Frequent painful urination, perineal discomfort, pyrexia, decreased potency and libido are problems faced by 80% of men aged 45 to 50, but most of them delay visiting a doctor until the pain becomes unbearable. Unpleasant symptoms indicate inflammation of the prostate, which requires urgent treatment: prostatitis in men quickly becomes chronic and can lead to infertility, sexual dysfunction and oncology.
What is prostatitis
The prostate gland is an organ that resembles a chestnut fruit in size and shape, and is located below the bladder. Its bottom is bounded by the crotch. The prostate in men performs the following functions: secretory - the production of sex hormones and secretions that determine the quality of sperm, and the barrier - the separation of the process of ejaculation and urination.
The other name of the gland is popularly used to denote a common disease that affects about half of the male population: the older a man is, the higher the risk of getting the disease - prostatitis is rarely diagnosed in men aged 20-25. The disease is dangerous with serious complications, so it is important to recognize it at an early stage.
The therapeutic course lasts up to 14 days, for several more months the patient must strictly adhere to preventive measures. If the disease has managed to take a chronic form, the risk of recurrence is 50%.
Classification
Prostate treatment in men is sometimes delayed for years. The disease temporarily starts asymptomatically in order to remind itself after a few months of a sudden decrease in immunity, violation of the intestinal microflora and other stressful situations for the body. Prostate disease in men has several forms:
- Sharply. It is characterized by a bacterial infection of the prostate tissue. Typical signs are severe pain syndrome, critical increase in temperature. It is necessary to treat the disease in a hospital setting;
- Chronic bacteria. Periodic weakening of symptoms is often perceived as a signal of recovery, but it is an illusion - each subsequent worsening is more severe than the previous ones due to the development of purulent foci, the appearance of neoplasms;
- Asymptomatic. Absence of symptoms with active disease development. Such a prostate in men is often discovered by accident, according to the results of urine analysis;
- Granulomatous. Cessation of gland function due to excessive connective tissue healing;
- Pelvic pain syndrome. Hardly diagnosed form, accompanied by constant painful sensations in the pelvic area, neurological and psychoemotional disorders.
What does prostate mean in men? First of all, the diagnosis means the need to reconsider the lifestyle, patience and adherence to the doctor's recommendations - treatment can take a long time.
What causes the prostate in men?
Reasons
The exact algorithm for the occurrence of the inflammatory process in the prostate has not been established, but a pattern has been discovered: the probability of getting sick increases with a decrease in general immunity. Why is this happening? Infectious pathogens, reaching the mucous membrane of a healthy person, are in a "dormant" state and spread only when the body's protective functions weaken. Thus the male prostate begins to develop.
Risk-increasing factors:
- Hypothermia;
- Injuries and bruises of the perineum;
- Sexually transmitted diseases;
- Inactive lifestyle, inactive work;
- Inadequate sex life;
- Contraception by termination of intercourse (incomplete ejaculation occurs);
- Stress, neurosis, depression;
- Bad habits - alcohol abuse, smoking;
- Drug intoxication.
Doctors also point to a link between the fashion of tight pants that squeeze the genitals and an increase in morbidity. Prostate symptoms in men who prefer skinny jeans are much more common than among loose-fitting supporters.
Chronic etiology
Persistent prostatitis in men is a consequence of improper treatment (or its complete absence) of acute inflammation of the prostate. Causes of worsening: sexually transmitted diseases, stressful situations at work and in the family, forced restriction of emptying the rectum or bladder, wearing tight underwear made of synthetic fabrics.
An additional factor is congestion in the small pelvis due to poor mobility. A patient who has experienced for himself what the prostate is in men in the acute form must take all measures to prevent recurrence: first of all walk more to activate the blood circulation.
Inflammation of the prostate in men symptoms
Acute prostatitis
There are three types of course of this form of the disease: catarrhal, follicular, parenchymal (the most dangerous). In the first case, fatigue begins with the withdrawal of pain in the pubic region and a slight rise in temperature. Soon the man notices discomfort during urination or intercourse, a permanent feeling of fatigue.
The follicular type is characterized by severe pain in the penis and lower back: it does not allow the bowel and bladder to empty completely. If left untreated, a third type of disease develops.
Parenchymal prostate in men what is it? Difficulty urinating turns into complete retention of urine, body temperature reaches 39-40 degrees, mucous discharge from the rectum appears. The condition is serious and requires urgent hospitalization.
Chronic prostatitis
The symptoms of this form are often blurred, unexpressed, which makes the diagnosis difficult. The pain syndrome becomes permanent, localizes in the lower abdomen and is tolerated quite easily. The discomfort increases after intimacy.
Urination is a little difficult - the urine stream is intermittent. Desires are becoming more common. After physical exertion on the head of the penis appear uncharacteristic discharge. Erectile dysfunction is possible. The temperature is maintained at about 37 - 37, 3 C.
If symptoms of chronic prostatitis are noticed in men, treatment should not be delayed: sluggish inflammation can lead to infertility.
Diagnosis
A timely visit to the urologist is the best solution to suspect prostate inflammation. During the meeting, the doctor will ask a few questions about the health condition and review the patient’s medical record to collect a medical history. Further external examination and palpation of the organs through the rectum is performed.
To clarify the diagnosis, a number of studies are assigned:
- Secret analysis;
- Prostate ultrasound;
- Sampling of PCR materials;
- MRI of the pelvic organs.
If necessary, the urine flow rate during urination is measured with a special device, a urophometer. Measurements are performed in the clinic: the patient empties the bladder into a special container with a sensor, which displays a graphic image at the end of the procedure.
Prostate treatment in men
Before prescribing a course of treatment, it is important to identify all the factors that caused the inflammatory process. Once the exact cause of prostatitis in men is known, treatment is more productive. The urologist develops an individual comprehensive program that includes the following elements:
- Drug therapy. In addition to the viral etiology, antiviral drugs are prescribed, and in the case of an infectious lesion, antibacterial drugs. In parallel, anti-inflammatory suppositories and creams, immunostimulating agents and, if necessary, analgesics are used;
- Physiotherapy. The method is determined based on the picture of the disease. These can be electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, laser sessions, UHF;
- Massage. The procedure is performed by the doctor or (after training) the patient's spouse - emotional comfort and family support are of great importance for the sick person. Massage improves the outflow of purulent-inflammatory secretions from the prostate canal.
The effectiveness of the prescribed therapy is assessed after 10-14 days: if there is a positive trend, the course is resumed after a short break. In the absence of improvement, a decision is made to cancel some drugs and procedures and replace them with others.
Prophylaxis
Prostate in men, symptoms and treatment is a topic that every member of the stronger sex who has reached reproductive age should study in detail. Awareness of preventative measures will help avoid inflammation.
How to protect yourself from prostatitis? It is recommended to avoid hypothermia and unprotected sex, get tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases. It is necessary to empty the bladder in a timely manner, choose wide pants.