Signs of prostatitis in men and its types

One of the most common diseases among men is prostatitis, the ICD-10 code is 41. What type of disease is prostatitis? The spread of the disease is facilitated by a sedentary lifestyle, dependence on cigarettes and alcohol and excessive consumption of fatty and salty foods.

Like most diseases, prostatitis is easier to treat in the early stages. The difficulty is that the inflammation of the gland practically does not manifest itself for a long time. The disease is most often diagnosed in later stages or during a seasonal exacerbation. How to identify signs of prostatitis in men and its symptoms will be discussed in the article below.

What is the prostate

The prostate is a small organ located under the urethra.The importance of this organ can hardly be overestimated, as it is responsible for normal urination and male strength. The shape and size of the prostate resemble a walnut; with age, the gland may increase in size.

The prostate tissue has a glandular and muscular structure, the glands are responsible for the production of hormones and prostate juice and the muscles regulate the size of the urethra lumen.

The likelihood of developing the disease increases with age. According to statistics, the majority of patients suffering from prostate inflammation are men of retirement age.

However, in recent years, the disease has been diagnosed in men aged no more than 30 years. In total, prostatitis of one type or another is present in 30% of the male population.

To avoid the unpleasant consequences of the disease, it is important for men to pay attention to their well-being and not ignore the appearance of alarming signs indicating the presence of a disease.

The best treatment for prostatitis is carried out as early as possible, so it is important to pay attention to the characteristic symptoms of the disease. What symptoms can be used to determine the presence of men's health problems?

Causes of the development of prostatitis

What is prostatitis in men? The prostate is a rather vulnerable organ, several negative aspects can provoke inflammation of the gland. If we talk about the reasons for their appearance, there are two types of diseases: bacterianANDviral.

Bacterial prostatitis, caused by pathogenic bacteria that enter prostate tissue. Most often, microorganisms enter the body along with urine waste or through the circulatory system. The pathology occurs unexpectedly and progresses quickly, the body temperature rises and the man feels severe pain in the groin.

If the patient ignores these symptoms, the outcome can be very unfavorable, even fatal. In chronic bacterial prostatitis, symptoms will be expressed in severe pain during exacerbations.

Infectious (bacterial) prostatitis. The causative agent of the disease in this case is a virus. The most common pathogens are influenza viruses, rubella, cytomegalovirus and papillomavirus. This type of disease is rare and is characterized by fever, joint pain or profuse skin rashes.

Several factors can provoke the development of the disease:

1. Complications of previous illnesses;
2. Hypothermia of the pelvic organs;
3. The presence of chronic infection in the partner;
4. Urethral reflux - if the prostate does not prevent the reverse flow of urine, a bacterial infection enters the surface of the gland and inflammation begins;
5. Inconsistent intimate life. Prolonged abstinence and excessive sexual activity have equally negative effects;
6. Stagnation of blood in the genitourinary system - may appear against the background of hemorrhoids or other diseases;
7. Hormonal imbalance. If the gland produces an insufficient amount of male hormones, muscle tone gradually weakens and erectile dysfunction occurs;
8. Weakened immunity;
9. Regular stress and lack of sleep;
10. The practice of coitus interruptus, the deliberate prolongation of sexual intercourse.

Most often, the first signs of prostatitis are characterized by difficulty urinating and pain in the penis.

Unfortunately, most men prefer to ignore this alarming signal from the body. The visit to the urologist is postponed until later and treatment, at best, is limited to taking pills recommended by a friend or colleague. As a result of this approach, inflammation progresses to the chronic phase.

The painful sensations are not as intense and the man thinks that everything has improved. In fact, the process continues and soon a series of problems in the intimate sphere and regular exacerbations of prostatitis begin.

It becomes more difficult to choose an effective medicine for prostatitis in men: treatment at this stage will cost much more, and therapy will take a long time. Therefore, it is important not to ignore the first signs of the disease: if you experience difficulty urinating or discomfort in the groin area, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Since prostatitis syndromes in men are not always pronounced, it is recommended to regularly check the condition of the gland, at least once a year. A timely visit to a urologist will help avoid unpleasant consequences and complications.

