Inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) is a very painful condition. But usually prostatitis is not limited to pain and causes more serious symptoms. Which one? How long does prostatitis usually last? And what does that help?
What is prostatitis?
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland (prostate gland). The prostate can become inflamed, for example, as a result of bacteria that can enter the prostate tissue from the urinary tract. Depending on whether the cause of inflammation of the prostate is bacterial or not, the following types of prostatitis are distinguished:
- bacterial;
- bacterial prostatitis.
The prostate is a four-centimeter gland, located below the bladder in men. It is one of the internal reproductive organs that produces a secretion that mixes with sperm during ejaculation. This secretion ensures sperm motility and provides support on the way to the female egg.
In men, the prostate gland can become inflamed as a result of inflammation of the bladder or urethra (urethra), and the inflammation can be caused by bacteria migrating from the bladder or urethra to the prostate. In this case, we are talking about acute prostatitis. In most cases, the infection can be controlled with antibiotics.
In approximately 5 out of 100 patients, despite treatment, the bacteria remain in the prostate and the inflammation remains unchanged. Diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.
Bacteria do not always cause inflammation of the prostate
Besides bacteria, there are other factors that can cause inflammation of the prostate gland, such as central nervous system (CNS) disorders, mental problems, stress, and chronic inflammation of the bladder wall. Because in this case prostatitis occursnot because of bacteria, it is calledbacterial prostatitis.
Sometimes abacterial prostatitis is called a form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS for short). But this pain syndrome can develop even without inflammation of the prostate. In addition to inflammation, there are also non-inflammatory forms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Note:In non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome, the symptoms are similar to prostatitis, but neither bacteria nor inflammation are found.
But in the official classification
prostatitis The US National Institutes of Health lists both inflammatory and non-inflammatory forms of the syndrome.chronic pelvic pain.According to many, it presents
doctors can lead to misleading and, at worst, inappropriate treatment. Unlike prostatitis, non-inflammatory chronic pelvic pain syndrome does not respond to antibiotic therapy.
Causes of prostatitis
There are a number of factors that contribute to inflammation of the prostate gland. The most important are:
- recurrent urinary tract infections;
- bladder catheterization;
- operations in the genitourinary region;
- unprotected anal sex.
In these and other cases, bacteria can easily enter the urinary tract and cause inflammation of the prostate gland. If bacteria enter the prostate, it can cause bacterial prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis can have more diverse causes. Let's consider the causes of both types of prostatitis in more detail.
Bacterial prostatitis
Most bacterial prostatitis is caused by intestinal bacteria such as Escherichia coli or enterococcus. If they enter the urinary tract through the opening of the genital organ, they first cause an infection of the urethra or bladder, then the pathogens enter the prostate gland and cause inflammation of the prostate.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is common in men with hospitalized prostatitis. They enter the urinary tract after bladder catheterization.
Rarely, inflammation of the prostate gland occurs as a result of sexually transmitted diseases. In this case, the causative agents are mainly chlamydia.
Bacterial prostatitis
Any bacteria can be the culprit in abacterial prostatitis (a form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome). But after tests, leukocytes (white blood cells that protect the body) are detected in the prostate gland and sperm. This indicates that the body is fighting inflammation.
What causes this inflammation is not fully understood and studied by experts. This is probably the result of the combined effect of various factors. The following factors may play a role:
- weakened immune response;
- disorders of the central nervous system that affect the nerves and muscles of the genitourinary system and prevent a person from emptying the bladder as usual;
- mental disorders such as stress, anxiety or depression.
Some experts suggest that chronic pelvic pain syndrome may be caused by hidden infections. However, this assumption is controversial.
Typical symptoms of prostatitis
Typical symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis are:
- frequent urination;
- burning during urination (usually with a small amount of urine);
- pain in the bladder and perineum;
- pain during bowel movements;
- nausea, vomiting;
- fever and chills.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis also causes pain and problems with urination. However, these symptoms disappear immediately and appear after a while. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a recurrent course with fading and reappearing inflammation. It may take several months.
Another characteristic symptom of chronic inflammation of the prostate gland is erectile dysfunction.
Bacterial inflammation of the prostate, which is not caused by bacteria, mainly causes symptoms similar to those of chronic bacterial prostatitis. In addition, victims sometimes complain of pain during ejaculation.
Special case: asymptomatic inflammation of the prostate
In rare cases, the doctor may detect an increased number of white blood cells in the discharge or prostate secretion, but the affected person may not feel pain or other symptoms of prostatitis.
Such cases are classified as asymptomatic prostatitis and are usually discovered incidentally as part of cancer or infertility screening.
Diagnostics
A doctor can diagnose acute bacterial prostatitis by asking the patient about his symptoms and examining the prostate. First, the doctor feels the prostate with his finger. If heat and swelling are felt in the prostate gland during palpation, and the patient feels pain, this indicates acute bacterial inflammation.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may also perform a urine test and take blood from the patient to examine the level of inflammatory cells.
Chronic bacterial inflammation of the prostate cannot be determined only by palpation. For example, if the patient is between two flare-ups, the doctor may not detect severe swelling during palpation. Therefore, blood and urine tests are necessary to diagnose chronic bacterial prostatitis.
A single urine sample is not enough to detect chronic prostatitis. Because white blood cells and bacteria in the urine can indicate a urinary tract infection. Your doctor will need to test several urine samples to find out if the inflammation is affecting the prostate.
Treatment of prostatitis
Which treatment will help with inflammation of the prostate gland depends on the cause: if the inflammation is caused by bacteria, the therapy will be different from the treatment of abacterial prostatitis. However, in both cases, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs (called antiphlogistics).
