Causes, symptoms and treatment of chronic prostatitis

Middle-aged and elderly men often suffer from pathologies of the genitourinary system associated with the prostate. This organ is prone to inflammatory processes that cause serious discomfort. The most common pathology is chronic prostatitis. It is difficult to treat and is accompanied by severe clinical manifestations.

Causes of pathology

According to statistics, about 30% of men of childbearing age suffer from one form or another of prostatitis. In almost 70% of cases, the disease is asymptomatic, which makes it dangerous to health.There are many reasons for the development of pathology:

1. Ignoring the symptoms of the acute form of the disease often leads to a transition to the chronic stage with periodic relapses.
2. Regular hypothermia of the body and frequent catarrhal pathologies provoke inflammation of the gland.
3. A sedentary lifestyle causes stagnation of blood in the pelvis and leads to disruption of the blood supply to the prostate. If a man's professional activity is associated with constant sedentary sitting, then the likelihood of developing prostatitis increases several times.
4. Choose tight underwear that squeezes the genitals.
5. Bad habits (abuse of alcohol, smoking) often cause the development of pathology, as they contribute to the disruption of all vital processes in the body.
6. Chronic infectious diseases of the urinary system can also cause inflammation of the gland.
7. Venereal diseases of acute and chronic forms. Violating the recommendations of a specialist or ignoring the symptoms of the disease, the infection can spread to the gland.
8. Frequent stress and nervous exhaustion. Such factors can provoke pathology, especially with a simultaneous decrease in immunity.
9. A lack of minerals and vitamins in the daily diet can be a predisposing factor. If the deficiency is permanent, other diseases join the chronic prostatitis.

Infrequent sexual intercourse and the lack of a steady partner increase the risk of developing chronic prostatitis. In this case, too, the treatment is delayed, since the patient experiences not only physical, but also emotional discomfort.

classification of the disease

Depending on the cause of the onset and course of the pathological process, there are two types of the disease: bacterial and non-bacterial. Separately, experts distinguish asymptomatic or atonic prostatitis. Each species has its own characteristics.

Bacterial prostatitis is easy to detect during a diagnostic examination. Tests usually show the source of the inflammation. A particularly large number of pathogens are hidden in the secret that is released when the gland is massaged. In the blood, the level of leukocytes is almost always elevated, since the body produces them in large quantities to fight pathogens.

The non-bacterial form of the pathology is characterized by a milder course, but almost always the patient experiences severe pain in the small pelvis. Pelvic pain syndrome is the main criterion for diagnosis.

It is very difficult to identify the asymptomatic type of the disease, since there are no obvious signs of inflammation. Pathological changes in the prostate occur, but the man does not feel it. A specialist makes a diagnosis incidentally or during an examination for other pathologies.

clinical picture

In the acute form of the pathology, a man immediately feels a deterioration in his condition, but in the case of chronic prostatitis, there may be no symptoms, which greatly complicates the diagnosis.With prolonged progression of the disease, the following symptoms appear:

• Discomfort with urination, extending to the projection area of \u200b\u200bthe bladder;
• frequent urge to urinate with a simultaneous decrease in the amount of urine excreted;
• Discomfort during sexual intercourse, problems with erection and ejaculation;
• a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, associated with narrowing of the duct, leading to prolonged but unproductive urination;
• the development of cystitis, pyelonephritis associated with the multiplication of bacteria in the bladder and the spread of infection to the kidneys;
• change in urine color, appearance of blood or pus impurities;
• decreased libido;
• general weakness, fatigue, reduced performance;
• irritability and psycho-emotional stress;
• slight increase in body temperature;
• Pain in the pelvis and scrotum radiating to the sacrum or rectum.

The severity of the symptoms depends on the degree of damage to the tissues of the prostate. Sometimes the patient has only pain and no other manifestations.

If the patient does not go to the doctor for a long time, there may be complications. The most common of these is vesiculitis, or inflammation of the seminal vesicles. When symptoms of chronic prostatitis appear at a young age, patients are often diagnosed with difficult-to-treat infertility.

The most dangerous consequence of undertreated or neglected prostatitis is prostate cancer. Often a benign pathology of the organ develops - an adenoma, which can also develop into a malignant tumor.

diagnostic methods

Before treating chronic prostatitis, a comprehensive diagnostic examination is required. During the initial treatment, the specialist examines the patient, learns about the habits, lifestyle characteristics, frequency of sexual contacts and professional activities. Information will help identify the suspected cause of the disease. Then the doctor listens to the patient's complaints and determines the degree of damage to the gland.