Types of prostatitis

Modern medicine has successfully identified many undeniable signs of prostate inflammation in men. The choice of treatment strategy is determined by the type of disease.

Professionals distinguish two main types of the disease:

1. Acute prostatitis.This type of disease is quite simple to diagnose, as the inflammatory process manifests itself very noticeably and is quite pronounced. The cause of inflammation is the presence of pathogenic flora. The disease can be treated quite successfully with appropriate antibiotics;
2. Chronic prostatitis.When acute inflammation of the gland has not been cured or no therapy has been carried out, the disease takes on a chronic form. The pronounced symptoms of chronic prostatitis in men subside and even those can only be noticed during an exacerbation (most often this happens in spring or autumn).

Often, chronic prostatitis is preceded by the onset of dull pain, but more often the disease develops without any visible symptoms; This course of inflammation is observed in people involved in sedentary work (office workers, drivers).

The cause of inflammation is poor circulation in the genitourinary system, which occurs with a lack of physical activity and prolonged sexual abstinence.Everyone should know what the most common symptoms of chronic prostatitis in men are, as the success of the treatment depends on this.

If there are signs of bacterial prostatitis, expressed in general intoxication of the body, treatment will be based on the use of antibiotics. If the inflammation is caused by blood and lymph stagnation, the main focus will be on adjusting the lifestyle and eliminating concomitant diseases.

Classification of prostatitis symptoms

How does the disease manifest itself? Typically, all unpleasant symptoms that signal the presence of disturbances in the functioning of the prostate gland are divided into three main groups:

1. All types of deviations from the norm observed in the urinary system;
2. Difficulties that arise in the intimate sphere;
3. Severe signs of depression caused by a decrease in the amount of male hormones and sexual impotence.

All of these symptoms can occur in the early stages of gland inflammation. Over time, symptoms will become increasingly pronounced and more serious illnesses may develop in the future.

First signs of inflammation

The most common primary sign of prostatitis is constant pain in the lower abdomen. At the same time, the nature and location of unpleasant sensations can be very diverse. A man feels periodic cutting pains when urinating, but in some cases the pain is felt constantly.

Acute prostatitis occurs more noticeably; The manifestations of this form of the disease often interfere greatly with normal life activities. Exacerbations of the chronic form of the disease occur infrequently, and during the recovery period after treatment, symptoms may disappear completely.

In prostatitis, the pain is usually localized in the groin area. Unpleasant sensations arise not only in the perineum - both the lower back and the lower abdomen can hurt. When urinating and ejaculating, a man feels discomfort in the scrotum, penis and testicles.

Difficulty urinating

One of the most alarming symptoms is problems urinating. The following characteristic signs should alert a man:

1. The need to urinate very frequently;
2. Discomfort caused by insufficient bladder emptying;
3. Unrealistic urge to urinate;
4. The stream during urination has low pressure and is often interrupted.

When the disease is in an advanced stage, prolonged urinary retention can often be observed. This symptom indicates active inflammation of the prostate gland and severe swelling of the tissues may also be observed.

Urine simply does not pass through the urethra. Traces of inflammation can often be seen in the urine. Pathological impurities are in the form of mucous threads, most often they can be seen in morning urine. Often this symptom is the only manifestation of the disease, especially in the case of the chronic form of the disease.

If prostatitis is not treated in time, in most cases, prostate adenoma develops (proliferation of glandular tissue and the formation of nodules and tumors in them).

Urinary incontinence associated with pain are the first signs of prostatitis, so when they appear, you cannot postpone a visit to the urologist. The doctor prescribes several tests (for example, a general PSA blood test for prostatitis).

Intimate problems

Perhaps the most unpleasant symptom of prostatitis in men is sexual dysfunction. This manifestation of the disease usually appears in the phase of actively progressing inflammation. Most often, sexual dysfunction is a manifestation of old inflammation.

