Prostatitis is one of the most common urological diseases in men.It is generally accepted that after 30 years, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, 50 - 50%, etc.At the same time, the real incidence is much higher than the recorded one, which is explained by the characteristics of the diagnosis and the possibility of the disease occurring in a latent form.During prostatitis, there are many problems related to urination, libido decreases and erectile function is disturbed.
Prostatitis is one of the most common urological diseases in men.It is generally accepted that after 30 years, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, 50 - 50%, etc.At the same time, the real incidence is much higher than the recorded one, which is explained by the characteristics of the diagnosis and the possibility of the disease occurring in a latent form.
The prostate gland is a small glandular-muscular organ located in the small pelvis below the urinary bladder, covering the beginning of the urethra (urethra).The prostate gland, when mixed with seminal fluid, produces a secretion that protects sperm activity and their resistance to various negative conditions.
During prostatitis, there are many problems related to urination, libido decreases and erectile function is disturbed.The saddest part is that, without proper treatment, about 40% of patients experience some form of infertility because the prostate gland can no longer produce enough high-quality secretions to maintain sperm motility.It should be remembered that similar symptoms can occur not only with prostatitis, but also with prostate adenoma and cancer.
Forms of prostatitis
According to the criteria of the American National Institutes of Health (NIH USA) since 1995, there are four categories of prostatitis:
- Category I - Acute prostatitis;
- Category II - Chronic bacterial prostatitis;
- Category III - Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS):
- Category IIIa - chronic prostatitis with inflammatory symptoms/chronic pelvic pain syndrome;
- Category IIIb - chronic prostatitis without inflammatory symptoms / chronic pelvic pain syndrome;
- Category IV - Asymptomatic (symptomatic) chronic prostatitis.
Sometimes chronic granulomatous prostatitis, which is not mentioned in this classification, also occurs.
Most experts distinguish 4 main forms of prostatitis:
- acute bacterial prostatitis,
- chronic bacterial prostatitis,
- non-bacterial prostatitis
- Prostatodynia.
Causes of prostatitis in men
In people under the age of 35, the disease usually occurs in the form of acute bacterial prostatitis.When there is laboratory confirmation of the presence of infection, it is called bacterial prostatitis.Often it is chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis or gonorrhea.The infection enters the prostate gland through the urethra, bladder, rectum, pelvis, and blood and lymph vessels.
However, recent studies prove that in most cases, the infection is layered on existing disturbances in the structure of the prostate tissue and blood circulation there.With non-bacterial prostatitis, bacteria cannot be isolated, although this does not exclude their presence.
Chronic forms of the disease are more often diagnosed in elderly patients.
Prostatodynia is the presence of a clinical picture of prostatitis, thickening of the prostate tissue without signs of inflammation.
Symptoms of prostatitis in men
Symptoms of prostatitis can be divided into 3 groups:
- disorders of the urinary system (frequent and painful urge to urinate, feeling of complete emptying of the bladder), pain in the lower abdomen;
- sexual dysfunction (pain along the urethra and rectum during ejaculation, weak erection, premature ejaculation, loss of orgasm, etc.);
- increased anxiety and male irritability due to focusing on the condition of patients.
Acute prostatitis usually begins with fever and chills, with body temperature rising to 39-40°C.Urination is difficult and painful.Swelling of the prostate gland develops, which can cause acute urinary retention.
Chronic prostatitis continues more quietly, but at any time, under the influence of unfavorable factors, an exacerbation can occur.May be asymptomatic.
Complications of prostatitis
In the absence of timely treatment, prostatitis can cause the following complications:
- transition of acute prostatitis to chronic form,
- bladder obstruction with acute urinary retention requiring surgical treatment,
- the development of male infertility,
- narrowing and scarring of the urethra,
- recurrent cystitis,
- pyelonephritis and other kidney injuries,
- prostate abscess requiring surgical intervention,
- sepsis is a life-threatening complication that often develops in immunocompromised people (diabetes, patients with kidney failure).
Treatment of prostatitis in men
The modern arsenal for diagnosing prostate diseases is very wide.
The doctor will prescribe a bacteriological examination of your urine and prostate secretions.Different parts of the urine are examined to clarify the location of the urinary tract infection.In addition, a mandatory diagnostic method is digital examination of the prostate gland.This procedure is not very pleasant, but very informative.Your doctor may refer you for an ultrasound examination of the prostate and pelvic organs.If necessary, computer or magnetic nuclear tomography, cystoscopy, urography and examination of prostate enzymes are prescribed.
When making a diagnosis, the doctor should exclude the presence of benign hyperplasia of the prostate gland and prostate cancer.Analgesics and hot baths may be recommended for quick pain relief in acute prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis requires the appointment of antibiotics, their selection is based on the results of bacteriological culture of secretions in the food environment and determination of the sensitivity of the pathogen to chemotherapy.
Non-bacterial prostatitis is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Prevention of prostatitis
Avoid hypothermia and do not sit on cold objects.Follow a gentle diet (excluding alcohol, spicy, fried and canned foods).Regular sexual life is also a way to prevent prostatitis (because one of the provoking factors is stagnation of sperm and frequent erections without subsequent ejaculation).Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases is equally important.
During puberty, every man should undergo a regular (once a year) examination by a urologist.After prostatitis, preventive courses of outpatient treatment and one course of sanatorium treatment are carried out at least 2 times a year for a month.