Prostatitis in men

4 November 2026

Prostatitis is an inflammatory process that affects the tissues of the prostate gland.This is one of the most common diseases in the practice of a urologist.The disease is diagnosed mainly in men between the ages of 25-30, but at older ages the risk of developing the pathology increases significantly.

The form differs between acute and chronic prostatitis.In the latter case, the inflammation is characterized by a long course with periodic relapses.This condition is much more common compared to the acute one.

Causes of prostatitis

Many diseases of the prostate gland, for example, benign hyperplasia or oncopathologies, are problems of the older age group.However, prostatitis does not fall into this category.Its symptoms usually appear in men between the ages of 30 and 50.Most often, the cause is an infectious lesion due to the penetration of pathogenic flora from the urogenital canal or the glands of the genitourinary system.This is explained by the proximity of the urethra and the anus.

Among the most common causative agents of bacterial (infectious) prostatitis, gram-negative organisms should be highlighted: pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Serration, Enterobacter and Proteus.Often the inflammatory process develops against the background of STI infection: chlamydia, gonococci, trichomonas, herpes virus, etc.As a rule, such forms of the disease are diagnosed in men under the age of 35.Cases of treatment of pathology against the background of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are extremely rare.

There are also non-bacterial types of prostatitis.Among their main reasons:

increased pressure in the prostate gland;
autoimmune disorders (destruction of prostate cells by antibodies);
muscle pain syndrome in the pelvic area;
psychoemotional disorders;
lack of motor activity;
excessive physical stress.

The main signs of prostatitis

The disease is accompanied by a complex of disorders that affect the functioning of the entire urinary system.Among the main symptoms:

uncontrolled urination;
discomfort, pain during bladder emptying;
impotence disorder in men of reproductive age;
pain in the perineum when sitting for a long time;
frequent and strong urge to urinate;
difficulty emptying the bladder;
decreased sexual desire and problems with erection;
reproductive dysfunction (infertility);
the feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder after going to the toilet;
inability to achieve a high-quality and stable erection even with strong arousal.

Signs of acute prostatitis

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

Catarrhal.The patient complains of frequent urges, pain during urination, pain in the perineum and sacrum.
Follicular.The pain syndrome becomes intense, may radiate to the anus and intensify during defecation.Urine is released in a thin stream.In some cases there is a delay.There is an increase in body temperature up to 38 degrees during a long period (low-grade fever) or moderate hyperthermia.
Parenchymatic.The man begins to experience general intoxication of the body with chills and temperature up to 38-40°C.Pain in the perineum becomes sharp and throbbing.The act of defecation is difficult, and normal emptying of the bladder is impossible, resulting in acute urinary retention (dysuria).

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

The chronic form of inflammation of the prostate can be a consequence of the lack or premature treatment of the acute phase.However, in many men it develops immediately and is characterized by "vague" symptoms.Among the main signs are:

low-grade fever (occasionally);
slight pain in the perineum;
discomfort during urination;
scanty flow from the urogenital canal during defecation.

In general, the clinical picture changes over time, varies in intensity in different patients and can be hidden when self-medication is attempted.Symptoms of a chronic disorder may include a burning sensation in the urethra, pressure in the perineum, dysuria, impaired sexual function, and increased general fatigue.Against the background of potency problems, mental depression, nervousness and anxiety arise.The fear of impotence leads to the development of complexes, but most men tend to postpone visiting a urologist due to a sense of shame.

Primary chronic prostatitis develops over a long period.Stagnation of blood in the capillaries (prostatosis) provokes the initial stage of non-bacterial inflammation, which leads to the appearance of the disease.

With an infectious etiology, the cause of the disease is a chronic inflammatory process due to infection with trichomonas, ureaplasma, chlamydia or gonococcus.The primary infection masks the signs of prostatitis and its treatment does not eliminate the inflammation of the prostate.Often the addition of an accompanying problem goes unnoticed by a man.

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

Urinary disorder (dysuria).Inflammation increases the volume of the prostate gland, which leads to compression of the ureter.As its lumen decreases, there is a frequent urge to urinate and a feeling of an incompletely empty bladder.Dysuric disorders in many men occur in the early stages of prostatitis.The compensatory mechanism during this period is manifested in the hypertrophy of the muscles of the bladder and ureters, which reduces the symptoms of dysuria, but with the development of inflammation they recur.
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 sensations range from mild and painful to very intense, which interfere with a night's rest.Increased discomfort occurs with ejaculation, sexual abstinence or excessive sexual activity.The pain radiates to the perineum, sacrum, scrotum and sometimes to the lumbar region.
Violation of power.Lack of treatment in the early stages of prostatitis can lead to dyspotence, when a man experiences frequent erections at night, deterioration of orgasm quality and accelerated ejaculation.In different patients, these signs appear with different intensity.Premature ejaculation occurs due to a decrease in the threshold of excitability of the orgasmic center.In this case, the patient experiences pain, which leads to the development of pain waiting syndrome and a gradual withdrawal from sexual activity.In the absence of a comprehensive treatment that addresses the mental factor of the disorder, sexual disorders get worse and worse.Ignoring the need to seek medical help for prostatitis often ends in impotence.