The most common symptoms are the following:

1. Flaccid erection. Habitual copulation with a woman becomes impossible. Excitement is short-term, sexual intercourse does not end with ejaculation;
2. Very fast ejaculation. An erection is fine, but ejaculation occurs one to two minutes (or sooner) after insertion of the penis into the vagina;
3. Sensitivity becomes dull, sensations during sexual intercourse become less pronounced;
4. Change in semen odor and color. Inflammation can manifest itself in the form of an unpleasant, pungent odor of semen; patches of yellow or brown pus are often visible;
5. Psychological problems appear. Failures in bed negatively affect the nervous system, sleep is disturbed and well-being worsens.

As a depressed mental state causes stress, patients often experience attacks of causeless aggression and there is often a tendency to physical violence. What to do if irritation and stress constantly remind you of yourself?

In these situations, drug treatment of prostatitis should be carried out simultaneously with observation by a psychologist. For greater effectiveness, a patient with these signs of prostatitis can be prescribed drugs from the antidepressant group.

Sometimes the help of a psychologist may be needed even after treatment for prostatitis has been completed. Often, sluggish chronic prostatitis does not even manifest itself, but becomes the cause of infertility. This form of the disease can only be detected during an examination related to the impossibility of getting pregnant.

The old inflammatory process does not manifest itself externally, but irreversibly changes the composition and structure of the seminal fluid. The number of viable active sperm decreases and their motility becomes insignificant.

General symptoms

Regardless of the existing form of the disease, prostatitis can be diagnosed by several general signs. These symptoms indicate the presence of an inflammatory process. If a chronic form of the disease is present, these symptoms are very mild, but in the acute phase of the disease it is impossible not to notice them.

The list of common symptoms is as follows:

1. Increased body temperature. The more actively the inflammation spreads, the higher the temperature will be. This symptom becomes especially obvious in acute bacterial prostatitis - the thermometer can show numbers from 39 to 40 degrees. This symptom is often accompanied by pain in the groin;
2. Painful headache, constant weakness and apathy;
3. Pain in muscles throughout the body or in the lower back;
4. Chills accompanying the increase in temperature.

An increase in temperature in itself can indicate inflammation of any nature. Sometimes (for example, with sluggish chronic prostatitis) a temperature of 37-38 degrees is observed for a long time. The true cause can only be identified through a complete examination of the body.

Symptoms characteristic of different stages of the disease

Each stage of prostate inflammation is characterized by a set of symptoms. By carefully monitoring the body, a man can notice the body's warning signals in time and begin to treat prostatitis in a timely manner.

There are three main stages of prostatitis:

1. First step.At this stage, inflammation begins to spread throughout the gland tissues. A man periodically feels pain in the perineum, anus and lower back. The urge to urinate becomes more frequent, the process itself is accompanied by burning and pain in the urethra. At the same time, the level of sexual desire decreases and unpleasant sensations accompany ejaculation and secretion.
2. Second stage.If the above symptoms are not met, the disease begins to progress. The size of the inflammation and accompanying swelling decreases, but instead scarring and damage to blood vessels begins. Painful sensations when going to the bathroom become more noticeable, the man feels more and more discomfort, and failures in the intimate sphere occur more and more frequently. It is at this time that the development of concomitant diseases is observed - radiculitis, vegetative-vascular dystonia, heart problems.
3. The third stage of prostatitis is considered chronic.At this stage, the gland becomes covered with scars and degeneration of glandular tissue into muscle tissue is observed. During examination of these patients, necrosis (tissue death) may be detected. The increased size of the gland tissues compresses the urethra and complete emptying of the bladder becomes impossible. The changes can affect not only the urinary system; inflammation often spreads to the kidneys and other organs.

How to treat inflammation? Prostatitis treatment is a rather lengthy process. Along with drug treatment, patients are given a special diet and massages. Gymnastics is also useful for prostatitis, a set of exercises is prepared by a doctor.

Any stage and form of prostatitis threatens a man with serious complications. Prevention of chronic prostatitis is of great importance; medications to maintain men's health are prescribed by the doctor after examination.

The inflammation can spread to neighboring organs, causing infertility and even the development of cancer. Careful attention to your own health, adequate prevention of prostatitis and timely visits to a urologist will help prevent the development of the disease.