The problem of chronic prostatitis affects not only older men, but also young people who are just starting to have sex. Prostate inflammation in the first few months can manifest itself as a slight burning and itching sensation, which the patient does not attach importance to. But when inflammation becomes part of everyday life, it can no longer be ignored. Exhausting pain, fatigue and decline in sexual activity are chronic companions of prostatitis.
What is chronic prostatitis?
Prostatitis is one of the most common diseases of the genitourinary system in middle-aged and elderly men. Treatment of chronic prostatitis consists of minimizing symptoms and achieving a state in which prostatitis does not affect reproductive function.
Prostatitis is characterized by inflammation of the prostate: an important organ of the reproductive system located at the top of the beginning of the urethra. When healthy, the prostate is responsible for producing a secretion that keeps sperm alive and creates an environment for them to survive until ejaculation. In chronic prostatitis, this function is impaired in an average of 70% of cases, which is why the majority of sperm become slow and unviable. The chances of successful fertilization decrease significantly, even in the absence of other pronounced problems in the reproductive system. Complex treatment is required.
Chronic prostatitis develops in three forms:
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis.Painful symptoms completely subside or return in full force. Even at its peak, the inflammation does not reach the intensity of acute prostatitis. Prostate irritation is caused by a third factor - pathogenic bacteria. Such prostatitis can disappear without diagnosis and comprehensive treatment: for example, if a man has a cold or a seasonal illness at the same time as the inflammation. Antibiotics will suppress the activity of bacterial colonies and the disease will regress. But the next time the immune system fails, chronic prostatitis will return and you will have to undergo treatment.
- Chronic bacterial prostatitis.According to research, chronic bacterial prostatitis remains one of the most common forms in men under 50 years of age. The disease usually begins with a bacterial invasion: bacteria develop activity against a background of weakened immunity and are defeated. The consequence is the depletion of the body's resources, which is why inflammation returns in the future without the participation of bacteria. Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is characterized by long phases with short, barely noticeable remission. A man with bacterial prostatitis may be convinced that the disease is constantly getting worse. The burning sensation is more intense than in bacterial forms - due to the fact that the disease does not allow you to relax and take a break from the pain. Treatment is carried out using minimally invasive means. Advanced chronic prostatitis of a non-bacterial nature is treated in the surgeon's office.
- Asymptomatic (asymptomatic) chronic prostatitis.This form of prostatitis does not cause suffering to men, but is dangerous as a hidden threat. Asymptomatic prostatitis occurs without pronounced symptoms. Prostate burning, itching, moisture release and other signs of inflammation do not appear. At the same time, the inflammatory process affects reproductive function, which is why a man may consider himself infertile. Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis can only be detected through laboratory diagnosis. Tests will show increased bacterial activity, which is associated with the development of prostatitis in men. In combination with the release of white blood cells during urination, this will allow for a diagnosis. Attention: a preventive exam carried out by a urologist once a year may not be enough. Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis also has phases of activity, so it can be difficult to diagnose.
- Chronic granulomatous prostatitis.The rarest form of the disease, it develops as a side effect of drug treatment for other diseases or long-term radiation. The inflammatory process in this case is only a secondary symptom. Painful sensations are associated with the gradual destruction of prostate tissue, which is replaced by connective tissue. The degradation of the organ leads to the weakening of prostate function until it stops completely. If left untreated, the process becomes irreversible.
Although chronic prostatitis is qualitatively different from the acute form of the disease, with complications it can turn into an acute phase, dangerous for the reproductive system. Acute pain with a burning sensation in the prostate, high temperature, decreased immunity are signs that treatment for chronic prostatitis will have to be postponed. Call an ambulance or go to the hospital. First you need to stop the acute inflammatory process.
Causes
The impetus for the development of chronic prostatitis is usually a combination of factors, including the state of the body, the environment and heredity. If acute prostatitis can be prevented, the development of chronic prostatitis will not be so simple. Men who are naturally prone to prostate disease will experience an exacerbation of the disease in situations that do not affect men with more favorable heredity.
If you want to reduce your risk of developing chronic prostatitis, pay more attention to your health. Prostatitis is a disease that occurs against a background of weakness in the body. Among the common causes of chronic prostatitis:
- Sexual infections.They directly affect the prostate or weaken the immune system to the point that the slightest irritation causes an inflammatory process. Infections are transmitted sexually through unprotected contact. Carriers may not know they are infected: some infections appear only in men, although they are transmitted by women, and vice versa. The best preventive measure is hygienic contraceptives. Urologists recommend using condoms even during non-penetrative sex - for example, during prostate stimulation.