The next step in diagnosis is clinical blood and urine tests. They usually show an increase in the number of leukocytes and an increase in the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation. This indicates the presence of an inflammatory process in a man.

The patient must undergo an X-ray examinationprostate and ultrasound. Thanks to these methods, you can detect changes in the structure of the body, deviations in one direction or another. Additionally, computed tomography can be performed to identify concomitant pathologies of the genitourinary system.

If a tumor is suspected, a biopsy should be taken. In the laboratory, specialists study the structure of the cell and make a definitive diagnosis. If the tumor is benign, doctors also determine the likelihood that it is malignant. After receiving the results of the diagnostic examination, the specialist determines the direction of therapy.

Medical therapy

Treatment of chronic prostatitis with drugs is considered the most common method. Doctors always choose a conservative method when there is a chance of recovery.The most commonly used drugs are:

1. Antibacterial agents are able to relieve inflammation in a short time and prevent the process from spreading to neighboring organs. Tablet forms of penicillins and fluoroquinolones are most commonly used. When the form runs, a powder to prepare the solution is prescribed. The drug is administered intravenously or intramuscularly in a hospital. With the ineffectiveness of these drugs, macrolides are used, which have a stronger effect. Popular drugs from this group are available in the form of tablets and lyophilisates for the preparation of a solution for injection. The course of therapy lasts from 10 to 20 days, depending on the severity of the disease.
2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to relieve pain and prevent further development of the pathological process. The course usually does not last 7 days. Patients with diseases of the digestive tract should not take such drugs without first consulting a doctor.
3. Muscle relaxants help relax smooth muscles and make urination easier. Duration of therapy and dosage are determined by the doctor.
4. Rectal suppositories relieve swelling, pain and inflammation, improve the general condition of the patient. The duration of the therapeutic effect is 10-14 days.

The therapy regimen also includes vitamin complexes to strengthen the immune system and quickly restore the body after treatment. Among these funds there is a complex designed specifically for men. The minimum duration of reception is 30 days.

Surgical intervention

If it is not possible to cure the pathology in a conservative way, the doctor decides to perform an operation to completely or partially remove the organ. The absolute indication for surgical intervention is prostate cancer.

The method of transurethral resection consists of dissecting the urethra and removing part of the gland to relieve the condition. If removal is not required, a simple dissection of the organ is performed to normalize urination.

The method of open adenomectomy is used with a significant growth of the gland and the addition of other pathologies. The operation is performed under general anesthesia. The technique is more commonly used to treat older patients when other means and interventions have been ineffective.

use of physiotherapy

In parallel with drug treatment, physiotherapy is often used to speed up recovery and prevent complications.The most popular and effective method is massage.prostate through the rectum. The technique improves the blood supply and nutrition of the organ and prevents the spread of inflammation to neighboring organs.

In order to achieve a therapeutic effect, it is necessary to conduct at least 10 sessions. The procedure is performed by a specialist in a hospital or clinic.

Electrophoresis in the projection area of \u200b\u200bthe prostate allows you to normalize blood flow to it. The essence of the technique is the use of low-frequency electric current, which has a positive effect on the state of the genitourinary system, stimulates tissue regeneration and reduces inflammation. The course is at least 10 sessions, sometimes more procedures are required to achieve a lasting result.

Ultrasound and laser therapy, paraffin therapy and other methods are often prescribed. The choice of treatment method depends on the individual characteristics of the patient's body.

preventive measures

Compliance with simple rules will help avoid the development of chronic prostatitis. It is recommended to avoid hypothermia and lead an active lifestyle. You should not torment the body with intensive training, but moderate and regular training will help to avoid stagnation of blood in the pelvis and the development of prostatitis.

Experts recommend including pumpkin seeds, fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs in your diet. Do not abuse alcoholic beverages. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing an inflammatory process. A balanced diet helps to maintain the immune system, prevent colds and viral diseases.

To prevent prostatitis, it is necessary to visit a urologist every 6 months. Thanks to this, the pathology is detected at an early stage and the transition to a neglected form is prevented. When the first signs of the disease appear, you should contact a medical institution in order to start therapy in a timely manner and avoid complications.