Prostatitis in men is the most common urological disease among men. According to statistics, the number of men with this diagnosis is up to 8% of the male population worldwide, of which 1/3 are owners of the chronic form of the disease. In 40% of cases, chronic prostatitis in men is detected before the age of 40.
A distinctive feature of prostatitis is that its acute form is almost completely absent. As soon as it appears, it immediately takes a chronic form.
Cases of complete recovery (spontaneous or as a result of treatment) after the initial acute stage are insignificant. The course of the disease is very slow and the symptoms of prostatitis are often alleviated. Prostatitis manifests itself in three main syndromes: painful, sexual and dysuric.
Causes of prostatitis in men
The causes of prostatitis are infections, stagnation in the prostate gland and a combination of these two factors. One of the predisposing factors for the development of chronic prostatitis is also the presence of benign hyperplasia in the patient.
The infection can enter the prostate gland as follows:
- through the urethra during sexual intercourse, as a complication after infectious urethritis;
- through the blood from existing infections in the body (carious teeth, sinusitis, pneumonia and others);
- through the lymph from the internal inflamed organs (intestinal dysbiosis, hemorrhoids, inflammation of the rectum).
Most often, prostatitis in men is non-infectious (abacterial prostatitis). Its main cause is a violation of blood circulation in the prostate and surrounding organs as a result of stagnation of secretions in it.
Stagnation of secretion may occur in the prostate gland due to the following factors:
- prolonged sexual abstinence;
- unrealized sexual contact after sexual arousal;
- interrupted intercourse;
- defective ejaculation.
Factors predisposing to the development of prostatitis:
- irregular sex life;
- hypothermia;
- hypodynamia;
- chronic stress;
- chronic alcoholism and others.
Symptoms of prostatitis in men
- pain in the genital area;
- pain in the groin, perineum, suprapubic area;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- painful sensations when urinating;
- pain with ejaculation;
- defective erection or lack thereof.
Very often chronic prostatitis is predisposed to neurasthenia caused by the above disorders.
Pain in prostatitis, as a rule, has a radiating character, ie radiating to the sacrum, perineum or scrotum. From the prostate there are nerve endings to all the organs of the small pelvis, so pain is often given in the lower back. Their intensity varies - from fine to pronounced, which even disturbs sleep. The pain may increase, weaken during sexual abstinence, or, conversely, occur with excessive sexual activity or ejaculation. It should be noted that pain in the sacrum does not always indicate prostatitis - they may also indicate osteochondrosis.
How prostatitis manifests itself in men with a chronic form, here the situation is quite different. His gait is wavy; periodic exacerbations are replaced by more or less prolonged remissions, during which the disease does not manifest itself in any way. In this case, men rarely go to the doctor, preferring to sit at home. However, this is not a way out of the situation, as prostatitis in men, its exacerbation, will progress over time. And, spreading through the genitourinary system, this will lead to cystitis and pyelonephritis.
Prostatitis in men: consequences
As a rule, patients with acute prostatitis seek medical help in a timely manner. But if you do not consult a urologist in time, then there is a high probability of focal purulent inflammation - an abscess of the prostate gland. In this case, the body temperature can rise to 39-40 ° C, it becomes feverish (the drop in body temperature exceeds 1 ° C) and the intense fever is periodically replaced by chills. The pain in the perineum is so severe that urination and defecation become extremely impossible. Gradually, the prostate gland swells and, as a result, urinary retention occurs. Fortunately for men themselves, they are rarely brought to such a state.
Vesiculitis is one of the most common complications of prostatitis when the seminal vesicles become inflamed. And also epididymo-orchitis, characterized by inflammation of the testicles and their appendages. Treatment of chronic prostatitis in men caused by these diseases will be extremely difficult and time consuming.
Both diseases can lead to infertility. Everything described is rather related to chronic prostatitis, which has a specific etiology and which has developed as a result of sexually transmitted diseases. How to treat prostatitis in men and drug treatment in any form is prescribed by a urologist.
Treatment of prostatitis in men
How to treat prostatitis in men depends on the form of the disease and its appearance. In the treatment of acute prostatitis, antibiotics are used that penetrate well into the prostate tissue. The prescribing specialist must take into account all the individual characteristics of the disease, the state of the body's immune system and the presence of infectious agents. If the course of the disease is not complicated by anything, patients with acute prostatitis are treated only on an outpatient basis. Only patients with signs of severe and severe intoxication should be hospitalized. Such physiotherapeutic methods are widely used: magnetic-laser induction therapy, reflexology, ultrasound, treatment of prostatitis with leeches. A good effect can be achieved through the use of herbal preparations (herbal medicine), enzymes, cytomediators, immunomodulators. Prostatitis surgery is indicated in the following cases:
- prostate abscess (trans-urethral or transrectal drainage of the abscess);
- acute urinary retention (epicystostomy puncture).
Treatment of chronic prostatitis in men is performed on an outpatient basis, but for a longer period. In addition to the use of antibiotics, suppositories and thermal procedures, prostate massage and reflexology are also performed. In addition, patients with prostatitis are recommended an active lifestyle and exclusion of alcoholic beverages and spicy foods from use.
Prevention of prostatitis in men
Timely treatment of prostatitis in men, as well as its prevention, contributes to rapid recovery. As a preventive measure to prevent the development of chronic prostatitis, it is recommended:
- regular sex life;
- properly selected diet (varied and nutritious food with the exception of spicy and irritating food);
- no alcohol abuse;
- moderate physical activity aimed at improving blood circulation in the genitourinary system and strengthening muscles, Kegel exercises (tension of the muscles of the perineum with retraction of the anus);
- adequate and timely treatment of infectious diseases of other organs;
- prevention of stagnation in the pelvis with the help of physiotherapy methods.
To exclude recurrence of the disease - secondary prevention of prostatitis, which includes primary prevention and:
- regular preventive examinations by a urologist;
- undergoing preventive courses of treatment with strengthening methods, multivitamins;
- physiotherapy methods (especially in the spring and autumn).