Prostatitis is a formidable disease of the male genital area, which usually affects young men under the age of forty. Although its symptoms - decreased sex drive, difficulty urinating, pain in the groin area - are very painful, men are in no rush to seek medical help.
And the reason for this is the insufficient amount of information about this disease, there are many myths and prejudices about it.
However, the manifestations of prostatitis only get worse with time, so at the first signs of prostatitis it is necessary to contact a qualified urologist.
Causes of prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate. Doctors classify the disease as acute and chronic. If the former is not treated, the inflammation quickly becomes chronic and is fraught with many complications, such as impaired sexual function and even the development of a malignant prostate tumor.
What are the reasons for its occurrence?
Here are just a few of them:
- Sexually transmitted diseases. Often men are carriers of a particular infection, even without knowing it, as the disease is completely asymptomatic. However, this image is very misleading. As soon as the immune system fails, for example, under the influence of a stressful situation, it drives the development of prostatitis. The most common causative agents of the disease are the herpes virus, the fungus of the Candida genus, Escherichia coli and so on.
- Untreated bladder infections. In this case, the infection easily spreads to the nearby prostate.
- Blood stasis in the pelvic region. This can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, irregular sex life. In this case, there is the so-called non-bacterial prostatitis.
- Regular hypothermia, stress, presence of infectious foci, including decayed teeth, in the body.
- Prostatitis can develop as a complication after serious infectious diseases - flu, tonsillitis and others.
The main symptoms of prostatitis
The most common signs of this disease, regardless of the cause that caused it, include:
- decrease in potency;
- pain and difficulty urinating;
- pain of varying severity in the groin and genital area.
Symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis
As mentioned above, the first stage of bacterial prostatitis is acute, lasting no more than 3-5 days, after which it slowly turns into chronic.
It is very important not to miss the first symptoms of the disease:
- Pain in the groin and scrotum;
- Sharp pain during urination;
- Drawing pain after intercourse on the glans of the penis;
- Deterioration of erection, reduced duration of sexual intercourse.
A few days after the appearance of the first symptoms, the pain subsides, men have the misleading impression that the threat has passed. However, this just means that prostatitis is slowly becoming chronic.
Such a course of the disease is characterized by:
- Alternating periods of remission and exacerbation of prostatitis;
- Difficulty urinating, frequent cravings, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder add to the above signs of the disease.
During the period of exacerbation of chronic bacterial prostatitis, patients suffer the same symptoms as in the acute form.
Even seemingly harmless factors can trigger it:
- hypothermia;
- Cold;
- An erection that had no realization;
- Avitaminosis;
- Stress and overwork;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- Constipation;
- Irregular sex life;
- Abuse of tobacco and alcohol.
Symptoms of Non-Bacterial Prostatitis
This disease is also called congestive prostatitis. This is the most dangerous and common type of pathology. Its development is directly related to the way of life of modern man.
Medical researchers compare chronic congestive prostatitis in terms of severity and prevalence with diseases as dangerous as tuberculosis or cancer, because its neglected form is a direct path to prostate cancer.
This form of the disease can be discussed when the inflammation of the prostate was caused not by any microorganisms, but by other factors - a long absence of sexual intercourse, a sedentary lifestyle, regular stressful situations.
Such a conclusion can be drawn from the results of a bacteriological study, which shows the absence of pathogenic microorganisms.
The symptoms of this form of the disease are slightly different from bacterial ones:
- Patients complain of periodic or constant dull pain in the pelvis, lower abdomen, groin, and genitals;
- Sexual dysfunction and problems with urination;
- Depressed mental state of patients
Symptoms of Asymptomatic Chronic Prostatitis
This is a latent form of the disease. As the name implies, it is asymptomatic, that is, there is an inflammatory process in the prostate, but this does not affect the condition of the patient.
Some medical researchers tend to regard this form of pathology as just normal age-related changes in the prostate, which occur due to impaired blood supply to the organ.
