Chronic prostatitis is an inflammatory disease of the prostate gland, which is characterized by organic tissue changes and functional disorders of the prostate, male reproductive system, and urinary tract.
The prostate is a tubular alveolar gland found only in men. This gland is involved in sperm production and is located below the bladder around the beginning of the urethra. Chronic prostatitis in men can occur due to infection in the prostate gland by the bladder through the blood and pelvic lymph vessels or in some other way. Although the presence of an infection may not cause illness or impotence, it usually does not pass for a person without a trace. At the moment, the man is noticing a decrease in the firmness of the penis, sexual dysfunction during sex and urinary disorders.
Chronic prostatitis does not threaten a man's life, but it can nonetheless cause psychological distress and deterioration of family relationships. It should also be noted that, according to experts, chronic prostatitis, namely its premature treatment, can lead not only to the development of serious complications, but also to prostate cancer. In fact, in addition to infection, there are a number of other factors that predispose to chronic prostatitis. However, the manifestation and worsening of chronic prostatitis has different specifics.
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 acute bacterial prostate;
- II prostatitis of bacterial genesis. Most often 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 prostate secretion;
- III B is a non-inflammatory form of chronic prostatitis without an increased level of leukocytes and pathogens in prostate secretion;
- Type IV is diagnosed as chronic asymptomatic prostate, which causes no pain and is detected quite by chance based on the results of prostate secretion analysis or its biopsy.
The frequency and causes of this category of chronic prostatitis are not yet known. As for the reasons for the development of other types of disease, it should be noted here that they may be due to the penetration of various infectious microorganisms into the urethra, as well as a violation of various functions in the human body.
Preventive methods of prostate inflammation
Chronic prostatitis requires long-term treatment. Therefore, it is better to follow preventive measures to avoid it. To do this, the patient will only need to make some adjustments in his lifestyle, which will not only be beneficial to the overall state of health, but will also alleviate this disease. So, first of all, the following rules of prevention must be observed:
- strive to lead a healthy lifestyle;
- completely exclude spicy foods from the diet;
- do not abuse alcohol;
- playing sports, including exercises that help strengthen muscles and improve blood circulation to the pelvic organs;
- attend yoga classes as desired;
- observe methods of prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
- eliminate pelvic congestion and treat rectal diseases 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;
- during sedentary work, warm up more often.
In addition to these preventative measures, men should take into account the fact that chronic prostatitis appears insignificant. Therefore, if a man observes discharge during urination or defecation, and also experiences slight pain, then in this case it is worth consulting a doctor immediately. It is also worth remembering that the course of treatment should be carried out strictly under the supervision of a specialist without any negligence. In addition, the choice of drugs during antibiotic therapy is made in accordance with the individual condition of the patient and only after he undergoes special studies. Taking prescribed medication should not be stopped, and even more so, additional medication should not be taken without a doctor’s prescription. Do not delay your doctor's appointment. By searching our website, you can easily find a suitable clinic for your location and pricing policy.
Causes of prostate inflammation
Chronic prostatitis in medicine is positioned as a polyetiological disease. In addition to penetration of the infection into the ureteral organs, it can occur and recur due to the appearance of neurovegetative and hemodynamic disorders, as well as weakening of the immune system and autoimmune, hormonal or biochemical processes. Inflammation of the prostate gland can develop against the background of diseases such as:
- depression;
- neurogenic bladder dysfunction;
- reflex sympathetic dystrophy;
- inflammatory processes of nearby organs located;
- bladder neck hypertrophy;
- prostate adenoma;
- tightening of the urethra;
- diseases of the rectum.
Given these factors, the following reasons are attributed to the risk of developing prostate inflammation:
- a sedentary lifestyle, especially in a sitting position, involves a dysfunction of the blood supply to the pelvic organs;
- local hypothermia of the body;
- frequent constipation;
- irregular sexual intercourse or sudden exertion;
- chronic infections;
- previous sexually transmitted diseases. In particular, their delayed treatment;
- improper food;
- lack of sleep;
- chronic stress.
