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male prostatitis

Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that affects prostate tissue.This is one of the most common conditions seen in urologists' practices.The disease is primarily diagnosed in men aged 25-30 years, but the risk of developing lesions increases significantly with age.

This form differentiates between acute and chronic prostatitis.In the latter case, inflammation is characterized by a long course and periodic recurrences.This condition is more common than acute.

Causes of prostatitis

Many diseases of the prostate, such as benign hyperplasia or neoplastic pathology, are problems in the elderly population.However, prostatitis does not fall into this category.Its symptoms usually appear in men between the ages of 30 and 50.The most common cause is infectious lesions caused by the penetration of pathogenic flora from the genitourinary tract or glands of the genitourinary system.This is because the urethra and anus are close together.

Among the most common causative agents of bacterial (infectious) prostatitis, attention should be paid to gram-negative microorganisms: Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Bacillus serratus, Enterobacteriaceae and Proteus.Usually, the inflammatory process occurs against the background of sexually transmitted infections: chlamydia, gonococcus, trichomoniasis, herpes viruses, etc.Typically, this type of disease is diagnosed in men under 35 years of age.Cases of pathological treatment in the context of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are extremely rare.

There is also non-bacterial prostatitis.Their main reasons include:

  • increased pressure on the prostate;
  • Autoimmune diseases (antibodies destroy prostate cells);
  • Pelvic region muscle pain syndrome;
  • Psycho-emotional disorders;
  • Insufficient physical activity;
  • Excessive physical stress.

Main symptoms of prostatitis

Men with signs of prostatitis

The disease is accompanied by a host of disorders that affect the function of the entire urinary system.Main symptoms include:

  • uncontrolled urination;
  • Discomfort and pain when emptying the bladder;
  • Sexual dysfunction in men of childbearing age;
  • Perineal pain after prolonged sitting;
  • Frequent and strong urge to urinate;
  • difficulty emptying the bladder;
  • decreased libido and erection problems;
  • Reproductive dysfunction (infertility);
  • Feeling that your bladder is not completely empty after going to the toilet;
  • Inability to achieve high-quality and long-lasting erections even under intense arousal.

Symptoms of acute prostatitis

The acute symptoms and general clinical manifestations of the disease vary depending on the stage of the pathological process:

  • Catarrhal.The patient complained of frequent urge to urinate, painful urination, and perineal and sacral pain.
  • follicle.The pain syndrome becomes severe and can radiate into the anus and intensify during defecation.Urine is passed out in a thin stream.There will be delays in some cases.A prolonged increase in body temperature as high as 38 degrees Celsius (low fever) or moderate high fever.
  • Parenchyma.The man began to experience systemic symptoms of intoxication, with chills and a body temperature as high as 38-40°C.Perineal pain becomes severe and throbbing.Difficulty having a bowel movement and the inability of the bladder to empty properly, leading to acute urinary retention (dysuria).

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

Chronic forms of prostatic inflammation may be the result of under- or under-treatment of the acute phase.In many men, however, it appears immediately and is characterized by "vague" symptoms.Key signs include:

  • low-grade fever (occasionally);
  • Mild pain in the perineum;
  • Discomfort during urination;
  • A small amount of secretion is discharged from the genitourinary tract during defecation.

In general, clinical manifestations vary over time, differ in intensity among patients, and may be hidden during attempts at self-medication.Symptoms of chronic illness may include urethral burning, perineal pressure, difficulty urinating, impaired sexual function, and increased general fatigue.In the context of efficacy problems, mental depression, irritability, and anxiety can occur.Fear of impotence can lead to the development of a complex, but most men often put off seeing a urologist because of shame.

Primary chronic prostatitis takes a long time to develop.Stagnation of blood in the capillaries (prostatosis) triggers the initial stages of non-bacterial inflammation, leading to the onset of the disease.

