Prostatitis is a dreaded disease of the male genital area, which often affects young people under the age of forty. Although its symptoms - decreased sexual desire, difficulty urinating, pain in the groin area - are very painful, yet men do not rush to seek medical help.
And the reason for this is insufficient information about this disease, there are many myths and prejudices about it.
However, the manifestations of prostatitis only worsen over time, therefore, at the first signs of prostatitis, it is necessary to urgently contact a qualified urologist.
Causes of prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. Doctors classify the acute phase of the disease and chronic. If the first is left untreated, then the inflammation quickly becomes chronic and is fraught with many complications, such as impaired sexual function and even the development of a malignant prostate tumor.
What are the reasons for its occurrence?
Here are just a few of them:
- Sexually transmitted diseases. Often men are carriers of a certain infection, without even knowing it, as the disease is completely asymptomatic. However, this picture is very misleading. Once the immune system fails, for example, under the influence of a stressful situation, it triggers the development of prostatitis. The most common causes of the disease are herpes virus, fungi of the genus Candida, Escherichia coli, etc.
- Untreated bladder infections. In this case, the infection spreads easily to the nearby prostate gland.
- Blood stagnation in the pelvic area. This can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, irregular sex life. In this case, there is the so-called non-bacterial prostate.
- Regular hypothermia, stress, the presence of infectious foci, including caries teeth, in the body.
- Prostatitis can develop as a complication after severe infectious diseases - the flu, tonsillitis and others.
The main symptoms of prostatitis
The most common signs of this disease, regardless of the cause that caused it, include:
- power reduction;
- pain and difficulty urinating;
- pain of varying severity in the groin and genital area.
Symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis
As mentioned above, the first stage of bacterial prostatitis is acute, lasting no more than 3-5 days, after which it slowly returns to chronic.
It is very important not to miss the first symptoms of the disease:
- Pain in groin and scrotum;
- Severe pain when urinating;
- Drawing pain after intercourse on the penis;
- Worsening of the erection, reduction of the duration of sexual intercourse.
A few days after the onset of the first symptoms, the pain subsides, men are given the deceptive impression that the threat has passed. However, this only means that prostatitis is slowly but surely becoming chronic.
Such a course of the disease is characterized by:
- Alternating periods of remission and worsening of prostatitis;
- Difficulty urinating, frequent urges, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder are combined with the above signs of the disease.
During the period of exacerbation of chronic bacterial prostatitis, patients suffer from the same symptoms as in the acute form.
Even seemingly harmless factors can provoke it:
- hypothermia;
- Cold;
- An erection that did not have a realization;
- Avitaminosis;
- Stress and overwork;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- constipation;
- Irregular sex life;
- Tobacco and alcohol abuse.
Symptoms of non-bacterial prostatitis
This disease is also called congestive prostatitis. This is the most dangerous and common type of pathology. Its development is directly related to the way of life of modern man.
Medical researchers compare chronic congestive prostatitis in terms of severity and prevalence with such dangerous diseases as tuberculosis or cancer, because its neglected form is a direct route to prostate cancer.
This form of the disease can be discussed when inflammation of the prostate is caused not by any microorganism, but by other factors - a long absence of sexual intercourse, a sedentary lifestyle, regular stressful situations.
Such a conclusion can be drawn from the results of a bacteriological study, which shows the absence of pathogenic microorganisms.
The symptoms of this form of the disease are somewhat different from the bacterial ones:
- Patients complain of periodic or persistent dull pain in the pelvis, lower abdomen, groin, and genitals;
- Sexual dysfunction and problems with urination;
- Patients' depressive mental state
Symptoms of chronic asymptomatic prostatitis
This is a latent form of the disease. As the name implies, it is asymptomatic, ie there is an inflammatory process in the prostate, but it does not affect the patient's condition.
Some medical researchers tend to consider this form of pathology only as normal age-related changes in the prostate gland, which occur due to impaired blood supply to the organ.
This disease is often detected in a patient quite by accident, for example, during an abdominal operation accompanied by a completely different diagnosis.
