Prostatitis is one of the most common urological diseases in men.It is generally accepted that after 30 years, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, after 50 - 50%, etc.At the same time, the real incidence is much higher than the registered one, this is explained by the peculiarities of the diagnosis and the possibility that the disease appears in latent form.With prostatitis, there are many problems with urination, 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 suffer from prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, after 50 - 50%, etc.At the same time, the real incidence is much higher than the registered one, this is explained by the peculiarities of the diagnosis and the possibility that the disease appears in latent form.
The prostate gland is a small glandular-muscular organ located in the small pelvis under the bladder, covering the initial part of the urethra (urethra).The prostate gland produces a secret that, when mixed with the seminal fluid, preserves the activity of the sperm and their resistance to various adverse conditions.
With prostatitis, there are many problems with urination, libido decreases and erectile function is impaired.The saddest thing is that in the absence of proper treatment, approximately 40% of patients face a form of infertility, since the prostate gland can no longer produce a sufficient amount of high-quality secretion to ensure sperm motility.It is important to remember that similar symptoms can appear not only with prostatitis, but also with prostate adenoma and cancer.
Forms of prostatitis
According to the criteria of the American National Institute of Health (NIH USA) 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 - Asymptomatic chronic prostatitis (asymptomatic).
Occasionally, 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 35, the disease usually appears in the form of acute bacterial prostatitis.Bacterial prostatitis is called when there is laboratory confirmation of the presence of infection.Most often it turns out to be chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis or gonorrhea.The infection enters the prostate gland from the urethra, bladder, rectum and through the blood and lymphatic vessels of the pelvis.
However, recent studies prove that in most cases the infection is layered on top of existing disturbances 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 elderly patients, chronic forms of the disease are diagnosed more often.
Prostatodynia is the presence of a clinical picture of prostatitis, thickening of the 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 function disorders (pain along the urethra and in the rectum during ejaculation, weak erection, premature ejaculation, loss of orgasm, etc.);
- the increase in anxiety and nervousness of a man, caused by the fixation of attention of patients 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 continues more quietly, but at any time, under unfavorable factors, an aggravation can occur.Probably asymptomatic.
Complications of prostatitis
In the absence of timely treatment, prostatitis can cause the following complications:
- transition from acute to chronic prostatitis,
- bladder obstruction with acute urinary retention, which requires surgical treatment,
- the development of male infertility,
- narrowing and scarring of the urethra,
- recurrent cystitis,
- pyelonephritis and other kidney damage,
- abscess (suffocation) 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, renal failure).
Treatment of prostatitis in men
The modern arsenal for diagnosing prostate diseases is very wide.
The doctor will prescribe a bacteriological examination of urine and prostate secretions.To clarify the location of a 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, computerized or magnetic nuclear tomography, cystoscopy, urography and prostate enzyme testing are prescribed.
When establishing a diagnosis, your doctor must exclude the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.To quickly relieve pain in acute prostatitis, analgesics and warm baths may be recommended.
Bacterial prostatitis requires the prescription of antibiotics, the selection of which is carried out on the basis of the results of the bacteriological culture of the secretions in the nutrient media and the determination of the sensitivity of the pathogen 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 (since 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 check-ups (once a year) by a urologist.After prostatitis, preventive courses of outpatient treatment are carried out at least 2 times a year for a month and a course of treatment in a sanatorium.