In the case of infectious causes, the cause of the disease is a chronic inflammatory process caused by infection with Trichomonas, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia or Neisseria gonorrhoeae.Primary infection masks the symptoms of prostatitis, and its treatment does not eliminate prostate inflammation.People often fail to notice the accompanying increase in problems.

Let's consider in detail the three main symptoms of chronic prostatitis:

  • Urinary tract disorders (difficulty urinating).Inflammation increases the size of the prostate, causing pressure on the ureters.As the lumen decreases, frequent urination and a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder occur.Many men experience difficulty urinating in the early stages of prostatitis.The compensatory mechanism during this period is the hypertrophy of bladder and ureteral muscles, and the symptoms of dysuria are alleviated. However, with the development of inflammation, the symptoms of dysuria worsen again.
  • Pain syndrome.There are no pain receptors in the prostate tissue.Pain occurs when the inflammatory process spreads to other pelvic organs and their nerve pathways.The sensation can range from mild pain to very strong, which can interfere with a good night's rest.Ejaculation, sexual abstinence, or excessive sexual activity can increase discomfort.The pain radiates to the perineum, sacrum, scrotum, and sometimes to the waist.
  • Breach of validity.Lack of early treatment of prostatitis may lead to erectile dysfunction in men, resulting in frequent nocturnal erections, reduced orgasm quality, and accelerated ejaculation.In different patients, these symptoms appear with varying intensity.Premature ejaculation occurs due to a reduction in the excitement threshold of the orgasmic center.In this case, the patient experiences pain, which leads to the development of pain anticipation syndrome and gradual abandonment of sexual activities.In the absence of comprehensive treatment that addresses psychiatric factors, sexual disorders can become increasingly severe.Ignoring the need for medical help for prostatitis often leads to impotence.

The degree of sexual dysfunction varies based on individual factors.Some men are so afraid of erectile dysfunction that their problems arise due to cues rather than objective physiological factors.In particular, psychogenic dysfunction is strongly associated with increased anxiety and obsessive-compulsive complexes.For these patients, the thought of possible men's health disorders can be difficult to bear.This greatly affects their personality and communication with others.Irritability, hypochondriasis, bad temper, and depression develop.

Complications of prostatitis

Lack of appropriate treatment for prostatic inflammation can lead to concomitant diseases.In fact, the prostate is closely connected to other organs of the male genitourinary system.It is located around the bladder neck and urethra.Therefore, when the prostate enlarges, the urethra becomes compressed and the normal flow of urine is disrupted.Considering the specificity of physiology, if acute or chronic prostatitis is not treated in time, many serious pathologies and complications will occur.

Related questions:

  • Formation of cysts and prostate stones;
  • Reduced amount of male hormones produced;
  • Decreased sexual desire (libido);
  • erectile dysfunction (erectile dysfunction);
  • Infertility (40% of patients with chronic prostatitis);
  • Prostate adenoma (benign tumor);
  • Prostate cancer.

If prostatic inflammation is not treated promptly and comprehensively, the consequences will not only threaten health, but also threaten the patient's life (especially the possibility of tumor pathology).Therefore, at the first symptoms of prostatitis, a urologist should be consulted.You should also remember to perform regular preventive examinations after 40 years, when the risk of developing pathological processes in the prostate increases significantly.

Diagnosis of prostatitis

Many urinary tract problems have similar symptoms, so experts treat each clinical case individually and use all available diagnostic tools.A consultation with a urologist always begins with an investigation of symptoms, medical history, and a general examination.The doctor will then conduct a series of tests, make a diagnosis and choose appropriate treatment based on the results.Generally, exam packages include:

  • Digital rectal examination of the prostate to determine prostate size, structure, and degree of urethral compression;
  • Ultrasound examination of the urinary system (prostate, bladder, kidneys);
  • Laboratory tests of urine, prostate secretions, and ejaculation;
  • Urogenital infection testing;
  • Urodynamic studies.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis of male prostatitis and related conditions, you need to avoid urinating for 2-3 hours before visiting your urologist.Otherwise, the test results may not be entirely correct because the disease-causing microbiota are flushed out when the bladder is emptied.Depending on the characteristics of the clinical presentation, the mode of ultrasound examination is chosen: transrectal or abdominal (through the abdominal wall).Once the cause and stage of the disease are determined, a treatment strategy is developed.

