Symptoms of chronic prostatitis are often mild, and treatment is not carried out in the early stages. However, the problem can be overcome if you take it seriously.
What is this
Many patients learn about chronic prostatitis when they visit the 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 may occur: impotence, infertility, vesiculitis, prostate cysts, adenomas and prostate cancer.
There are several forms of the disease:
acute bacterial prostatitis, caused by the penetration of infectious pathogens into the prostate gland. Characterized by regular pain in the lower abdomen and during urination;
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 increase in the level of leukocytes in the urine and prostate secretions;
chronic prostatitis, which is the result of a previous bacterial form of the disease with ineffective treatment or its absence;
asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, which is characterized by the absence of any symptoms, but manifests itself during laboratory diagnostic methods.
More than 90% of cases of this disease contribute to non-bacterial chronic prostatitis, which does not show symptoms, which leads to a delay in treatment.
Is it possible to cure
The diagnosis itself indicates that the disease has been developing in the body for a long time. It is often difficult for men to see a doctor for problems so urgent that the situation becomes critical. Meanwhile, the sooner a man seeks medical help (at the first signs of ill health), the more effective the treatment and the higher the chances of completely getting rid of the disease. In its advanced form, chronic prostatitis is almost impossible to cure, but with proper and regular therapy, the symptoms will be less noticeable. That is why timely consultation with a doctor is very important.
Cause
This disease occurs in men aged 20 to 50 years and depends on several prerequisites:
Infectious pathogens. They enter the prostate gland in several ways:
ascending (along the urethra);
descending (through infected urine);
lymphogenous (via lymphatic channels);
hematogenous (through the blood).
Examples of pathogenic microflora that cause the bacterial form of prostatitis are staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, enterococcus, Proteus, viral pathogens, fungi, parasites, as well as chlamydia, gonococcus, gardnerella and others.
Disruption of normal blood circulation in the pelvic organs. This may be due to a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work (drivers, office workers), and poor nutrition. As a result, congestion and swelling occur in the tissue of the prostate gland, and incomplete removal 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. This action also triggers an inflammatory process in the prostate gland.
Accompanying diseases. First of all, this concerns 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 prolonged stays in the cold, in conditions of high ambient temperature or high humidity, constant psycho-emotional stress.
symptoms
The clinical picture of chronic prostatitis is poorly expressed in the early stages. A man, as a rule, does not experience any discomfort or does not pay attention to the appearance of signs of the disease if they do not interfere with leading a 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. Often the pain syndrome spreads to the sacrum, anus, scrotum, and testicles.
Disturbance during urination and defecation. In the first case, the process is characterized by frequent and painful urges and burning in the urethra. The presence of thread-like formations in the urine is observed. During defecation, discharge from the urethra is possible, which indicates an insufficient tone of the prostate gland.
Sexual dysfunction. In men suffering from chronic prostatitis, there is a decrease in libido, unstable erection or its absence, pain during and after sexual intercourse, hemospermia, and infertility.
Poor sleep, irritability, increased anxiety, fatigue, depression.
Increased body temperature. It can be observed during the exacerbation of the disease and has a small deviation from the norm.
Symptoms may not appear all at once, but may persist.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic studies allow to deny or confirm the presumptive diagnosis, determine the type of the disease and how it can be cured.
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The main diagnostic procedures are:
general urine analysis;
analysis of prostate secretions 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 glass urine samples to determine the localization of inflammation;
analysis to identify pathogens of genital tract infections;
Ultrasound of the prostate gland;
study of spermogram data, MAR test (for reproductive abnormalities);
urodynamic examination, endoscopic;
determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
The answer to the question of how to treat chronic prostatitis depends on the severity of the pathology and its type. This disease requires an integrated approach to eliminate it or relieve stable symptoms.
Drug treatment
It involves taking drugs from the following groups:
Antibiotics, which must be prescribed when diagnosing a form of bacterial pathology. However, such therapy can also be indicated for non-bacterial chronic prostatitis if a persistent positive effect is observed. Drugs from the group of penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones are taken according to the doctor's instructions for at least two weeks.
An antispasmodic that helps relieve painful spasms in the perineum.
Anti-inflammatory, pain reliever.
Alpha1 blockers are used to reduce prostate hypertonicity and normalize motility.
Immunostimulating drugs.
The drug regimen is selected individually according to the characteristics of the diagnosis and intolerance to individual drugs (if any).
Treatment is not medicine
In this case, the positive effect of therapy is achieved by different physical influences on the diseased area. Patients can be prescribed:
Prostate massage. It activates the full removal of secretions from the prostate gland, improves blood circulation, and normalizes the tone of the organ. Massage along with antibiotics is very effective in treating chronic bacterial prostatitis. However, there are contraindications to 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 cyst;
BPH;
organ cancer or suspicion;
prostate abscess;
hemorrhoids, rectal fissures and other disorders.
Electrophoresis. Physiotherapy procedures involve a therapeutic effect on the pathological area with a small electric current (not more than 50 μA). In this way, the recovery response is stimulated, pain is relieved, and blood flow in the gland tissue is optimized. Electrophoresis promotes deep penetration of the antibiotic into the prostate structure, thereby increasing the effectiveness of its action.
Ultrasound. This method is widely used in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, because it has a clear anti-inflammatory effect, restores sexual function, and suppresses pain. Prostate tumors are successfully treated with ultrasound.
Ultraphonophoresis is the use of ultrasound therapy along with medications. This method allows the drug to penetrate into the inner layer of the affected organ and act most effectively there.
Magnetotherapy. Physiotherapy procedures have a comprehensive restorative effect on the genitourinary system, improving metabolic processes and nerve regeneration.
Magnetic laser therapy. Laser exposure also effectively treats disease manifestations, eliminating the risk of possible complications.
Inductometry is exposure to high frequency alternating magnetic fields.
Instillation into the urethra, mud therapy, therapeutic enema, hot water bath.
Physiotherapy together with drug treatment makes it possible to obtain a lasting therapeutic effect and, in most cases, completely defeat the disease at an early stage.
Surgical intervention
Indicated in cases where it is impossible to help the patient with other methods.
Prostatectomy is the partial or complete removal of the prostate gland while preserving erectile function.
Transurethral resection (TUR) is an operation to remove or remove glandular tissue that is too large. Prescribed for adenoma or prostate cancer.
Laser surgery. Surgery involves removing the affected organ tissue using a laser beam. In this case, the blood vessels are "sealed", eliminating bleeding.
Drainage of prostate abscess. This surgery allows you to remove pus from the gland cavity using a rubber drain inserted through the perineum or rectum by cutting the skin tissue.
Transurethral incision of the prostate. The surgery involves making several incisions in the prostate to relieve pressure from the affected organ on the urethra and restore urination.
After surgical intervention, the patient needs recovery, a time interval that, depending on the type of surgery used, ranges from 2-3 days to several months.
People's recovery
Herbal medicine is also an effective medicine in the complex therapy of chronic prostatitis. For this purpose, tinctures, decoctions, food mixtures or ointments are used, which include:
pumpkin seeds;
aspen bark;
hazel leaves and bark;
chestnut shell;
parsley;
honey, propolis;
Kalanchoe etc.
Regular use of herbal medicine helps to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, restore impaired function and has a long-term preventive effect.
Chronic prostatitis is a disease that you need to pay attention to at its initial signs to eliminate dangerous complications and cure it in time.