This disease is often detected in a patient by accident, for example, during an abdominal operation associated with a completely different diagnosis.
To avoid prostatitis, you need to know its causes.
So, the main measures to prevent prostate inflammation:
- Although the main prostatitis prevention measures, as already mentioned, include regular sexual activity, it is still worthwhile to avoid casual sexual contact or the use of barrier contraceptives is essential. This measure is mandatory, as about 30% of cases of prostate inflammation are associated with sexually transmitted diseases.sex alternative- Masturbation is also welcomed by urologists, as nothing short of complete sexual intercourse improves the blood supply to the prostate.
- Physical activity, active lifestyle. Physical education and sports are useful as a general strengthening measure, but it is worth focusing on exercises that improve blood circulation in the pelvic region. These include running, skating, skiing, etc.
- Regular preventive examinations by a urologist or andrologist, at least once a year.
- Timely treatment of foci of infection in the body, for example, sanitation of the oral cavity.
The diagnosis of prostatitis is complex and multifaceted.
The diagnosis of prostatitis is mainly associated with the identification of the cause of the disease, it includes the following steps:
- Of great importance in clarifying the picture of the disease is a survey of the patient, who should describe his complaints in detail - the location of certain sensations, their duration, with which events the manifestations are associated, after which they began. In addition, at the consultation, the doctor carefully examines the patient's medical record in search of previously transferred diseases, exams and exams. The urologist clarifies the patient's information about sex life, the presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Examination of smear and scraping of the urethra. An increased number of leukocytes on a smear and the presence of pathological microflora on a scraping will inform about the presence of an infection.
- General urine analysis. It helps to identify the presence of infection, its presence is indicated by an increased number of leukocytes (more than 5).
- Ejaculation analysis. Performed to confirm the diagnosis of nonbacterial prostatitis.
- Prostate ultrasound. It allows to see the picture of the disease in the most complete way. It is performed to clarify the diagnosis in acute and chronic inflammation of the prostate, suspected cancer.
Pain and decreased potency - as early signs of prostatitis
Most of the time, doctors have to deal with an already advanced form of the disease, as most men tend to ignore the first alarming bells - groin pain and decreased libido, or the disease itself is asymptomatic for a while. time.
These are the features of male anatomy - in the area of the prostate, blood circulation is difficult, it is a "nutritive medium" for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, a sedentary lifestyle significantly exacerbates this problem. Therefore, the reason for the massive spread of prostatitis among truck drivers and office workers becomes obvious.
One way or another, up to 50% of the entire male population on the globe has already experienced certain symptoms of prostatitis. That's why it's so important to know the first signs of the disease and seek medical help in a timely manner. After all, treating an advanced form of the disease is an expensive and time-consuming undertaking.
Treatment that returns the patient to a full life
Of course, it is much easier to get rid of prostatitis in the early stages than it is to get rid of a neglected disease. However, it is the chronic form that doctors most often have to deal with, and it often requires complex, long-term treatment.
But in any case, first you need to identify the root cause of the pathology - blood stasis and (or) inflammation in the prostate.
Thus, the complex treatment of prostatitis includes:
- Inflammatory processes are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. In addition, drugs are prescribed both in the form of pills and in the form of rectal suppositories. In the complex, infusions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, calendula), which are administered in the form of microclysters, help a lot.
- However, the treatment of prostatitis should not be limited to taking medication, it should aim to restore blood circulation in the prostate area, and this involves a set of physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises. Such measures contribute to better absorption of antibacterials, as they improve the blood supply to the prostate. Doctors usually prescribe for prostatitis: electrophoresis, laser therapy, magnetotherapy;
- Prostate massage. This procedure is useful and effective, but it should not be performed at home, without consulting a doctor, as it has many contraindications, even in the acute phase of the disease.
In summary, we can say that the question of treatment and prevention of prostatitis largely depends on the desire and activity of men themselves. Elementary morning exercises, regular preventive exams by a urologist, a balanced diet - this is the key to male strength and longevity!