Chronic prostatitis: symptoms of the disease, prevention and treatment

Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate that affects men of all ages. In most cases, it occurs due to exposure of the prostate gland to sexually transmitted infections and opportunistic microflora. Inflammation of the gland itself is not terrible, but in the absence of effective treatment can cause urinary disorders, pain, lead to male infertility, impotence. Also, the development of chronic prostatitis very often contributes to a sedentary lifestyle and lack of regular sexual activity.

What role does the prostate gland play in the body?

The chestnut-shaped prostate is located below the bladder. It prevents semen from entering it and also produces prostate secretion, an important component of sperm.

Causes of chronic prostatitis

The most common causes of chronic inflammation of the prostate are sexually transmitted infections and pathogens. For example, Trichomonas. Also, the development of such prostatitis contributes to a sedentary lifestyle. But prostatitis itself is not as scary as the fact that this disease is a trigger for more serious diseases - male infertility, prostate adenoma.

Causes of the disease also include:

• frequent hypothermia;
• low immunity;
• hormonal disorders;
• the presence of bad habits of a person;
• pelvic injuries;
• sedentary way of life.

The causes of chronic prostatitis are divided into two types:

1. Infections.They enter the body in different ways - through the urethra, with the flow of blood or lymph from foci of infection or inflamed organs in your own body.
2. Disorders of blood circulation in the prostate glandor stagnation of its secrecy, which occurs in the following cases:
   • sexual abstinence for a long time;
   • frequent interrupted intercourse or unrealized excitement;
   • defective ejaculation.

Stress, alcoholism can also contribute to chronic prostatitis in the male body. Exacerbations are often observed after hypothermia, various infectious diseases, dietary errors (too spicy food, alcohol).

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The most common symptoms are:

• feeling of discomfort or pain in the inguinal and suprapubic areas, perineum, scrotum, rectum, lumbosacral area;
• frequent and painful urge to urinate;
• pain in the lower abdomen (constant or during urination);
• intermittent or slow flow of urine;
• reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse, worsening of erection, decreased libido, premature ejaculation;
• periodic / permanent lack of morning erection (spontaneous);
• pulling pain in the head of the penis after ejaculation, which disappears on its own within half an hour.

Many men do not pay attention to the signs of chronic prostatitis, believing that the disease will pass on its own. However, it progresses, causing various complications: pyelonephritis, cystitis, vesiculitis. Over time, against the background of inflammation of the prostate, infertility and impotence develop.

Diagnosis of the disease

Laboratory and instrumental tests are needed for an accurate diagnosis. Includes:

• general urine analysis,
• general blood test,
• examination of prostate secretion,
• bacteriological examination of prostate secretion to identify the microflora by determining the sensitivity to antibacterial drugs,
• blood test for PSA (prostate-specific antigen),
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and prostate gland,
• digital examination of the prostate.

Complications that can be caused by chronic prostatitis

This disease causes many concomitant diseases that seriously complicate a man's life:

• Disorders of urination: frequent urination during the day and night, weak urine flow, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
• Vesiculitis, coliculitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles and seminal tubercle.
• Glandular abscess is a severe pathology that requires hospitalization and very often surgery.
• Prostate sclerosis - develops with a prolonged course of prostatitis and requires surgical treatment.
• Cysts and, as a consequence, prostate stones.
• Impotence, infertility.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

The treatment of this disease should be carried out only under the constant supervision of a physician. One of the best and most effective modern drugs used to treat chronic prostatitis is from prostate tissue extract. Using it gives a quick result and eliminates the symptoms.

As the therapy must be complex, other drugs must be used:

• antibacterial,
• alpha blockers,
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

There are no universal medicines. Therefore, doctors may recommend antibacterial drugs from different groups. Cephalosporins, protected penicillins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans and tetracyclines, etc. They all affect the cause of the disease - a bacterial infection.

Alpha-blockers - drugs for chronic prostatitis, designed to relax the muscles of the prostate urethra and bladder neck, facilitate the flow of urine by relieving spasm. In fact, they do not cure, but only eliminate the painful symptoms of inflammation.