To avoid prostatitis, you need to know its causes.
So, the main measures to prevent inflammation of the prostate gland:
- Although the main measures to prevent prostatitis, as already mentioned many times, include regular sexual activity, it is nevertheless worth avoiding casual sexual contact or the use of contraceptive contraceptives is necessary. This measure is mandatory, as about 30% of cases of prostate inflammation are associated with sexually transmitted diseases.Sex alternative- Masturbation is also welcomed by urologists, as no less than a full sexual intercourse improves the blood supply to the prostate gland.
- Physical activity, active lifestyle. Physical education and sports are beneficial as a general strengthening measure, but it is worth focusing on exercises that improve blood circulation to the pelvic area. These include running, skating, skiing, etc.
- Regular preventive examinations by a urologist or andrologist, at least once a year.
- Timely treatment of foci of infection in the body, for example, oral cavity hygiene.
The diagnosis of prostatitis is complex and multifaceted
The diagnosis of prostatitis is mainly associated with identifying the cause of the disease, it includes the following steps:
- Of great importance for clarifying the picture of the disease is a study of the patient, which should describe in detail his complaints - the localization of certain sensations, their duration, with which events are accompanied by manifestations, after which they began. Also, at the appointment, the doctor carefully examines the patient's medical record for previously transferred diseases, tests, and examinations. The urologist clarifies the patient's information about sex life, the presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Examination of the stain and itching from the urethra. An increased number of leukocytes in a stain and the presence of pathological microflora in an itch will indicate the presence of an infection.
- General urine analysis. Helps to identify the presence of infection, its presence is indicated by an increased number of leukocytes (more than 5).
- Ejaculate analysis. Performed to confirm the diagnosis of non-bacterial prostatitis.
- Prostate ultrasound. Allows you to see the appearance of the disease in the most complete way. It is performed to clarify the diagnosis in both acute and chronic inflammation of the prostate, with suspected cancer.
Pain and loss of strength - as the first signs of prostatitis
Most often, doctors have to deal with an already advanced form of the disease, as most men either tend to ignore the first alarming bells - groin pain and decreased sexual desire, or the disease itself is asymptomatic for some time.
These are the features of male anatomy - in the prostate area, blood circulation is difficult, it is a "nutrient" for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, a sedentary lifestyle significantly exacerbates this problem. Therefore, the reason for the massive spread of prostatitis among truck drivers and office workers becomes clear.
One way or another, up to 50% of the entire male population of the globe have ever experienced certain symptoms of prostatitis. Therefore, it is so important to recognize the first signs of illness and seek medical help in a timely manner. After all, treating an advanced form of the disease is an expensive and lengthy undertaking.
Treatment that gives the patient a full life
Of course, it is much easier to get rid of prostatitis in the early stages than from a neglected disease. However, it is the chronic form that doctors need to deal with more often and usually requires long-term and complex treatment.
But in any case, you must first identify the root cause of the pathology - blood stagnation and (or) inflammation in the prostate.
So the complex treatment of prostatitis includes:
- Inflammatory processes are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Furthermore, the drugs are prescribed in the form of tablets as well as in the form of rectal suppositories. In the complex, infusions of medicinal plants (chamomile, calendula), which are administered in the form of microclisters, help well.
- However, the treatment of prostatitis should not be limited to taking medication, it should aim at restoring blood circulation to the prostate area, and this includes a range of physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises. Such measures contribute to better absorption of antibacterial drugs, as they improve the blood supply to the prostate gland. Doctors often prescribe for prostate: electrophoresis, laser therapy, magnetotherapy;
- Prostate massage. This procedure is useful and effective, but should not be performed at home without consulting a doctor, as there are many contraindications, including the acute phase of the disease.
In summary, we can say that the issue of treatment and prevention of prostatitis depends mainly on the desire and activity of men themselves. Elementary morning exercises, regular preventive examinations by a urologist, a balanced diet - this is the key to male strength and longevity!