Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate that is caused by various infections. It often occurs acutely and is accompanied by an increase in temperature to 37-38⁰ C, pain in the perineum and problems with urination.
Untreated acute prostatitis becomes chronic and this condition is more common. In this case, the symptoms are less pronounced (pain in the lower abdomen, when urinating, sexual disturbances, general weakening of the body) or completely absent. However, the consequences can be very serious. The inflammatory process is directly related to potency problems and is expressed in a decrease in libido, obliteration of orgasm.
A neglected infection dramatically increases the chances of developing complications. In particular, these are diseases such as:
- pyelonephritis;
- cystitis;
- prostatic abscess;
- HPB;
- infertility.
Such consequences can be avoided if you consult a doctor in time. Take care of your health now - and in return you will have excellent health, psychological comfort and increased self-esteem, the quality of sexual relationships.
Causes of prostatitis
This question is relevant not only because many men are faced with this problem, but also because most cannot understand where they got this disease from.
Causes of prostatitis in men:
- Sexually transmitted infections.
- Inflammatory diseases of the urethra caused by conditionally pathogenic flora.
- Sexual arrhythmia is an irregular and unbalanced sex life.
- Physical inactivity is a sedentary lifestyle.
- Urolithiasis disease.
- The presence of foci of chronic infection in the body (chronic tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, proctitis and paraproctitis, etc. ).
- Abuse of alcohol and spicy food.
- Constipation.
- Hypothermia.
- Pathology of the lumbosacral column and spinal cord - due to a violation of the innervation and trophism of the prostate.
Why does prostatitis happen when infected with an STI? The causative agents of genital infections, mainly gonococci, trichomonas, chlamydia, ureaplasma and mycoplasma, initially affect the male urethra, causing venereal urethritis. But, like any living microorganism, these infections actively multiply under favorable conditions for them, which are the mucous membranes of the urethra and the ducts of the prostate.
Obviously, if the patient turned to a urologist or venereologist in time, underwent tests for STDs, revealed the presence of a sexual infection and cured it, then there will be no reason for the occurrence of prostatitis. It will all end with recovery in the previous urethritis stage. But with an advanced form of the disease, with a formal approach to the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, when you try to cure it only by taking broad-spectrum antibiotics in pills and not cured as a result, the microbes penetrate the posterior urethra and prostate, causing inflammation, that is, prostatitis, and is most often at the same time primary-chronic. In this case, it is very easy to prevent the development of prostatitis, absolutely everything depends on the patient himself.
All you need is:
- Seek immediate medical attention at the first sign of discomfort in the urethra
- Pass the urologist-recommended tests for STIs
- Undergo comprehensive treatment of identified sexually transmitted infections
- Do follow-up tests after treatment to determine the presence of a venereal infection not only in the urethra but also in the prostate secretion
- And it is better to undergo medical prophylaxis at the clinic after casual sex even before the onset of STD symptoms and protect yourself and your loved ones from sexually transmitted diseases in general and as a cause of prostatitis in particular.
symptoms of prostatitis
How to recognize or suspect prostatitis for an ordinary person, because its symptoms are very similar to many diseases of the genitourinary system and even of other organs? How does prostatitis manifest itself? What are its first signs and how do they behave as the disease progresses. Let's talk about that in this article.
What other diseases can be confused with prostatitis:
- Sexually transmitted infections (STDs) are the most common situation when a man comes to a venereologist after a casual relationship, thinking he has an STI. And indeed, the prostate was inflamed.
- Urolithiasis can cause similar symptoms, but at the same time it can provoke an inflammatory process in the prostate.
- Cystitis is rare in men, but the symptoms are very similar to prostatitis.
- Pyelonephritis - inflammation of the renal pelvis has some similarity in symptoms to inflammation of the prostate.
- Diseases of the scrotum (epididymitis, orchitis, varicocele) - heaviness and pain in the scrotum can be with these diseases, including prostatitis.
- Diabetes mellitus - patients observe an increase in urination, as in prostate diseases, but there is no slow flow and the volume of urine is normal or even increased.
- Other prostate diseases: cancer and adenoma (benign hyperplasia) of the prostate.
- Urethritis.
- Diseases of the rectum - fissures, hemorrhoids, tumors.