Among anti-inflammatory drugs, urologists recommend both reducing the inflammatory process and reducing pain.

Medicine	Advantages	disadvantages	Recommendations for use
Fluoroquinolones	Excellent penetration into prostate tissue. Good bioavailability. Equivalence of oral and parenteral pharmacokinetics. Good activity against typical and atypical pathogens.	Cross-allergy. Phototoxicity. Effects on the central nervous system.	Recommended for use.
Diaminopyrimidines	Good penetration into the prostate tissue. Do not require a choice of dosage. Good antimicrobial activity.	Negative against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterobacteria.	Second-line drugs.
Macrolides	Moderate activity against gram-positive bacteria. Activity against atypical pathogens. Good penetration into the prostate tissue. Low toxicity.	Insufficient activity against gram-negative bacteria.	Used for specific pathogens.
Tetracyclines	Good activity against atypical pathogens.	Inactive against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Insufficient activity against staphylococci, Escherichia coli.	Used for specific pathogens.

An effective remedy for chronic prostatitis

Among the drugs with a large evidence base are drugs from the extract of bovine prostate tissue. Most often - in the form of suppositories or ampoules. The drug is effective in the treatment of both acute and chronic forms of the disease. This drug is available in the form of suppositories (rectal suppositories) and ampoules (injections), the action of the drug is aimed at strengthening the walls of blood vessels and improving blood circulation at the micro level.

The effect of using the drug for chronic prostatitis:

• Eliminate dysuric disorders and normalize the process of urination.
• Improving the functional state of the prostate gland.
• Reduce congestion, reduce prostate swelling.
• Reduction of severe symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
• Normalize complete blood circulation in the pelvic area, reduce the likelihood of blood clots in blood vessels.
• Decrease in the concentration of leukocytes that infiltrate the prostate tissue.

Methods of treatment of chronic prostatitis

In most cases, chronic disease is successfully treated with conservative methods. But it should be remembered that therapy will lead to a quick positive result only with an integrated approach. It is recommended to reconsider the lifestyle that causes the disease, otherwise it is likely to recur. Alcohol abuse, unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle and indiscretion are extremely harmful to the male reproductive system.

Treatment procedures:

• prostate massageperformed manually through the anus. It is worth noting that the procedure is not very pleasant, but the efficiency is very high.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures.Treatment of chronic prostatitis with thermal physiotherapy gives good results by improving microcirculation and absorption of drugs into tissues. Physiotherapy procedures include ultrasonic heating and irrigation with antibacterial solution using enemas.
• Spa treatment.In many sanatoriums this disease is successfully treated with balneotherapy methods, ie with the help of mineral waters. For the treatment of patients with prostatitis, low-mineralized water is usually prescribed both inside and in the form of baths.
• Diet therapy.You need to start following a special diet at the first signs of prostatitis. First of all, you should give up alcoholic beverages, as ethyl alcohol irritates the prostate ducts, increasing pain and inflammation. It is also necessary to limit the intake of fatty meat to exclude the formation of cholesterol plaques and further deterioration of blood circulation. Legumes, mushrooms, offal, salty and spicy foods, tea and coffee, carbonated drinks and pastries are prohibited.

The diet for chronic prostatitis should include foods rich in zinc (found in seafood and pumpkin seeds). It is advisable to eat as many vegetables as possible (except those that contribute to the formation of gases - such as cauliflower), dairy products, cereals and dried fruits.

Precautions

Chronic prostatitis usually does not develop if the man leads a proper lifestyle: follows a diet, sports, etc. Prevention of prostatitis is facilitated by the rejection of bad habits and casual sex.

There are primary, aimed at preventing the onset of the disease, prevention and secondary, whose task is to prevent the recurrence (exacerbation) of existing chronic prostatitis.

Primary preventionis reduced to regular sexual intercourse, a balanced diet, compliance with the regime of physical activity, timely and complete treatment of all infectious (purulent) diseases of the body and timely rehabilitation of the oral cavity.

Secondary preventionprovides regular examination by a urologist and preventive treatment - multivitamins, restorative drugs, sports.

howprophylactic drugprostate disease, suppositories can be used.