Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland that affects men of all ages. In most cases, sexually transmitted infections occur due to exposure to the prostate gland and opportunistic microflora. Inflammation of the gland itself is not terrible, but in the absence of effective treatment, it can lead to urinary incontinence, pain, male infertility, impotence. Also, the development of chronic prostatitis often contributes to a sedentary lifestyle and lack of regular sexual activity.
What role does the prostate gland play in the body?
The chestnut-shaped prostate gland is located under the bladder. It prevents seminal fluid from entering it and also produces prostate secretion, an important component of sperm.
Causes of chronic prostatitis
The most common causes of chronic prostatitis are sexually transmitted infections and pathogens. For example, Trichomonas. Also, the development of such prostatitis contributes to a sedentary lifestyle. However, prostatitis itself is not so frightening that the disease can lead to more serious diseases - male infertility, prostate adenoma.
The causes of the onset of the disease include:
- frequent hypothermia;
- low immunity;
- hormonal disorders;
- a person has bad habits;
- pelvic organ damage;
- sedentary lifestyle.
The causes of chronic prostatitis are divided into two types:
- Infections.They enter the body in different ways - through the urethra, through the flow of blood or lymph from the source of infection or inflammatory organs in the body.
- Disorders of blood circulation in the prostate glandor the stagnation of its secret, occurs in the following cases:
- refusing to have sex for a long time;
- frequent interrupted sexual intercourse or unrealized arousal;
- defective discharge.
Stress and alcoholism can also cause chronic prostatitis in men. Exacerbation is often observed after hypothermia, various infectious diseases, dietary errors (spicy food, alcohol).
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis
The most common symptoms are:
- discomfort or pain in the inguinal and suprapubic regions, perineum, scrotum, rectum, lumbosacral region;
- frequent and painful urination;
- pain in the lower abdomen (constant or during urination);
- intermediate or slow urine flow;
- decreased duration of sexual intercourse, worsening of erection, decreased libido, premature ejaculation;
- periodic / permanent absence of morning erection (spontaneous);
- After ejaculation, the pulling pain at the head of the penis disappears on its own within half an hour.
Many men ignore the symptoms of chronic prostatitis, believing that the disease will go away on its own. However, it progresses to cause various complications: pyelonephritis, cystitis, vesiculitis. Over time, infertility and impotence develop against the background of inflammation of the prostate gland.
Diagnosis of the disease
Laboratory and instrumental examinations are required for accurate diagnosis. These include:
- general urinalysis,
- general blood test,
- study of prostate secretion,
- bacteriological examination of prostate secretion to determine the microflora by determining susceptibility to antibacterial drugs;
- Blood test for PSA (prostate specific antigen),
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and prostate gland,
- digital examination of the prostate.
Complications that can be caused by chronic prostatitis
This disease causes many accompanying diseases that seriously complicate a person's life:
- Urinary incontinence: frequent urination during the day and night, poor urine flow, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
- Vesiculitis, coliculitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles and seminal tuberculosis.
- Pancreatic abscess is a serious pathology that requires hospitalization and often surgery.
- Prostate sclerosis - develops with a long course of prostatitis and requires surgical treatment.
- Cysts and eventually prostate stones.
- Impotence, infertility.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
Treatment of this disease should be carried out only under the constant supervision of a physician. One of the best and most effective modern drugs used in the treatment of chronic prostatitis is prostate tissue extract. Its use gives quick results and eliminates symptoms.
Because therapy is complex, other medications should also be used:
- antibacterial,
- alpha blockers,
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
There are no universal medicines. Therefore, doctors may recommend different groups of antibacterial drugs. Cephalosporins, protected penicillins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans and tetracyclines, etc. All of them affect the cause of the disease - a bacterial infection.
Alpha-blockers - drugs for chronic prostatitis, designed to relax the muscles of the prostatic urethra and bladder neck, relieve spasms and facilitate urine flow. In fact, they do not cure, but they do relieve the painful symptoms of inflammation.
Among anti-inflammatory drugs, urologists recommend both reducing the inflammatory process and reducing pain.
| Medication | Advantages | disadvantages | Recommendations for use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoroquinolones |
|
|
Recommended for use. |
| Diaminopyrimidines |
|
Has a negative effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterobacteria. | Second-line drugs. |
| Macrolides |
|
Insufficient activity against gram-negative bacteria. | Used for specific pathogens. |
| Tetracyclines | Good action against atypical pathogens. |
|
Used for specific pathogens. |
Effective treatment of chronic prostatitis
Among the drugs with a large evidence base are drugs that are extracts of bovine prostate tissue. Most often - in the form of suppositories or ampoules. The drug is effective in the treatment of both acute and chronic forms of the disease. The drug is available in the form of suppositories (rectal suppositories) and ampoules (injections), the action of the drug is aimed at strengthening the walls of blood vessels and improving blood circulation at the micro level.
Effects of drug use for chronic prostatitis:
- Elimination of dysuric disorders and normalization of the urinary process.
- Improving the functional state of the prostate gland.
- Reduction of obstruction, reduction of prostate edema.
- Reduction of severe symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
- Normalization of complete blood circulation in the pelvic region reduces the likelihood of blood clots in the blood vessels.
- Decreased concentration of leukocytes infiltrating prostate tissue.
Methods of treatment of chronic prostatitis
In most cases, chronic disease is successfully treated conservatively. However, it should be borne in mind that therapy will give rapid positive results only with an integrated approach. It is recommended to reconsider the lifestyle that caused the disease, otherwise there is a possibility of recurrence. Alcohol abuse, unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle and promiscuity are extremely harmful to the male reproductive system.
Treatment procedures:
- prostate massageis performed manually through the anus. It should be noted that the procedure is not very pleasant, but the effectiveness is very high.
- Physiotherapy procedures.Treatment of chronic prostatitis with thermal physiotherapy gives good results by improving microcirculation and absorption of drugs into tissues. Physiotherapeutic procedures include irrigation with antibacterial solution using ultrasonic heating and enemas.
- Balneotherapy.In many sanatoriums, the disease is successfully treated with balneotherapy, ie with the help of mineral water. Low-mineralized water is usually prescribed for the treatment of patients with prostatitis, both indoors and in the form of baths.
- Diet therapy.At the first signs of prostatitis, you should start a special diet. First of all, you should avoid alcohol, because ethyl alcohol irritates the prostate ducts, increases pain and inflammation. It is also necessary to limit the intake of fatty meat to exclude the formation of cholesterol plaques and further deterioration of blood circulation. Legumes, mushrooms, offal, salty and spicy foods, tea and coffee, carbonated drinks, pastries are prohibited.
For chronic prostatitis, the diet should consist of foods rich in zinc (this is found in seafood and pumpkin seeds). It is recommended to eat as many vegetables as possible (except those that contribute to the formation of gas - for example, cauliflower), dairy products, grains and dried fruits.
Preventive measures
Chronic prostatitis usually does not develop if a man leads a proper lifestyle: diet, exercise, etc. Prevention of prostatitis is facilitated by giving up bad habits and casual sex.
There are primary, prophylactic and secondary, aimed at preventing the occurrence of the disease, which is responsible for preventing the recurrence (inflammation) of existing chronic prostatitis.
Primary preventionregular sexual intercourse, a balanced diet, adherence to a regime of physical activity, timely and complete treatment of any infectious (purulent) diseases of the body and timely sanitation of the oral cavity.
Secondary preventionProvides regular examination and preventive treatment by a urologist - multivitamins, restorative drugs, sports.
Howprophylactic medicationprostate diseases, suppositories can be used.