- Passive lifestyle.Lack of physical activity causes chronic circulatory problems not only in the prostate, but throughout the pelvic region. If you spend most of the day sitting at your desk, don't forget to get up and stretch at least once every 1-2 hours. Light exercise, a walk around the office, or stretching will restore normal blood circulation. On weekends, you can compensate for your working week with long walks or sports activities.
- Incomplete sexual intercourse, artificial prolongation of excitement or prolonged abstinence.The male reproductive system requires regular discharge. This is how sperm are renewed and, thanks to this, all organs are permanently ready for the reproductive process. What happens if a man delays or regularly forbids himself from reaching orgasm? The body accumulates more sperm and by-products than it needs. The prostate also suffers: it produces unnecessary secretions that have nowhere to direct them. If the situation repeats itself constantly, the result may be chronic prostatitis.
- Regular hypothermia.It is believed that it is beneficial for men to freeze completely - this strengthens the body. In fact, by becoming hypothermic when walking, riding a motorcycle or skiing, a person overloads his immune system. It is more difficult for the body to deal with bacterial activity and the vulnerability of the prostate increases many times over. Under these conditions, it is easy to become a carrier of bacterial prostatitis, which will then turn into a non-bacterial or asymptomatic form.
- Chronic lack of sleep, depression, stress.Psychological factors combined with fatigue deplete the immune system and expose the body to an entire group of chronic diseases. A man who does not get enough rest at night or is stressed after work is 2 to 3 times more likely to get prostatitis than a man who sleeps 8 to 10 hours a day and rests well with his family. At the first manifestations of the disease, it is important not to blame yourself and not give in to dark thoughts: they will only worsen the condition. Go to the doctor immediately - and you will get rid of, if not the disease itself, then the unpleasant symptoms.
- Disorders of hormonal activity.In chronic prostatitis, prostate functions are impaired. Hormones are responsible for regulating the prostate and coordinating secretion with the functioning of the reproductive system. Even a slight hormonal imbalance can cause inflammation. In this case, the treatment of chronic prostatitis must be complemented with hormonal therapy.
- Neglect of personal hygiene rules.Caution: once is enough for bacteria to settle in the tissues. You may not realize the consequences of not following personal care rules for years, while the immune system protects the body against bacterial invasions. But an exacerbation against the background of a seasonal illness is enough for the problem of chronic prostatitis to enter a man's life for many months.
The development of chronic prostatitis is often accompanied by a weakened immune system, improper diet and lack of vitamins and minerals in the body. A man who leads a healthy lifestyle is at less risk of developing chronic prostatitis, even with a high genetic predisposition.
How to treat chronic prostatitis in men and what to do
If you suspect the development of chronic prostatitis, it is necessary to schedule a complete examination with a urologist. In some cases, the doctor makes the diagnosis during the first consultation, based on the nature of the disease and the patient's indications. If prostatitis has not manifested itself before, the urologist will prescribe diagnostic procedures: ultrasound examination of the prostate, urodynamic examination. Laboratory tests include analysis of urine, ejaculate, urethral swab, and prostate secretion.
After clarifying the diagnosis, the doctor will formulate a treatment. There is no single correct method of treating chronic prostatitis. Methods are selected depending on the type of chronic prostatitis, medical history and personal characteristics of the course of the disease.
Drug treatment
Prescribed in most cases for home treatment; if prostatitis is accompanied by acute exacerbations, the man may be admitted to the hospital. In bacterial forms of prostatitis, antibiotics are selected depending on the group of bacteria - identified during laboratory tests. Penicillins and fluoroquinolones remain the most popular antibacterial drugs in the treatment of chronic prostatitis of a bacterial nature.
For any form of chronic prostatitis, drugs from the alpha-blocker group are prescribed. They relieve swelling, eliminating the sensation of pressure and unpleasant itching that prostatitis causes. These drugs also have a powerful analgesic effect: the man stops feeling pain and burning, physical activity and night rest are normalized. Prostatitis occurs without pain or physical exhaustion.
When chronic prostatitis passes into an acute form, potent non-steroidal medications are prescribed. They act directly on the inflammatory process and alleviate symptoms, but do not treat the root cause of the disease.
Surgical methods
In recent years, doctors have fewer and fewer men with signs of chronic prostatitis enrolled in the surgeon's office. The reason is the mixed effect of surgical manipulations and a long recovery period. Prostatitis stops, but the patient suffers side effects, including impotence. At the same time, there are forms of chronic prostatitis in which surgical intervention is indispensable.