Treatment methods for prostatitis

The main treatment is antibiotics.Although it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of recurrence, the use of modern pharmacological developments has achieved high results.After taking a culture of urine and/or prostate secretions to learn the type of pathogen, your doctor will prescribe antibacterial medications.If acute prostatitis is diagnosed, oral antibiotic treatment will take approximately 4-6 weeks.For chronic or relapsing forms of the disease, treatment will take longer (depending on the clinical situation).In severe cases (usually acute bacterial prostatitis) hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics are required.

If urination is difficult, a urologist may prescribe medications to relieve excessive bladder and prostate muscle tone, normalize urine outflow and prevent stagnation.Some patients receive medications that lower sex hormone levels.As a result, the prostate decreases in size and therefore discomfort occurs during urination, defecation, and ejaculation.When the prostate is severely swollen, muscle relaxants can help relieve excessive tension in the bladder sphincter and adjacent muscles.Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal medications are effective in relieving pain.In addition, chronic prostatitis responds well to adjuvant physical therapy.Effective methods of this treatment are:

  • Instill medication into the urethra;
  • prostate massage;
  • Shock wave therapy (SWT);
  • Magnetic laser therapy (MLT);
  • electrophoresis;
  • ozone therapy;
  • intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI);
  • Ultraviolet blood irradiation (UFOI).

Prostate massage is a commonly used urological technique.The doctor stimulates the prostate with fingers through the rectum to enhance the outflow of secretions and restore the smoothness of the organ's ducts.Another effect is improved blood circulation and accelerated penetration of antibiotics into inflamed tissue.In addition to finger massage of the prostate, hardware methods are also available.Shock wave therapy has shown good results in treating prostatitis.This medical technology is based on short-term exposure to low-frequency sound waves in the inflamed area.This program helps:

  • Activate local blood circulation and the growth of new blood vessels;
  • Stimulate the body's own regenerative abilities;
  • Destroys fibrous lesions and calcifications that cause pain and inflammatory processes.

After one course of shock wave therapy, the symptoms of prostatitis were relieved and it played a good preventive role.Only by adopting an integrated approach to problem solving can significant results be achieved.In addition, patients' responsible attitude toward medical prescriptions is also important.

For their part, the clinic's urologists ensure that an individualized treatment plan is developed, taking into account the cause, form, stage of the disease, overall health, and the presence of concomitant conditions.

Prevent prostatitis

In order to minimize the risk of recurrence, it is necessary to reduce the negative effects on the body.Triggering factors include:

  • Smoking.The anatomical characteristics of the prostate's location result in persistent hypoxia, and tobacco smoke inhalation can cause vasospasm, further slowing down local microcirculatory processes.All experienced smokers have high blood pressure.
  • Insufficient physical activity."Sedentary" jobs and a sedentary lifestyle can cause congestion in the pelvic organs.
  • alcoholism.Exceeding the daily alcohol limit can affect your overall health and make your body more susceptible to various infectious diseases.
  • Stressful situations.It is necessary to avoid situations that lead to anxiety, irritability and depression as much as possible.If necessary, you should contact a professional.
  • Low temperature.Exposure to cold temperatures lowers immunity and makes the body "susceptible" to colds and inflammation.
  • Fatigue, excessive physical activity.You should not forget about work and rest schedules, as well as weight lifting.

Preventative measures will help prevent the development of acute prostatitis and the recurrence of chronic prostatitis.For questions about the diagnosis and treatment of prostate inflammation, you can always contact the Urology Department of our clinic.