Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland caused by various infections. It often proceeds in an acute form and is accompanied by a rise in temperature up to 37–38⁰C, pain in the perineum and problems with urination.
Untreated acute prostatitis becomes chronic and is more common in this condition. In this case, the symptoms are less pronounced (pain in the lower abdomen, when urinating, sexual disorders, general weakening of the body) or completely absent. However, the consequences can be very serious. The inflammatory process is directly related to problems with potency and is expressed in a decrease in libido, obliteration of orgasm.
A neglected infection greatly increases the chances of developing complications. In particular, these are diseases such as:
- pyelonephritis;
- cystitis;
- prostate abscess;
- BPH;
- infertility.
Such consequences can be avoided if you consult a doctor in time. Take care of your health now - and in return you will get excellent health, psychological comfort and increased self-esteem, the quality of sexual relations.
Causes of prostatitis
This question is relevant not only because many men are faced with this problem, but also because most cannot understand where they got this disease from.
Causes of prostatitis in men:
- Sexually transmitted infections.
- Inflammatory diseases of the urethra caused by conditionally pathogenic flora.
- Sexual arrhythmia is an irregular and unbalanced sex life.
- Physical inactivity is a sedentary lifestyle.
- Urolithiasis disease.
- The presence of foci of chronic infection in the body (chronic tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, proctitis and paraproctitis, etc. ).
- Abuse of alcohol and spicy food.
- Constipation.
- Hypothermia.
- Pathology of the lumbosacral spine and spinal cord - due to a violation of the innervation and trophism of the prostate.
Why does prostatitis occur when infected with an STI? The causative agents of genital infections, particularly such as gonococcus, trichomonas, chlamydia, ureaplasma, and mycoplasma, initially affect the urethra in men, causing venereal urethritis. But, like any living microorganism, these infections actively multiply under favorable conditions for them, which are the mucous membranes of the urethra and prostatic ducts.
Of course, if the patient turned to a urologist or venereologist in time, passed tests for sexually transmitted diseases, revealed the presence of a sexual infection and treated it, there will be no reason for the onset of prostatitis. It will all end with recovery in the anterior urethritis stage. But with an advanced form of the disease, with a formal approach to the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, when trying to cure them only by taking broad-spectrum antibiotics in tablets and accordingly not cured, microbes penetrate into the posterior urethra and prostate gland, causing inflammation, that is, prostatitis, and is most often suffered primary-chronic. In this case, it is very easy to avoid the development of prostatitis, absolutely everything depends on the patient himself.
All you need is:
- Seek immediate medical attention at the first sign of discomfort in the urethra
- Pass the tests recommended by the urologist for sexually transmitted diseases
- Undergo comprehensive treatment for identified sexually transmitted infections
- Carry out control tests after treatment to determine the presence of a venereal infection not only in the urethra, but also in the prostatic secretion
- And it is better to undergo medical prophylaxis in the clinic after casual sex even before the onset of symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases and to protect yourself and your loved ones from sexually transmitted diseases in general and as a cause of prostatitis, in particular
Prostatitis Symptoms
How to recognize or suspect prostatitis for an ordinary person, because its symptoms are very similar to many diseases of the genitourinary system and even other organs? How does prostatitis manifest itself? What are its first signs and how they behave with the progression of the disease. We will talk about it in this article.
What other diseases can be confused with prostatitis:
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are the most common situation when a man comes to see a venereologist after a casual relationship, thinking he has an STI. And indeed, the prostate gland was inflamed.
- Urolithiasis can give similar symptoms, but at the same time it can itself provoke an inflammatory process in the prostate.
- Cystitis is rare in men, but the symptoms are very similar to prostatitis.
- Pyelonephritis - inflammation of the renal pelvis has some symptom commonality with inflammation of the prostate gland.
- Diseases of the scrotum (epididymitis, orchitis, varicocele) - heaviness and pain in the scrotum can be associated with these diseases, including prostatitis.
- Diabetes mellitus: Patients notice increased urination, as in prostate diseases, but there is no slow flow and the urine volume is normal or even increased.
- Other diseases of the prostate: cancer and adenoma (benign hyperplasia) of the prostate.
- Urethritis.
- Diseases of the rectum - fissures, hemorrhoids, tumors.
