Prostatitis- a common disease in men of reproductive and older age.
What is prostatitis? This is an inflammation of the prostate in men, this organ is also called the prostate. The prostate gland is located near the neck of the bladder and is an important part of the male reproductive system. Inflammation of the prostate causes its enlargement, as a result of which the urinary system is compressed and the process of emptying the bladder becomes difficult, and other unpleasant symptoms appear. Therefore, inactivity is not recommended in case of prostate inflammation.
Symptoms and signs of prostatitis
Usually, men pay 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 is compressed under the inflamed prostate, does not pass urine well. A feeling of incomplete urination and a 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 prostate inflammation occur 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 in men is pain during urination and ejaculation, and the characteristic symptom is constant painful pain in the lower back.
- Nervous tension. . . Symptoms of prostate inflammation include increased nervousness in men, because an enlarged prostate causes some discomfort.
Causes of prostatitis
Inflammation of the prostate occurs for various reasons:
- Poor blood circulation. . . Blood circulation can be damaged due to physical inactivity (inactive and inactive lifestyle) - this is a very common cause of prostate inflammation in men. Also, the cause of violation of the supply of organs to organs is high severity, trauma of the pelvis, constant hypothermia.
- Infection. . . Infectious diseases also often cause prostatitis. The prostate 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 failure. . . Weakening of the body's protective functions due to past illnesses, stress, etc. It often becomes the cause of prostatitis in men or worsening of the existing disease.
Types of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis develops rapidly with the rapid onset of characteristic symptoms. Chronic prostatitis often occurs with a gradual and almost imperceptible development of symptoms, typical of men over 55 years of age.
Also, prostatitis is classified according to origin:
- Bacterial.It most often occurs at a young age, but among other types of diseases such cases are only 5-10%. Usually, acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis occur due to the vulnerability of the organism to the pathogenic flora.
- Infectious. . . 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 occur in both chronic and acute forms. One of its characteristic varieties is chlamydial prostatitis.
- Purulent. . . Purulent prostatitis is one of the most severe types of infectious diseases, with purulent discharge and hyperthermia in the body. The course of the disease is acute, with the appearance of new symptoms at each stage.
- Account. . . Calculous prostatitis is a consequence of a long-term chronic form and is mostly noticed in older men. This form of the disease is characterized by the appearance of stones in the prostate.
- He stagnates. . . Nonbacterial prostatitis, which is caused by insufficient blood flow to the tissues of the pelvic organs. Congestive prostatitis, as it is also called, is usually chronic. Of all the types, congestive prostatitis is the most common.
Why is prostatitis dangerous?
In every man, prostatitis without timely treatment quickly becomes chronic and has serious consequences on reproductive health and the 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 with pain during urination, after sexual 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 tuberculosis that allows the passage of sperm. One of the symptoms of coliculitis is blood in the semen.
- Prostate diseases. . . The consequences of prostatitis in men can be other, more serious prostate diseases: abscess, sclerosis, cysts and stones, adenoma, cancer. Such complications are much harder and longer to treat than prostatitis, and the consequences of some of them are irreversible.
- Sexual dysfunction. . . The consequences of prostatitis can be problems in the genital area, including erectile dysfunction. Although impotence resulting from prostatitis can be cured, it is often irreversible.
- Infertility. . . Because the reproductive system of the male body with prostatitis does not perform its functions well, infertility usually results from chronic prostatitis. It all starts with the deterioration of 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 examination, because the patient's complaints are an important part of it. Also, other types of diagnostics are used to identify the disease and its characteristics:
- Medical examination. . . During a medical examination, a rectal-digital examination is used that is performed through the anus and allows you to identify the size, shape, condition of the surface, and other characteristics of the prostate. Since prostatitis is extremely easy to diagnose in this way, this is actually the first and main method of confirming the diagnosis.
- Laboratory research. . . Prostatitis tests in men are used to study blood, urine, sperm, as well as to study 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 any case, the doctor determines which tests to take for prostatitis and whether deeper research methods are needed.
- Non-invasive methods. . . These are ultrasound, X-ray diagnostics and MRI.
Treatment of prostatitis
Self-treatment of prostatitis is strongly discouraged. If a man does not know which doctor treats prostatitis, you can ask your therapist about it. But usually all patients know that a urologist specializes in treating prostatitis in men. It is also allowed to contact a therapist or surgeon, but only for an initial appointment.
Many patients are faced with 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 prostate inflammation in men is necessary at the first signs of warning, because 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 sequelae depends on the complexity of the particular case. The sooner a man consults a specialist, the greater the chance of effectively treating 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 of treating prostatitis are used:
- Drug therapy. . . Antibiotics are used to treat both chronic and acute prostatitis. This is a mandatory and important part of treating all types of prostate inflammation. In the acute course of the disease, the use of analgesics is allowed, because it usually takes a long time to treat prostatitis.
- 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. . . Because chronic prostatitis or its acute form with unhealthy intestines is difficult to cure, diet or dietary adjustment is prescribed.
- Physical exercises. . . This method of treating prostatitis is necessary to improve blood circulation in the internal organs.
Prevention 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. . . Sex life with one healthy partner will avoid not only sexually transmitted diseases, after which prostatitis often occurs, but also its stagnant form.
- Rejecting bad habits. . . An unhealthy lifestyle reduces the body's defenses, so it is best to avoid smoking, alcohol and unhealthy foods.
- Sport activities. . . Exercise keeps the body in good shape and improves blood flow to the prostate, reducing the risk of prostatitis.
- Prostate massage. . . This is a measure of secondary prevention of prostatitis in men for those who have already had the disease.
- Preparations for prophylaxis. . . These are vitamin complexes that will help avoid prostatitis and 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 husband is a question that worries many families. It must 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 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 with the blockage of you deferens 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.
You can conceive a child with prostatitis, but for best results you must first cure the disease and prevent possible infertility. Only after a man cures prostatitis is it time to think about planning a pregnancy. For the treatment of prostatitis and birth planning, it is best to contact specialized centers that will definitely help solve all the problems.