Treatment of bacterial prostatitis
Antibiotics for bacterial inflammation of the prostate will help relieve symptoms.
- In the case of mild acute prostatitis, the doctor should prescribe antibiotics from the Fluoroquinolone group, and the patient should take them for 10 days.
- If the inflammation is severe, the doctor may prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics.
- If it is chronic inflammation, the patient usually takes a fluoroquinolone for 4-6 weeks.
Treatment of bacterial prostatitis
Doctors usually try to control non-bacterial inflammation of the prostate gland using a combination of different drugs. For example, in addition to anti-inflammatory drugs, they can prescribe the so-calledalpha-1 receptor blockers. They relax the muscles of the prostate and bladder, thereby helping to empty the bladder.
Depending on your doctor's suspicions about the cause of the inflammation, additional measures may be taken. For example, it has been suggested that psychological problems can play a role in the development of non-bacterial prostatitis. In this case, the doctor may recommend psychotherapy.
In addition, thermal treatments such as baths can often be used to relieve symptoms.
Treatment of prostatitis with folk remedies
Folk remedies for prostatitis serve as an alternative to drug therapy. It is used for bacterial prostatitis. Consult your doctor before using folk methods.
Fireweed
Fireweed has proven to be an excellent remedy for prostate diseases.
Fireweed is a perennial herb. It has small, usually white flowers, but they also come in various shades of red.
Wood seeds are small, have a hair on the surface, with their help they spread.
There are about 200 species of firewood, the plant is often considered a weed and can be very poisonous, but only firewood has been shown to have beneficial effects. Flowers and roots are used. The composition of biologically active substances (myricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, lectin and sitosterol) has a positive effect on prostate activity.
Use of firewood:
Pour 1 heaped teaspoon of herbs into 1/4 liter of water, bring to a boil and leave to infuse for a short time (15 minutes). You should drink it cool during the day with sips (up to 2 glasses).
This medicinal plant is used for various urological diseases, in particular:
- for all prostate diseases, including prostate cancer;
- for kidney diseases;
- for bladder diseases;
- for bladder cancer;
- for wound healing.
Fireweed is effective against inflammation of the urological tract, as a rule, depending on the nature of the problems, it is combined with other herbs, most often with cranberry, goldenrod, horsetail or birch.
Green tea
Medicines in the form of green tea are probably the most pleasant way to treat prostatitis.
It is recommended to drink 3 cups of green tea a day.
This drink helps with frequent urination, which helps to cleanse the whole body. In addition, green tea is directly involved in the detoxification of the body.
Advice!Men are advised to urinate while sitting. In this way, complete emptying of the bladder is ensured. The sitting position completely relaxes all the pelvic muscles, as a result of which no residual urine remains in the bladder, otherwise some pathogenic bacteria multiply rapidly.
nettle
2 handfuls of freshly picked nettle leaves - about 15 cm from the top of the plant - should be poured with 300 ml of drinking water and brewed overnight (about 12 hours). In the morning, the infusion should be slightly warmed and drunk.
Cranberry
Cranberry is one of the famous ones that fight prostatitis. Home treatment with cranberries involves consuming them in dried, fresh or canned form. In the latter case, you should be careful of added sugar.
Cranberry juices are also available in stores. You have to be careful here too and read the label carefully to make sure the juice doesn't contain any added juices from other fruits or artificial sweeteners.
Only 100% cranberry juice has a healing effect.
Add dried cranberries to porridge or oatmeal.
For whom cranberries are not suitable:
Cranberry is contraindicated for people taking blood thinners. Cranberry can reduce the antiplatelet effect of the drug, which will cause bleeding.
Ginger
During the treatment of prostatitis, you can pay attention to another useful product - ginger root. Ginger is a promising product for the treatment of this disease. It has a strong anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant properties, interrupts the reproductive cycle of cancer cells (this is especially important in the treatment of prostate cancer) and promotes apoptosis. However, ginger is not toxic to other rapidly growing cells.
It should be taken after meals by adding root to tea (preferably green).
Pumpkin seeds
Experience shows that the most effective method of treating prostatitis is to use fresh, not dried pumpkin seeds.
Preparation:Pumpkin seeds should be crushed. The resulting mass is mixed with honey in equal proportions and slightly heated. Then you need to leave it in the refrigerator for a few hours, after which you need to form walnut-sized balls.
Balls are taken 1-2 times a day before meals.
For preventive purposes, you can eat 4-5 pumpkin seeds every day. Zinc, selenium and other biochemical substances in their composition reduce inflammation in the body, including the prostate gland, and have a positive effect on the formation of the male hormone testosterone.
chestnut
Chestnut is also effective and has no side effects, which is very important for elderly people.
Peel the chestnuts, chop the kernels into small pieces, pour boiling water over it and let it brew for an hour.
Decoction should be taken 30 drops before meals 3 times a day.
Regular sex
Regular sexual intercourse, like masturbation, cleans the prostate, improves blood circulation and prevents local inflammation.
Prognosis: duration and course of prostatitis
Acute prostatitis usually responds well to treatment. If the patient takes the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, the pain and fever usually disappear within 36 hours. After a few days, the symptoms should decrease significantly.
Chronic prostatitis lasts for several months and usually occurs with relapses, during which the patient experiences little or no discomfort. Chronic prostatitis is usually more persistent than acute prostatitis: antibiotic therapy often lasts several weeks.
Is it possible to prevent prostatitis?
Early treatment of urinary tract infections can prevent the spread of germs to the prostate and therefore inflammation of the prostate. Using condoms can help prevent prostate inflammation caused by some sexually transmitted diseases.