Prostatitis is one of the most common urinary system diseases in men.It is generally believed that after the age of 30, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, 40-40% after the age of 30, 50-50% etc.At the same time, the actual incidence is much higher than the registered incidence, which is explained by the specificity of the diagnosis and the possibility of the disease occurring in an underlying form.When you have prostatitis, you can experience many urinary problems, decreased libido, and impaired erectile function.
Prostatitis is one of the most common urinary system diseases in men.It is generally believed that after the age of 30, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, 40-40% after the age of 30, 50-50% etc.At the same time, the actual incidence is much higher than the registered incidence, which is explained by the specificity of the diagnosis and the possibility of the disease occurring in an underlying form.
The prostate is a small adenomyotic organ located in the small pelvis below the bladder and covering the beginning of the urethra (urethra).The prostate produces a secretion that, when mixed with semen, maintains sperm motility and their resistance to various adverse conditions.
When you have prostatitis, you can experience many urinary problems, decreased libido, and impaired erectile function.The saddest thing is that without proper treatment, about 40% of patients face some form of infertility because the prostate cannot produce sufficient amounts of high-quality secretions to keep sperm alive.It is important to remember that similar symptoms occur not only in prostatitis, but also in prostate adenomas and cancers.
forms of prostatitis
According to the standards of the National Institutes of Health (NIH USA) since 1995, prostatitis is divided into four categories:
- Category I—acute prostatitis;
- Category II - chronic bacterial prostatitis;
- Category III - Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS):
- Category IIIa—chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with signs of inflammation;
- Category IIIb - chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, no signs of inflammation;
- Category IV - Asymptomatic (no symptoms) chronic prostatitis.
Chronic granulomatous prostatitis not mentioned in this classification may occasionally occur.
Most experts distinguish 4 main forms of prostatitis:
- acute bacterial prostatitis,
- chronic bacterial prostatitis,
- nonbacterial prostatitis
- Prostate pain.
Causes of prostatitis in men
In people under 35 years of age, the disease usually occurs in the form of acute bacterial prostatitis.When a laboratory-confirmed infection is present, it is called bacterial prostatitis.The most common are chlamydia, trichomoniasis, Gardnerellosis or gonorrhea.The infection enters the prostate from the urethra, bladder, rectum, and through blood and lymphatic vessels in the pelvis.
However, recent studies have proven that in most cases, the infection is caused by existing disturbances in the structure of the prostate tissue and its blood circulation.With nonbacterial prostatitis, bacteria cannot be isolated, but this does not rule out their presence.
In older patients, chronic forms of the disease are more often diagnosed.
Prostatic pain refers to the clinical manifestations of prostatitis, with thickening of prostate tissue but no signs of inflammation.
Symptoms of prostatitis in men
The symptoms of prostatitis can be divided into three groups:
- Urinary tract disorders (frequent and painful urge to urinate, feeling of incomplete bladder emptying), pain in the lower abdomen;
- Sexual dysfunction (urethral and rectal pain during ejaculation, weak erection, premature ejaculation, loss of orgasm, etc.);
- Men experience increased anxiety and tension due to the patient's preoccupation with their condition.
Acute prostatitis usually begins with an increase in body temperature to 39-40°C, accompanied by fever and chills.Urinating is difficult and painful.Swelling of the prostate, which may lead to acute urinary retention.
Chronic prostatitis progresses relatively quietly, but at any time, under the influence of adverse factors, the condition may worsen.May be asymptomatic.
Complications of prostatitis
If left untreated, prostatitis can cause the following complications:
- Acute prostatitis turns into chronic,
- Bladder obstruction accompanied by acute urinary retention requires surgical treatment,
- development of male infertility,
- The urethra becomes narrowed and scarred,
- recurrent cystitis,
- Pyelonephritis and other kidney damage,
- Prostatic abscess (pus), requiring surgical intervention,
- Sepsis is a life-threatening complication that usually occurs in immunocompromised people (patients with diabetes, renal failure).
Treatment of male prostatitis
Modern methods for diagnosing prostate disease are extensive.
Your doctor will perform a bacteriological test on your urine and prostate secretions.To determine the location of a urinary tract infection, different parts of the urine need to be examined.In addition, a mandatory diagnostic method is a digital examination of the prostate.This process is not very pleasant, but it is very informative.Your doctor may recommend an ultrasound scan of your prostate and pelvic organs.If necessary, computed or magnetic tomography, cystoscopy, urography, and prostate enzyme testing may be performed.
When making a diagnosis, your doctor must rule out the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.To quickly relieve the pain of acute prostatitis, it is recommended to use painkillers and take warm baths.
Bacterial prostatitis requires the prescription of antibiotics, which are selected based on the results of bacteriological culture of the secretions on nutrient media and the determination of the susceptibility of the pathogen to chemotherapy.
Nonbacterial prostatitis can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Prevent prostatitis
To avoid hypothermia, do not sit on cold objects.Follow a moderate diet (exclude alcohol, spicy, fried and canned foods).Regular sex is also a way to prevent prostatitis (since one of the triggers is sperm stasis and frequent erections without subsequent ejaculation).Equally important is prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
As adults, every man should have regular (yearly) check-ups with a urologist.After prostatitis, at least two prophylactic courses of one month in outpatient care and one course of convalescent treatment are carried out per year.