- Diseases of the lumbosacral spine.
In order to make a correct diagnosis, a urologist must not only know the symptoms of prostatitis very well, but also be able to correctly prescribe exams and other diagnostic studies, as well as properly evaluate their results.
So, consider the signs or symptoms of prostatitis:
Group 1 is a pain syndrome. That is, the occurrence of pain in the perineum, groin, lower abdomen, scrotum, penis, rectum, sacrum, coccyx, inner thighs. It may just be aches, pullings, pressure sensations, or sharp, throbbing, severe pains. Sometimes a man will simply complain of some discomfort in these areas, both during urination and outside of it. Often, the pain intensifies when sitting in a chair or in a car for a long time.
In slow chronic prostatitis, the pain may subside after intercourse. If inflammation is strongly expressed in the prostate or large calcifications (stones) have formed in the gland, pain during ejaculation is possible.
Group 2 symptoms - urination disorders. There is an increase in urination, first at night, then throughout the day. The flow of urine becomes sluggish, the volume of each portion decreases, the transparency of the urine decreases, blood may appear. With severe swelling of the prostate or fibrosis of the gland around the urethra, there is a pronounced difficulty in emptying the bladder. A man has to strain, wait a little while to urinate.
Group 3 - violation of sexual function. In the early stage of prostatitis, there is some increase in sexual desire, hyperexcitability and premature ejaculation. Also, due to a decrease in the production of sex hormones, a decrease in libido occurs, an erection falls. A man cannot have sexual relations or, having begun, he cannot end them. But even when ejaculation occurs, orgasm is monotonous or barely felt. If an erection or ejaculation is accompanied by pain, the man himself refuses further contacts, which negatively affects his sexual function in the future due to prolonged abstinence. And this also leads to the progression of congestive prostatitis. A vicious circle arises.
Group 4 - these are general symptoms. There may be an increase in body temperature, fatigue, weakness, irritability, which are associated both with the presence of an inflammatory process and hormonal imbalance, as well as with failures in sexual life. Some patients have hyperhidrosis (high sweating) of the inguinal region, redness of the glans of the penis.
With a sufficiently pronounced inflammatory process in the prostate from the urethra, there may be mucous or purulent secretion.
The clinical picture of each patient with prostatitis is individual. Not all symptom groups are necessarily present and not all can be pronounced. With a chronic process in the prostate, a dull clinic and minor symptoms are observed, but this does not make it the least dangerous for a man's health.
Therefore, if you notice any manifestations of prostatitis above, urgently make an appointment with a urologist. Do not delay in contacting a doctor, because even if the discomfort has passed, it does not mean that the inflammatory process has stopped. It has just entered a latent stage and will gradually harm your health and destroy your prostate.
The best option is a preventive examination every six months by a urologist with diagnostic palpation of the prostate, microscopy of its secretion, ultrasound and blood test for PSA. Thus, you protect yourself from the negative consequences of not only advanced chronic prostatitis, but also adenoma and prostate cancer.
Prostatitis treatment
Modern methods of treating prostatitis include the following varieties:
- drug treatment (prescription of antiviral and antifungal drugs);
- maintenance therapy (prescription of immunostimulant drugs, ingestion of food supplements);
- urological massage (prostate massage);
- LOD-therapy (a method that uses low pressure to restore potency);
- a set of special physical exercises for relaxation;
- doctor's recommendations on nutrition, lifestyle, sexual intercourse.
In the treatment, I use the best methods of the main medical centers and my own developments, which give excellent results.
Congestive (congestive) prostatitis
The treatment of congestive prostatitis presents some difficulties, as the causes of this type of inflammation of the prostate are the lifestyle and sexual activity of this man. Thus, only the patient himself, and not the doctor, can directly influence these processes. But even in such a difficult situation, patients can be helped. For the treatment of congestive or congestive prostatitis, a special complex therapy has been developed that allows you to remove the effects of blood stagnation in the prostatic venous plexus and the secretion of the prostate in its ducts and acini.
