Symptoms of chronic prostatitis are often mild and treatment is not carried out in the initial stages. However, the problem can be treated if you take it seriously.
Which
Many patients learn about chronic prostatitis when they see a doctor for a completely different reason. Meanwhile, this disease is very dangerous and is a long-term inflammatory process that occurs in the prostate gland. If left untreated, serious complications can occur: impotence, infertility, cystitis, prostate cysts, adenomas and prostate cancer.
The disease has several forms:
acute bacterial prostatitis caused by the penetration of infectious pathogens into the prostate gland. Typical pain in the lower abdomen and when urinating;
chronic bacterial prostatitis, which, together with the clinical picture of the acute form of the pathology, is accompanied by the presence of bacteria and an increased level of leukocytes in the urine and prostatic secretions;
chronic prostatitis, which is a consequence of the previous bacterial form of the disease, with ineffective treatment or its absence;
asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, which is characterized by the absence of symptoms, but is manifested during laboratory diagnostic methods.
In more than 90% of cases of the disease, there is non-bacterial chronic prostatitis, which is asymptomatic, which leads to delayed treatment.
Is it possible to cure
The diagnosis itself indicates that the disease has been progressing in the body for a long time. It is often difficult for men to consult a doctor with such an urgent problem until the situation becomes critical. The sooner a man consults a doctor (at the first signs of ill health), the more effective the treatment will be and the more likely he will be completely cured of the disease. In its advanced form, chronic prostatitis is almost impossible to cure, but with proper and regular treatment, the symptoms will be less pronounced. Therefore, timely consultation with a doctor is very important.
Cause
The disease occurs in men between the ages of 20 and 50 and depends on several prerequisites:
Infectious pathogens. They enter the prostate gland in several ways:
ascending (along the urethra);
descending (through infected urine);
lymphogenic (via lymph channels);
hematogenous (through the blood).
Examples of pathogenic microflora that cause the bacterial form of prostatitis are staphylococci, Escherichia coli, enterococci, Proteus, viral, fungal, parasitic pathogens, as well as chlamydia, gonococcus, gardnerella and others.
Disturbance of normal blood circulation in the pelvic organs. This can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work (managers, office workers) and improper nutrition. As a result, congestion and swelling occur in the tissues of the prostate gland, and incomplete emptying of secretions from the organ cavity is observed. All this leads to partial or complete dysfunction of the gland.
Prolonged sexual abstinence or interrupted sexual intercourse. These activities also provoke inflammatory processes in the prostate gland.
Accompanying diseases. First of all, this applies to pathologies of a urological nature: cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, untreated acute prostatitis. However, the cause of chronic prostatitis can also be other diseases: chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, etc.
Frequent and long-term stay in cold, high ambient temperature or high humidity, constant psycho-emotional stress.
Symptoms
The clinical picture of chronic prostatitis is poorly expressed in the initial stage. The man usually does not experience discomfort or does not pay attention to the appearance of signs of the disease if they do not interfere with his normal lifestyle. Over time, the general condition worsens and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
The appearance of pain in the perineum, genitals, groin. The pain can be weak, aching or quite strong during urination, defecation, after sexual intercourse and during ejaculation. The pain syndrome often spreads to the sacrum, anus, scrotum and testicles.
Disturbances during urination and defecation. In the first case, the process is characterized by frequent and painful urges and a burning sensation in the urethra. The presence of thread-like formations can be observed in the urine. During defecation, discharge from the urethra is possible, which indicates insufficient tone of the prostate.
Disorders of sexual functions. In men with chronic prostatitis, there is a decrease in libido, an unstable erection or its absence, pain during and after sexual intercourse, hemospermia and infertility.
Bad sleep, irritability, increased nervousness, fatigue, depression.
Increased body temperature. It can be observed during the aggravation of the disease and has minor deviations from the norm.
Symptoms may not appear all at once, but may be constant.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic tests make it possible to refute or confirm a suspected diagnosis, determine what type of disease it is and how it can be cured.
%20and%20inflamed%20(right).jpg)
The main diagnostic procedures are:
general urinalysis;
analysis of prostate secretion for the presence/absence of pathogenic microflora, as well as to determine the deviation of physiological parameters from normal values (increased number of leukocytes, etc. );
bacteriological culture of urine and taking a smear from the urethra;
three glasses of urine samples to determine the localization of inflammation;
analysis to identify pathogens of genital tract infections;
Ultrasound of the prostate;
examination of spermogram data, MAR test (for reproductive disorders);
urodynamic, endoscopic examinations;
determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
The answer to the question of treatment of chronic prostatitis depends on the severity and type of pathology. The disease requires an integrated approach to its elimination or stable relief of symptoms.