In addition, chronic non-bacterial prostatitis can be caused by the formation of myofascial trigger points during the course of diseases, injuries, and surgical interventions on the pelvic organs.
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis
The symptoms of chronic prostatitis do not bother the man much. Inflammation of the prostate occurs suddenly. The patient may be troubled by acute pain in the perineum and groin area, and may also experience pain during urination and defecation, accompanied by discharge from the urethra. All of these signs of chronic prostatitis can be associated with fever, chills and fever. Most often, these symptoms are permanent. Also, chronic prostatitis can be expressed in the form of complications of sexually transmitted diseases. During the course of the disease, the patient may feel discomfort during urination, 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 moves deep into the urinary system, which can lead to cystitis and pyelonephritis. Most often, these exacerbations end in inflammation of the testicles and appendages, which involves infertility, requiring long-term treatment. Therefore, you should not delay going to the doctor. Timely diagnosis and treatment are required. Importers It is important to remember that chronic prostatitis can be cured if the disease is not caused.
Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis
As a rule, the doctor can diagnose this or that type of chronic prostatitis based on the complaints indicated by the patient or after the examination. First, the specialist touches the prostate gland and then recommends that the patient do a laboratory study of the urine reservoir and prostate secretion. This diagnosis allows you to determine further treatment of chronic prostatitis. In addition, the urologist may apply diagnostic methods such as:
- transrectal ultrasound, which allows you to determine the size and volume of the prostate, as well as identify the presence of neoplasms;
- determination of urethral pressure profile makes it possible to find the cause of urinary disorders and pelvic floor muscle functions;
- microscopic examination of the scraping of the urethral mucosa, which helps to determine the presence of a specific flora that causes infectious disease; Prostate X-ray;
- MRI of the pelvic organs, which helps differentiate with prostate cancer, as well as identifying a non-inflammatory type of bacterial prostatitis;
- determination of the state of humoral and cellular immunity in prostate secretion. This type of study helps not only to diagnose the category of inflammatory process of the prostate gland, but also to solve the question of which method can be used to cure chronic prostatitis.
Chronic treatment of prostatitis
Chronic prostatitis is considered an insidious and complex disease, the method of its treatment requires an integrated approach. Urologists use treatments such as:
- antibiotic therapy, during which drugs that destroy the hidden microorganisms of the infection are prescribed. The patient takes these medications for several weeks. In the absence of proper effect, antibiotics can be replaced with another group of drugs;
- physiotherapy may include exposure to electromagnetic, ultrasonic and laser waves, which significantly increases the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy;
- laser magnetic therapy has an anti-congestion effect and improves blood microcirculation in the pelvic organs;
- Transrectal prostate massage is the most painful and uncomfortable method of treatment, but at the same time even more effective. It is based on the elimination of inflammatory secretion by squeezing it with the finger;
- darsonvalization;
- drug electrophoresis;
- hormone therapy;
- transurethral electrosurgery. This method of treatment can be used only in the case of complications that, in addition to violations of the process of urination or reproductive function in a man, have led to the onset of sclerosis of the prostate and bladder neck. If, after surgery, a deterioration of the chronic inflammatory process is observed, then in this case, the patient can remove all the remaining gland;
- immunocorrection aims not only to eliminate the infection, but also to completely eliminate its recurrence. This method of treatment means normalizing the lifestyle, which includes an active lifestyle, regular walks, adherence to the daily regime and proper nutrition;
- Spa treatment.
In addition, the treatment prescribed for chronic prostatitis may include a visit to an immunologist and additional special tests. Since the completion of this or that course of therapy does not guarantee the complete destruction of the prostate infection, therefore, there is a possibility that it will recur. To cure chronic prostatitis, the patient must strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations and follow the prescribed course of treatment until the end.