- Diseases of the lumbosacral spine.
To make a correct diagnosis, a urologist needs not only to know the symptoms of prostatitis very well, but also to be able to correctly prescribe examinations and other diagnostic studies, as well as to be able to adequately evaluate the results.
So, consider the signs or symptoms of prostatitis:
Group 1 is a pain syndrome. That is, the onset of pain in the perineum, groin, lower abdomen, scrotum, penis, rectum, sacrum, coccyx, inner thighs. It can be just aching, pulling, pressing sensations, or rather sharp, throbbing and strong pains. Sometimes a man simply complains of some discomfort in these areas, both while urinating and outside of it. Often, the aching pain intensifies when sitting for a long time in a chair or in the car.
In chronic slow prostatitis, pain may subside after intercourse. If the inflammation is strongly expressed in the prostate or large calcifications (stones) have formed in the gland, pain during ejaculation is possible.
Symptoms of group 2 - urination disorders. There is an increase in urination, first at night, then during the day. The flow of urine becomes slow, the volume of each portion decreases, the transparency of urine decreases, blood may appear. With severe swelling of the prostate or fibrosis of the gland around the urethra, there is a pronounced difficulty in emptying the bladder. A man has to strain, wait a while to urinate.
Group 3 - violation of sexual function. In the initial stage of prostatitis, there is a certain increase in sexual desire, hyperexcitability and premature ejaculation. In addition, due to a decrease in the production of sex hormones, a decrease in libido occurs, the erection falls off. A man either cannot have sexual intercourse or, having started, he cannot finish it. But, even when ejaculation occurs, the orgasm is dull or almost not felt at all. If an erection or ejaculation is accompanied by pain, the man himself refuses new contacts, which negatively affect his sexual function in the future due to prolonged abstinence. And this also leads to the progression of congestive prostatitis. A vicious circle is born.
Group 4: these are general symptoms. There may be an increase in body temperature, fatigue, weakness, irritability, which are associated with both the presence of an inflammatory process and hormonal imbalance, and with failures in sexual life. Some patients experience hyperhidrosis (high sweating) of the groin region, redness of the glans penis.
With a sufficiently pronounced inflammatory process in the prostate from the urethra, there may be mucous or purulent secretions.
The clinical picture of each patient with prostatitis is individual. Not all symptom groups are necessarily present, and not all of them can be pronounced. With a chronic process in the prostate, a canceled clinic and minor symptoms are observed, but this does not make it the least dangerous for a man's health.
Therefore, if you notice manifestations of prostatitis from the above, urgently make an appointment with a urologist. Do not delay in contacting a doctor, because even if the discomfort has passed, this does not mean that the inflammatory process has stopped. It has just entered a dormant phase and will gradually undermine your health and destroy the prostate gland.
The best option is a preventive examination every six months by a urologist with diagnostic palpation of the prostate, microscopy of its secretion, ultrasound and blood test for PSA. So you protect yourself from the negative consequences of not only advanced chronic prostatitis, but also adenoma and prostate cancer.
Treatment of prostatitis
Modern methods of treating prostatitis include the following varieties:
- drug treatment (prescription of antiviral and antifungal drugs);
- maintenance therapy (prescribing immunostimulating drugs, taking dietary supplements);
- urological massage (prostate massage);
- LOD therapy (a method that uses low pressure to restore potency);
- a set of special physical exercises for relaxation;
- doctor's recommendations regarding nutrition, lifestyle, sexual intercourse.
In treatment, I use the best methods of leading medical centers and my own developments, which give excellent results.
Congestive (congestive) prostatitis.
Treatment of congestive prostatitis presents some difficulties, since the causes of this type of inflammation of the prostate gland are the lifestyle and sexual activity of this man. Consequently, only the patient himself, and not the doctor, can directly influence these processes. But even in such a difficult situation, patients can be helped. For the treatment of congestive or congestive prostatitis, a special complex therapy has been developed that allows you to remove the effects of blood stagnation in the prostatic venous plexus and secretion of the prostate in its ducts and acini.