Drug treatment
This includes taking drugs from the following groups:
Antibiotics, which are necessarily prescribed during the diagnosis of the bacterial form of the pathology. However, such therapy is also indicated for non-bacterial chronic prostatitis if a lasting positive effect is observed. Medicines belonging to the group of penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones must be taken strictly according to the doctor's instructions for at least two weeks.
Antispasmodics that help eliminate painful spasms in the perineum.
Anti-inflammatory, pain reliever.
Alpha1 blockers, used to reduce prostatic hypertonia and normalize motility.
Immunostimulating drugs.
The medication regimen is selected individually, according to the characteristics of the diagnosis and the intolerance of individual drugs (if any).
It is not a drug treatment
In this case, the positive effect of the therapy is achieved by a physical effect of a different nature on the diseased area. Patients can be prescribed:
Prostate massage. It activates the complete evacuation of secretions from the prostate gland, improves blood circulation, and normalizes the tone of the organ. Massage with antibiotics is particularly effective in the treatment of bacterial chronic prostatitis. However, there are contraindications for its use if the patient is diagnosed with:
acute bacterial prostatitis;
concomitant diseases of the gonads (vesiculitis, cooperitis);
the presence of stones in the prostate gland;
prostate cysts;
BPH;
organ cancer or suspected cancer;
prostate abscess;
hemorrhoids, rectal fissures and other disorders.
Electrophoresis. The physiotherapy procedure uses a small electric current (up to 50 μA) to have a therapeutic effect on the pathological area. In this way, they stimulate recovery reactions, relieve pain and optimize blood flow in the tissues of the gland. Electrophoresis promotes the deep penetration of antibiotics into the structures of the prostate, thereby increasing the effectiveness of their action.
Ultrasound. The method is widely used in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, as it has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, restores sexual function, and relieves pain. Prostate tumors are successfully treated with ultrasound.
Ultraphonophoresis is the use of ultrasound therapy together with drugs. This method allows drugs to penetrate into the deep layers of the affected organ, where they work most effectively.
Magnetotherapy. The physiotherapy procedure has a comprehensive restorative effect on the urinary system, improves metabolic processes and neurogeneration.
Laser magnet therapy. Laser exposure also effectively treats the manifestations of the disease, eliminating the risk of possible complications.
Exposure to high-frequency alternating magnetic field of inductometry.
Drops into the urethra, mud therapy, therapeutic enema, hot bath.
Physiotherapy, together with drug treatment, makes it possible to achieve a lasting therapeutic effect and, in most cases, to completely overcome the disease in the initial stage.
Surgical intervention
It is recommended in cases where other methods cannot help the patient.
Prostatectomy is the partial or complete removal of the prostate gland while maintaining erectile function.
Transurethral resection (TUR) is an operation to excise or remove overgrown glandular tissue. It is prescribed for adenoma or prostate cancer.
Laser surgery. The operation involves the removal of the affected organ tissue using a laser beam. In this case, the blood vessels are "closed", eliminating bleeding.
Drainage of the prostate abscess. This operation allows the removal of pus from the gland cavity with the help of a rubber drain inserted through the perineum or rectum by cutting the skin tissue.
Transurethral incision of the prostate. During the operation, several incisions are made in the prostate to relieve the pressure of the affected organ on the urethra and restore urination.
After the surgical intervention, the patient requires rehabilitation, the duration of which varies from 2-3 days to several months, depending on the type of surgery used.
Folk remedies
Medicinal plants are also effective drugs in the complex therapy of chronic prostatitis. For this purpose, tinctures, decoctions, food mixtures or ointments are used, which include:
pumpkin seeds;
poplar bark;
hazelnut leaves and bark;
chestnut shell;
parsley;
honey, propolis;
Kalanchoe etc.
Regular use of medicinal herbs helps eliminate unpleasant symptoms, restore damaged functions and has a long-term preventive effect.
Chronic prostatitis is a disease that requires attention at its first signs in order to eliminate dangerous complications and treat them in time.