Treatment of congestive prostatitis
After a preliminary diagnosis, which includes:
- Analysis of prostate secretion for microscopy, STDs, cultures
- Blood test for PSA
- General urine and blood tests
- blood chemistry
- Prostate ultrasound, your venous plexus
- kidney ultrasound
A diagnosis of chronic congestive prostatitis is established, a drug treatment complex and necessary procedures are determined, which include:
- Massage of the prostate through the rectum is necessary to remove plugs of leukocytes, mucus, and congestive inflammatory secretions from the prostate gland from the ducts of the gland. It is the main treatment procedure that also improves blood flow in the prostate, which serves as a factor in fighting blood stasis.
The massage is performed by a urologist. Session duration from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Quantity from 10 per course. The cost is 600 rubles.
Even if the patient does not have the opportunity to complete the full treatment for congestive prostatitis, he should participate in at least 10 massage sessions. Taking medication alone does not give the desired effect in treating prostate congestion.
- Prostate vibromassage is a very good and effective procedure for the treatment of congestive prostatitis. With the help of a special device that creates vibration, a thermal and magnetic field, the blood supply to the gland improves, the attachment of leukocyte plugs to the walls of the prostatic ducts is weakened, which facilitates their removal during subsequent massage with the fingers. It is usually done right before a massage session.
- Magnetic laser therapy improves blood flow and gland trophism, removes products of inflammation, relieves swelling. Many patients feel the effect of this in the first few days of treatment in the form of a decrease in pain and a feeling of tension in the prostate area.
This treatment for congestive prostatitis has been established for a long time and has been used successfully for many years, being constantly updated, including new methods and modern approaches. Chronic congestive prostatitis can and should be treated, achieving long-term remission and significantly improving the quality of life of modern man.
HPB
Prostate adenoma, or as it is now commonly called, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic disease that mostly occurs in older men, at least after age 50. After 70 years, more than 50% of men already have complications from this disease. Although there are cases of its earlier development.
Prostate adenoma is accompanied by the growth of its glandular and stromal (connective) tissue. As a result, nodules form in the thickness of the gland, which, when they reach a large size, begin to compress the surrounding tissues - the bladder, urethra, rectum and sometimes the ureters, disrupting the normal functioning of these organs.
Reasons for the development of prostate adenoma
The development of prostate adenoma is associated with hormonal imbalance in increasingly older men, that is, a kind of manifestation of "male menopause". Over the years, there is a decrease in the production of the main male hormone testosterone by the testes and an increase in the content of the female hormone estradiol (especially in men with high fat mass). A direct negative effect of female hormones on the prostate has been proven, as well as an increase in the production of dihydrotestosterone in the prostate cells, which causes the active growth of its tissue and the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia, i. e. adenoma.
The reasons that lead to the development and progression of BPH can also include:
- hypodynamia - a sedentary lifestyle
- alcohol abuse and smoking
- fatty foods, high in cholesterol, spicy, spicy
- low sexual activity
Chronic prostatitis, in principle, is not the cause of prostate adenoma, but with a simultaneous course, it contributes to more pronounced symptoms and the rapid development of complications of prostate hyperplasia.
Symptoms of Prostate Adenoma
Symptoms of prostate adenoma depend on the stage of the disease, its decompensation, the development of complications and the direction of tumor growth.
- First, there are signs of difficulty urinating, a slow flow of urine, constant urges of up to 15-20 a day, nocturia - nocturnal urination.
- Then, as the bladder muscles weaken, pain in the lower abdomen worries, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, urine is excreted in portions, drop by drop, you have to strain the abdominal muscles. It ends with the complete loss of the detrusor - the bladder muscles that expel urine.
- When combined with chronic prostatitis, there is pain in the perineum, rectum, fever, secretion of mucus and pus from the urethra.
- Urine changes color, becomes cloudy, drops of blood may be present.
- Sexual function is impaired.
- With the growth of the prostate adenoma towards the bladder triangle formed by the mouths of the ureters and the urethra, blockage of the ureters and a violation of the flow of urine from the kidneys occurs, which ends with a faster development of chronic kidney disease, failure and urolithiasis.
The main complications of prostate adenoma:
- Acute urinary retention - requires emergency bladder catheterization.
- As a result of stagnation of urine, urolithiasis and inflammation of the kidneys (pyelonephritis), bladder (cystitis) and urethra develop.
