Prostatitis is one of the most common urological diseases in men.It is generally accepted that after 30 years, 30% of men develop prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, after 50 - 50%, etc. At the same time, the actual incidence is much higher than registered, this is explained by the peculiarity of the diagnosis and the possibility that the disease occurs in a latent form.With prostatitis, many problems with urination occur, libido decreases and erectile function is impaired.
Prostatitis is one of the most common urological diseases in men.It is generally accepted that after 30 years, 30% of men develop prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, after 50 - 50%, etc. At the same time, the actual incidence is much higher than registered, this is explained by the peculiarity of the diagnosis and the possibility that the disease occurs in a latent form.
The prostate gland is a small glandular organ located in the small pelvis below the bladder, covering the initial part of the urethra (urethra).The prostate gland produces a secretion that, when mixed with seminal fluid, maintains sperm activity and their resistance to various adverse conditions.
With prostatitis, many problems with urination occur, libido decreases and erectile function is impaired.The saddest thing is that in the absence of proper treatment, about 40% of patients face some form of infertility, because the prostate gland can no longer produce a sufficient amount of high-quality secretions to ensure sperm motility.It is important to remember that the same symptoms can occur not only with prostatitis, but also with prostate adenoma and cancer.
Form of prostatitis
According to the American National Institutes of Health (NIH USA) criteria from 1995, there are four categories of prostatitis:
- 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 without signs of inflammation;
- Category IV - Chronic prostatitis without symptoms (asymptomatic).
Sometimes, chronic granulomatous prostatitis, which is not mentioned in this classification, also occurs.
Most experts distinguish 4 main forms of prostatitis:
- acute bacterial prostatitis,
- chronic bacterial prostatitis,
- non-bacterial prostatitis
- Prostatodynia.
Causes of prostatitis in men
In people under the age of 35, this disease usually occurs in the form of acute bacterial prostatitis.Bacterial prostatitis is called when there is laboratory confirmation of the presence of an infection.Often it becomes chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis or gonorrhea.Infection enters the prostate gland from the urethra, bladder, rectum, and through the pelvic blood and lymph vessels.
However, recent studies prove that in most cases the infection is layered on existing disorders in the structure of the prostate tissue and blood circulation in it.With non-bacterial prostatitis, bacteria cannot be isolated, although this does not exclude their presence.
In older patients, chronic forms of the disease are more often diagnosed.
Prostatodynia is the presence of a clinical picture of prostatitis, thickening of prostate tissue without signs of inflammation.
Symptoms of prostatitis in men
Symptoms of prostatitis can be divided into 3 groups:
- disorders of the urinary system (frequent and painful urge to urinate, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder), pain in the lower abdomen;
- sexual dysfunction (pain along the urethra and in the rectum during ejaculation, weak erection, premature ejaculation, loss of orgasm, etc.);
- increased anxiety and restlessness of a man, due to the focus of the patient's attention on their condition.
Acute prostatitis usually begins with an increase in body temperature to 39-40°C with fever and chills.Urination is difficult and painful.Swelling of the prostate gland develops, which can cause acute urinary retention.
Chronic prostatitis goes more calmly, but at any time, under unfavorable factors, an exacerbation can occur.May be asymptomatic.
Complications of prostatitis
If there is no timely treatment, prostatitis can cause the following complications:
- transition from acute to chronic prostatitis,
- bladder obstruction with acute urinary retention, requiring surgical treatment,
- development of male infertility,
- urethral stricture and scarring,
- recurrent cystitis,
- pyelonephritis and other kidney damage,
- abscess (suppuration) of the prostate, which requires surgical intervention,
- sepsis is a life-threatening complication that often develops in people with reduced immunity (patients with diabetes mellitus, kidney failure).
Treatment of prostatitis in men
Modern weapons for diagnosing prostate disease are very extensive.
The doctor will prescribe a bacteriological examination of your urine and prostate secretions.To clarify the location of the urinary tract infection, different parts of the urine are examined.In addition, a mandatory diagnostic method is a digital examination of the prostate gland.This procedure is not very pleasant, but it is very informative.Your doctor may refer you for an ultrasound scan of your prostate and pelvic organs.If necessary, computed or magnetic nuclear tomography, cystoscopy, urography and prostate enzyme tests are prescribed.
When making a diagnosis, your doctor must rule out the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.To quickly relieve pain in acute prostatitis, analgesics and warm water baths can be recommended.
Bacterial prostatitis requires the prescription of antibiotics, the selection of which is carried out based on the results of the bacteriological culture of secretions on nutrient media and the determination of the pathogen's sensitivity to chemotherapy.
Non-bacterial prostatitis is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Prevention of prostatitis
Avoid hypothermia and do not sit on cold objects.Follow a soft diet (excluding alcohol, spicy, fried and canned foods).Regular sex life is also a way to prevent prostatitis (because one of the provoking factors is sperm stagnation and frequent erections without subsequent ejaculation).Equally important is the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
In adulthood, every man should undergo regular examination (once a year) by a urologist.After prostatitis, a preventive course of outpatient treatment is carried out at least 2 times a year for a month and one course of sanatorium treatment.