Treatment of congestive prostatitis
After a preliminary diagnosis, which includes:
- Analysis of prostatic secretion by microscopy, IST, cultures
- Blood test for PSA
- General urine and blood tests
- Blood chemistry
- Ultrasound of the prostate, its venous plexus
- kidney ultrasound
A diagnosis of chronic congestive prostatitis is established, a complex of drug treatment is determined and the necessary procedures, which include:
- Prostate massage through the rectum is needed to remove white blood cell plugs, mucus, and congestive inflammatory prostate secretion from the glandular ducts. It is the main treatment procedure that also improves blood flow in the prostate gland, which acts as a factor in the fight against blood stasis.
The massage is performed by a urologist. Session duration from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Quantity of 10 per course. The cost is 600 rubles.
Even if the patient does not have the opportunity to complete the entire course of congestive prostatitis treatment, she must participate in at least 10 massage sessions. Taking medications alone does not give the desired effect in the treatment of prostate congestion.
- Vibration massage of the prostate is a very good and effective procedure for the treatment of congestive prostatitis. With the help of a special device that creates vibrations, a thermal and magnetic field, improves the blood supply to the gland, weakens the attachment of leukocyte plugs to the walls of the prostatic ducts, which facilitates their removal during the subsequent finger massage. It is usually done right before a massage session.
- Magnetic laser therapy improves blood flow and trophism of the gland, removes inflammation products from it, relieves swelling. Many patients feel its effect in the very first days of treatment in the form of a decrease in pain and a feeling of tension in the prostate area.
This congestive prostatitis treatment has long established itself and has been used successfully for many years, constantly updated, including new modern methods and approaches. Chronic congestive prostatitis can and should be treated, achieving long-term remission and significantly improving the quality of life of a modern man.
BPH
Prostate adenoma, or as it is commonly called today, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic disease that occurs mainly in older men, at least after the age of 50. After 70 years, more than 50% of men already have complications of this disease. Although there are cases of its earlier development.
Prostate adenoma is accompanied by the growth of its glandular and stromal (connective) tissue. As a result, nodules are formed in the thickness of the gland, which, when they reach large sizes, begin to compress the surrounding tissues: bladder, urethra, rectum, and sometimes ureters, disrupting the normal functioning of these organs.
Reasons for the development of prostate adenoma
The development of prostate adenoma is associated with a hormonal imbalance in increasingly older men, that is a kind of manifestation of "male menopause". Over the years, there has been a decrease in the production of the main male hormone testosterone by the testes and an increase in the content of the female hormone estradiol (especially in men with high body fat mass). A direct negative effect of female hormones on the prostate gland has been shown, as well as an increase in the production of dihydrotestosterone in the cells of the prostate, which causes the active growth of its tissue and the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia, i. e. adenoma.
The reasons that lead to the development and progression of BPH can also include:
- hypodynamia - a sedentary lifestyle
- alcohol and smoking abuse
- fatty, cholesterol-rich, spicy, spicy foods
- low sexual activity
Chronic prostatitis, in principle, is not the cause of prostate adenoma, but with a simultaneous course it contributes to more pronounced symptoms and the rapid development of complications of prostatic hyperplasia.
Symptoms of prostate adenoma
Symptoms of prostate adenoma depend on the stage of the disease, its decompensation, the development of complications and the direction of tumor growth.
- First, there are signs of difficulty in urinating, slow urine flow, constant urges up to 15-20 per day, nocturia - nocturnal urination.
- So, when the bladder muscles weaken, pain in the lower abdomen worries, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, urine is excreted in portions, drop by drop, you have to strain the abdominal muscles. It ends with a complete loss of the detrusor, the bladder muscles that excrete urine.
- When combined with chronic prostatitis, there is pain in the perineum, rectum, fever, mucus and pus discharge from the urethra.
- Urine changes color, becomes cloudy, drops of blood may be present.
- Sexual function is impaired.
- With the growth of prostate adenoma to the triangle of the bladder formed by the mouths of the ureters and urethra, blockage of the ureters and a violation of the outflow of urine from the kidneys occur, which ends with a more rapid development of chronic renal insufficiency and urolithiasis.
The main complications of prostate adenoma:
- Acute urinary retention: requires emergency bladder catheterization.
- As a result of urine stagnation, urolithiasis and inflammation of the kidneys (pyelonephritis), bladder (cystitis) and urethra develop.