- The appearance of blood in the urine.
Chronic kidney failure is a formidable complication that can lead to death.
Prostate adenoma treatment
The clinic treats prostate adenoma without surgery i. e. drug therapy which is most effective for stage 1 and sometimes 2 benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Surgical treatment of prostate adenoma is performed with decompensation, a large volume of prostate adenoma growth towards the bladder triangle. It comes in different types:
- from open transvesical adenomectomy - removal of the tumor through the bladder
- ending with minimally invasive methods, when through the urethra with the aid of an electric scalpel, radio wave and laser techniques, the urethra is freed from adenoma tissue or hyperplastic areas of the prostate are completely removed.
In order not to get that, at the first visit to the urologist, an operation for prostate adenoma is immediately offered, it is necessary to have an annual examination of the prostate, ultrasound and a blood test for PSA.
prostate massage
One of the most common and very effective treatment and diagnostic procedures in urology and venereology is prostate (prostate) massage. This manipulation has long been used by urologists and is familiar to almost all patients with diseases of the prostate, seminal vesicles and STIs.
Why is prostate massage used?
Prostate massage can be used in two cases:
for diagnostic purposes to:
- Obtaining prostate secretion for microscopic analysis
- Determination of the presence of sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, ureaplasmas, mycoplasmas, gonorrhea, etc. ) in the prostate by PCR, FIP and others
- Take material for culture with determination of microflora and sensitivity to antibiotics
- Obtaining subjective data on pain, density, size of the gland - the so-called diagnostic palpation of the prostate
for therapeutic purposes:
- to free the gland ducts of leukocyte plugs and mucus
- to improve blood circulation in the prostate, which leads to better penetration of drugs into its tissue and the elimination of congestion
When is prostate massage prescribed?
Prostate massage is prescribed for a variety of men's health issues, for example:
- chronic bacterial and abacterial prostatitis
- chronic vesiculitis - massage the prostate and seminal vesicles
- chronic, slow urethritis
- prostatitis caused by genital infections
- erectile dysfunction and infertility associated with prostate disease
- for preventive purposes in the treatment of end-stage STDs
Prostate massage is not performed in the presence of acute purulent inflammation of Organs genitals!
How is prostate massage performed?
There are several classic prostate massage positions.
The most common is the knee-elbow position, when the patient lies on the couch on his knees and his arms bent at the elbow joints, bent at the waist.
In diseases of the spine, old age, heavy body weight, it is possible to position on the left side with the legs bent at the knees, brought to the stomach.
When massaging the seminal vesicles, the patient stands with his feet on the couch with his back to the doctor and in a semi-crouching position.
During prostate massage, the urologist's index finger is inserted into the patient's rectum and begins to alternately massage the right and left lobe of the prostate, ending at the interlobar sulcus (isthmus). During this manipulation, which lasts from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, the doctor receives information about the pain of the gland, its size, consistency, surface, severity of the groove, and can take the secret of the prostate for analysis.
During prostate massage, there may be some discomfort, urge to urinate, feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen, penis. With severe pain, the massage is stopped.
It is very important that this procedure is performed by qualified experienced urologists or venereologists so as not to harm the man and not injure the prostate.
Prostate Vibromassage
Prostate Vibromassage - the use of vibration, magnetic field and heating in the treatment of chronic prostatitis. This type of physical therapy improves blood flow and nutrition to the prostate tissue. Vibromassage helps to remove leukocyte plugs from the ducts of the gland. With calculous prostatitis - one of the alternatives to finger massage. Session duration is 10 to 20 minutes.
prevention of prostatitis
Prevention of prostatitis consists of avoiding the predisposing factors that cause prostatitis, as well as:
- Try not to freeze for a long time, if you have a long stay in a cold room or on the street, take care of appropriate clothing.
- For constipation, use laxatives and don't torture yourself.
- If you have a sedentary job, take a "gym break" every hour (or at least get up and walk).
- Try to have a regular sex life, as this is fully compatible with a person's normal lifestyle and allows you to avoid many problems, not just prostatitis.
- Try to eat well and regularly, maintain an active lifestyle, don't get sick, and finally, just think about your health once in a while.
And also don't forget to visit a urologist regularly.