Transurethral prostate resection (TUR) is the partial or complete removal of prostate tissue to relieve stress on the urinary system. With partial resection, the prostate maintains all functions, while the inflammatory process disappears irreversibly and prostatitis does not return. The operation is performed without opening, regardless of the extent of the inflammation. The resectoscope is aimed at the inflamed organ without affecting other pelvic organs.
Adenomectomy is the removal of a gland for prostatitis in an "open" way, also known as prostatectomy. An advanced inflammatory process makes it impossible to reach the inflamed gland without opening it. In this case, conventional surgical instruments are used to completely remove the prostate. This is an extreme measure, prescribed only when other methods of treatment are impossible and there is a danger to the body. After a long period of rehabilitation, the man returns to a normal lifestyle with unlimited physical activity. Adenomectomy always ends in complete impotence. Prostatitis never recurs.
Minimally invasive treatment methods
In modern medicine, there are many ways to treat prostatitis in chronic forms that do not require surgical intervention. New techniques have proven to be more effective than traditional surgery, which is why they are used everywhere. Official medicine recognizes the following treatment methods:
- Exposure to ultrasonic waves.Prostatitis only affects the prostate, so UV treatment concentrates radiation on that organ. Regular procedures reduce symptoms, relieve swelling and pain. The process is not accompanied by pain, does not cause irritation and is harmless to the genitourinary system.
- Thermal treatment.Prostatitis and its manifestations can be reduced to "no" by microwave thermotherapy. High temperatures are applied directly to the prostate, causing it to shrink in size. The method is not used if prostatitis has entered the acute phase: in this case, heating aggravates the condition.
- Cryodestruction.Painless partial removal of inflamed glandular tissue with liquid nitrogen with minimal recovery period. Chronic prostatitis completely disappears if antibacterial treatment is carried out in parallel with strengthening the immune system. Reproductive function is not affected, prostatitis has minimal chances of returning.
- Inductotherapy.Complex treatment with lasers and a magnetic field normalizes blood circulation, triggers regeneration processes and relieves pain caused by inflammation. The technique in the case of prostatitis has an auxiliary effect: inductotherapy enhances the effect of medications by one and a half to two times, but without medications it gives short-term results.
- Laser processing.If chronic prostatitis is accompanied by long phases of exacerbation, laser therapy is prescribed. The laser evaporates excess moisture, preventing the growth of the area damaged by prostatitis tissue. The treatment has a stimulating effect: the body's cells are activated, natural defenses are awakened and tissue regeneration occurs.
One of the new methods is mechanical expansion of the urethral walls. This method does not treat chronic prostatitis, but it contributes to the almost complete disappearance of its symptoms. Reducing the contact area promotes faster healing and prevents the spread of the injury. To increase the space between the walls of the urethra, a catheter with an inflating balloon (balloon dilation) or a cylindrical polymer structure (stent) is inserted. Methods can be combined to achieve the desired result. The technique is not used if prostatitis has reached the acute stage.
How to treat
If you suspect prostatitis, first consult a doctor. Only based on tests will the urologist be able to confirm the chronicity of the disease and prescribe treatment. Signs of prostate inflammation are similar to other diseases of the pelvic organs, so you should not self-medicate.
After diagnosis, follow your doctor's recommendations and have regular checkups with a urologist. Prostatitis can be treated with care and patience: do not neglect hygiene procedures in the acute phases of the disease, take medications every hour and the disease will regress.
If prostatitis causes a lot of suffering, ask your doctor for a referral for prostate massage or recommend a private clinic that offers this service. Massage enhances the effect of the treatment. After the first session, you will notice that prostatitis is felt less acutely: massage movements relax the pelvic organs, bring relief and trigger natural tissue restoration processes. The chronic nature of prostatitis will significantly decrease: signs of inflammation will bother you less often.
Men suffering from prostatitis should abandon traditional medicine for the entire duration of treatment. Decoctions, poultices, compresses and other folk remedies do not treat prostatitis in specific forms. They can relieve discomfort or worsen the inflammatory process overnight.
The same applies to self-prescribed medications. Prostatitis is treated with medications selected after comprehensive laboratory tests. A random remedy will not produce the desired effect, even if it has helped hundreds of thousands of men with prostatitis - simply because you are in a different situation. The dosage, duration and even methods of using medications for chronic prostatitis are selected individually. If you are offered to buy a medicine that can treat prostatitis in any way, regardless of the cause, you should know: this is false. Follow your doctor's recommendations and stay healthy!