- The appearance of blood in the urine.
Chronic kidney failure is a formidable complication that can lead to death.
Treatment of prostate adenoma
The clinic treats prostate adenoma without surgery, i. e. drug therapy, which is most effective for stage 1 and sometimes 2 benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Surgical treatment of prostate adenoma is carried out with decompensation, a large volume of growth of the prostate adenoma towards the bladder triangle. It is available in several types:
- starting with open transvesical adenomectomy - removal of the tumor through the bladder
- to finish with minimally invasive methods, when through the urethra with the aid of an electric knife, radio waves and laser techniques, the urethra is freed from the adenoma tissue or hyperplastic areas of the prostate are completely removed.
In order not to ensure that at the first visit to the urologist you are immediately offered surgery for prostate adenoma, it is necessary to undergo an annual examination of the prostate gland, an ultrasound and a blood test for PSA.
prostatic massage
One of the most common and very effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in urology and venereology is prostate (prostate) massage. This manipulation has long been used by urologists and is familiar to almost all patients with diseases of the prostate gland, seminal vesicles and sexually transmitted diseases.
Why is prostate massage used?
Prostate massage can be used in two cases:
for diagnostic purposes for:
- Obtain prostate secretion for microscopic analysis
- Determination of the presence of sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, ureaplasm, mycoplasma, gonorrhea, etc. ) in the prostate by PCR, PIF and others
- Take culture material with the determination of microflora and sensitivity to antibiotics
- Obtaining subjective data on pain, density, size of the gland - the so-called diagnostic palpation of the prostate
for therapeutic purposes:
- to free the gland ducts of leukocyte plugs and mucus
- to improve blood circulation in the prostate, which leads to better penetration of drugs into its tissues and the elimination of congestion
When is prostate massage prescribed?
Prostate massage is prescribed for a variety of men's health problems, for example:
- chronic bacterial and bacterial prostatitis
- chronic vesiculitis - massaging the prostate and seminal vesicles
- chronic and slow urethritis
- prostatitis caused by genital infections
- erectile dysfunction and infertility associated with prostate disease
- for preventive purposes in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in the final stage
Prostate massage is not performed in the presence of acute purulent inflammation of the genital organs!
How is prostate massage performed?
There are several classic positions of prostate massage.
The most common is the knee-elbow position, when the patient stands on the couch on his knees and his arms bent at the elbow joints, bending at the waist.
In diseases of the spine, old age, large body weight, it is possible to stand on the left side with the legs bent at the knees, brought to the stomach.
During the seminal vesicle massage, the patient stands with his feet on the table with his back to the doctor and is in a semi-squatting position.
During prostate massage, the urologist's index finger is inserted into the patient's rectum and begins to alternately massage the right and left lobe of the prostate, ending with the interlobar sulcus (isthmus). During this manipulation, which lasts from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, the doctor receives information about the pain of the gland, its size, texture, surface, severity of the sulcus, and can take the secret of the prostate for analysis.
During the prostate massage, there may be some discomfort, urge to urinate, a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen, in the penis. With severe pain, the massage stops.
It is very important that this procedure is performed by qualified urologists or venereologists with experience so as not to harm the man and not to injure the prostate
Vibration massage of the prostate
Vibration massage of the prostate: the use of vibrations, magnetic field and heating in the treatment of chronic prostatitis. This type of physiotherapy improves blood flow and nutrition of the prostate tissue. Vibration massage helps remove white blood cell plugs from the gland ducts. With calculous prostatitis - one of the alternatives to finger massage. The duration of the session is from 10 to 20 minutes.
Prevention of prostatitis
Prevention of prostatitis consists of avoiding the predisposing factors that cause prostatitis, as well as:
- Try not to freeze for a long time, if you have a long stay in a cold room or on the street, take care of proper clothing.
- For constipation, use laxatives and don't torture yourself.
- If you have a sedentary job, give yourself a "gym break" every hour (or at least get up and walk around).
- Try to have a regular sex life, as this is fully consistent with a person's normal lifestyle and allows you to avoid many problems, not just prostatitis.
- Try to eat regularly and well, keep an active lifestyle, do not get sick and, finally, only think about your health from time to time.
Also, don't forget to visit a urologist regularly.