The degree of sexual dysfunction varies depending on individual factors.Some men are so afraid of erectile dysfunction that their problems arise due to suggestion rather than objective physiological factors.In particular, psychogenic dyspotency is observed precisely with increased anxiety and obsessive complexes.The very thought of possible male health disorders is difficult for such patients.This greatly affects their character and communication with others.Irritability, hypochondria, anger and depression appear.

Complications of prostatitis

Lack of adequate treatment for prostate inflammation leads to associated diseases.The fact is that the prostate gland is closely related to other organs of the male genitourinary system.It is located around the neck of the bladder and the urinary canal.Therefore, when the prostate enlarges, the urethra is compressed and the normal flow of urine is disrupted.Taking into account the peculiarities of physiology, if acute or chronic prostatitis is not treated in a timely manner, a number of pathologies and serious complications arise.

Diagnosis of prostatitis

Many urological problems have similar symptoms, so the specialist works with each clinical case separately and uses all available diagnostic tools.A consultation with a urologist always begins with a study of symptoms, medical history and general examination.The doctor then prescribes a series of tests, based on the results of which a diagnosis is made and adequate treatment is selected.As a rule, the exam package includes:

Digital rectal examination of the prostate to determine the size, structure of the prostate gland and the level of compression of the urethra;
Ultrasound of the urinary system (prostate, bladder, kidneys);
laboratory tests of urine, prostate secretion, ejaculate;
analysis for urogenital infections;
urodynamic study.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis of prostatitis in men and related disorders, you should refrain from urinating for 2-3 hours before visiting a urologist.Otherwise, the test results may not be completely accurate, since when the bladder is emptied, the pathogenic microflora is washed away.In accordance with the characteristics of the clinical picture, the method of ultrasound is chosen: transrectal or abdominal (through the abdominal wall).After determining the cause and stage of the disease, a therapeutic strategy is developed.

Prostatitis treatment methods

The main therapy is antibiotics.The use of modern pharmacological developments gives high results, although it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of relapse.The doctor prescribes an antibacterial drug after culture of urine and/or prostate secretion for the type of pathogen.If acute prostatitis is diagnosed, oral antibiotic therapy lasts about 4-6 weeks.In chronic or recurrent forms of the disease, the treatment will last longer (depending on the clinical picture).In severe cases (usually acute bacterial prostatitis), hospitalization and an intravenous course of antibiotics are required.

If there is difficulty urinating, the urologist prescribes medications that ease the hypertonicity of the bladder and prostate gland muscles, which normalizes urine output and prevents stagnation.Some patients are treated with drugs that lower sex hormone levels.As a result, there is a decrease in the size of the prostate and, accordingly, a feeling of discomfort during urination, defecation and ejaculation.With severe swelling of the prostate gland, muscle relaxants help relieve the overload of the bladder sphincter and adjacent muscles.Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs effectively combat pain.Also, chronic prostatitis responds well to adjunctive physiotherapy.Effective methods of such treatment are:

introduction of drugs into the urethra;
prostate massage;
shock wave therapy (SWT);
magnetic laser therapy (MLT);
electrophoresis;
ozone therapy;
intravenous laser blood irradiation (ILBI);
blood ultraviolet radiation (UFOI).

Prostate massage is a frequently used urological technique.The doctor uses the method of digital stimulation of the prostate gland through the rectum to increase the flow of secretions and restore the patency of the organ's channels.An additional effect is the improvement of blood circulation and the accelerated penetration of antibiotics into inflamed tissues.In addition to finger massage of the prostate, hardware methods are also possible.Shock wave therapy shows good results in the treatment of prostatitis.The basis of this medical technology is short-term exposure to low-frequency sound waves in the inflamed area.The procedure helps:

activate local blood circulation and the growth of new vessels;
stimulation of the regenerative abilities of the body;
destroy fibrous foci and calcifications that provoke pain and inflammatory processes.

After a course of shock wave therapy, the symptoms of prostatitis are relieved and a good preventive effect is observed.Significant results can be achieved only with an integrated approach to the problem.In addition, the patient's responsible attitude towards medical prescriptions is important.

For their part, the urologists of the clinic ensure the preparation of an individual treatment regimen, taking into account the cause, form, stage of the disease, general well-being and the presence of accompanying pathologies.

Prevention of prostatitis

To minimize the risk of relapse, it is necessary to reduce the negative effects on the body.Among the provoking factors are:

Smoking.The anatomical features of the location of the prostate gland lead to constant oxygen starvation, and the inhalation of tobacco smoke causes vasospasm, which further slows down local microcirculation processes.All experienced smokers have the problem of high blood pressure.
Lack of motor activity."Sedentary" work and a sedentary lifestyle lead to overload on the pelvic organs.
Alcohol abuse.Exceeding the daily limit of alcohol affects the general health and makes the body more vulnerable to various infectious diseases.
Stressful conditions.It is necessary to avoid as much as possible situations that lead to anxiety, irritation and depressive disorders.If necessary, you should contact a specialized specialist.
Hypothermia.Exposure to low temperatures lowers immunity, which makes the body "open" to colds and inflammations.
Fatigue, excessive physical activity.You should not forget about the schedule of work and rest, as well as lifting heavy weights.

Preventive measures will help prevent the development of acute prostatitis and the return of chronic prostatitis.For questions about the diagnosis and treatment of prostate inflammation, you can always contact the urology department of our clinic.