and improves the microcirculation of the blood in the pelvic organs.
- Transrectal prostate massage is the most painful and uncomfortable treatment method, but it is also the most effective. It is based on the elimination of inflammatory secretion by pushing it out with a finger;
- Darsonvalization;
- Electrophoresis with drugs;
- Hormone therapy;
- transurethral electrosurgery. This method of treatment can be used only for complications that, in addition to violations of the process of urination or reproductive function, led to the appearance of sclerosis of the prostate and bladder neck in a man. If, after the operation, worsening of the chronic inflammatory process is observed, then in this case the patient can remove all of the remaining gland.
- The aim of immune correction is not only to get rid of the infection, but also to completely eliminate its recurrence. This method of treatment implies the normalization of lifestyle, which includes an active lifestyle, regular walks, adherence to the daily regime and proper nutrition.
- Spa treatment.
In addition, the prescribed treatment for chronic prostatitis may include a visit to an immunologist and additional specialized tests. Since the termination of this or that course of therapy does not guarantee the complete destruction of the prostatitis infection, there is a possibility that it will recur. To cure chronic prostatitis, the patient should carefully follow all the recommendations of the doctor and adhere to the prescribed course of treatment to the end.