Chronic prostatitis: symptoms and treatment

Inflammatory processes observed in the tissue of the prostate gland for three or more months are called chronic prostatitis.A long course of the disease turns a judge into the beginning of the chronic stage.Statistics show that acute and chronic prostatitis often occurs against the background of complicated urethritis.

A distinctive feature of chronic prostatitis is that in 50-70% of cases the disease does not manifest itself with obvious symptoms.In only 20% of cases, patients describe symptoms indicating a chronic form of prostatitis.The rest of the male category only recordsindirect symptoms of the disease, is not directly related to prostatitis.Both young and middle-aged and elderly men are not immune to chronic prostatitis.

Those who suffer from physical activity, those who are involved in sedentary jobs and those who refuse sexual intercourse are susceptible to prostatitis.So, truck drivers who spend most of their time behind the wheel experience the effects of negative factors: hypothermia and congestion in the pelvic organs.Representatives of contact sports and heavy athletes are prone to microtraumas of the prostate tissue.Men with low sexual activity become victims of this unpleasant disease due to stagnation of prostate secretion.They affect the prostate gland through the blood or lymph fluid, causing acute and chronic prostatitis, various sexually transmitted infections.

Types and stages of chronic prostatitis

The following are distinguished in urological practice:Forms of chronic prostatitis:

• Bacterial.The cause of the disease is an infection or pathogenic bacteria that have penetrated the prostate gland.The most common is chronic prostatitis caused by chlamydia.The danger of this form is the possible infertility that awaits a man without timely treatment.
• Bacterial.Non-infectious chronic prostatitis.Determining the exact cause is quite problematic.Typically, this type of prostatitis develops due to the anatomical features of an individual man's prostate.The incorrect structure of the organ creates increased pressure on the urethra, which causes frequent urination.Autoimmune diseases can also cause degenerative changes in prostate tissue.
• Stagnant.Congestive chronic prostatitis develops when the prostate is not fully emptied and an excess blood mass is formed.Stagnation creates an inflammatory response.
• Persistent pelvic pain syndrome.A man complains of constant, excruciating pain in the perineal region.
• Asymptomatic.Despite the presence of inflammation, chronic prostatitis occurs in a hidden form without causing pain and discomfort.

Chronic prostatitis has its own stages of development

• Exudation stage.Rapid ejaculation and sharp pain in the prostate.
• Alternate stage.Painful sensations are replaced by anxiety, decreased sexual intercourse time and frequent urination.
• Diffusion phase.The frequency of the urge to go to the toilet increases, but there are problems with urination.
• Stage of scar changes.Sclerosis of healthy prostate tissue occurs.As a result of morphological changes, heaviness appears in the sacrum and pubic region, the flow of urine weakens and the potential decreases.Feelings are often blurred during orgasm.

Reasons

• Infection.The source of pathogenic bacteria entering the prostate gland is the blood and lymph vessels.Urological diseases and inflammation in the rectum are prerequisites for prostate tissue infection..Methods of infection:
  • Declining- the infection enters the gland with urine containing microbes.
  • To ascend— The path of microbes entering the prostate starts from the external opening of the urethra.
• Reduction of protective functions of the body.One of the main culprits of chronic prostatitis is weakened immunity.Hypothermia, frequent stressful situations, poor nutrition and bad habits contribute to this.When immunity is reduced, the body is open to infections that cause inflammation in the prostate.
• Poor circulation.A sedentary and sedentary lifestyle is closely related to chronic prostatitis.A person's internal organ systems suffer from a lack of physical activity: endocrine, cardiovascular, nervous.Blood microcirculation in the pelvis deteriorates, resulting in hypoxia of prostate cells.
• Lack of regular sex life.Both giving up intimate life and excessive sexual activity cause problems in the prostate gland.Many men with a strong sexual constitution engage in vigorous sexual activity.Their nervous system is exhausted from frequent sexual intercourse, hormonal disorders occur, and erection gradually weakens.Incomplete sexual intercourse greatly damages the health of the prostate.
• Chronic prostate injuries.The soft tissue of the prostate, which is often damaged due to excessive stress, shaking and vibration, can become inflamed from time to time.
• Transurethral procedurescan also cause prostate infection without antibiotic therapy.
• Urethral catheterIt also contributes to the infection of the prostate, which a person is forced to live for a while.

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis are varied.Some of the first symptoms of chronic prostatitis that attract attention are pain during urination and sexual dysfunction.As a rule, problems in the intimate area force a man to seek help from a doctor.If there is discomfort and pain in the pelvic regiondecrease for more than three months, then we can talk about chronic prostatitis with high probability.

Most often, the pain syndrome spreads to the perineal region, but discomfort can be localized in the pubic and groin region.A man complains of pain in the anus, testicles and penis.The pain spreads to the lumbosacral region.Pain attacks can involve the inner thigh.Pain in one of the testicles usually does not indicate prostatitis.Complaints of pain after discharge are characteristic of the chronic course of the disease.

Common symptoms of chronic prostatitis also include increased sweating, coldness, and tingling in the perineum.It can be caused by poor blood circulation in the pelvischange in skin color.

Chronic inflammation in the prostate gland leads to a violation of its tone.In some cases, prostatorrhea develops.With this pathology, there is a spontaneous secretion of the gland that is not related to arousal or ejaculation.

Men with chronic prostatitis can observe small purulent or clear discharge from the penis, mainly in the morning.Some patients find white flakes or threads in their urine.A sign of advanced calculous prostatitis is the presence of traces of blood in the semen.

Simultaneously with a decrease in libido and deterioration of spontaneous erections, the appearance of sexual dysfunction is noted by many patients.It should be noted that most of the patients have impotencehas no critical meaning.In the initial stages of chronic prostatitis, premature ejaculation occurs in men, which can become difficult over time.Some patients report a decrease in the intensity of sensations during sexual intercourse.Urinary problems are the most irritating.

Diagnosis of the biological material of a man with chronic prostatitis reveals a quantitative and qualitative violation of the secretion of the prostate gland.Morphological deviations in ejaculatory parameters are rarely associated with male infertility.

During remission, most symptoms subside and pain subsides.Many men calm down by associating the condition with self-medication.But without proper therapy, infectious foci in the prostate gland continue and during the exacerbation periodsymptoms worsen significantly, low-grade fever persists.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosing chronic prostatitis is not difficult for an experienced urologist.The most difficult thing here is to determine the real cause of chronic prostatitis.

To confirm the diagnosisperform the following procedures:

• Rectal examination with the help of fingers.A digital examination is performed during a man's initial visit to a urologist.The posterior part of the prostate gland is in contact with the rectum, which makes it possible to assess the state of the prostate when a finger is inserted through the anus.Palpation of the posterior surface of the gland allows determining the size and shape of the inflamed body, as well as its consistency and pain.
• Microscopic examination of prostate secretion.When studying biological material, a laboratory technician may note an increase in the number of leukocytes - this indicates the spread of pathogenic bacteria.
• Secretory culture of the glandfood environment, type of bacteria and resistance to antibiotics using RIF and PCR methods.
• Cystoscopy.An endoscopic imaging system device is inserted into the bladder cavity.This diagnostic method of chronic prostatitis allows to exclude cancer, cystitis and bladder injuries.
• Ultrasound.Before starting the treatment of acute prostatitis, the doctor can prescribe an ultrasound examination to avoid the formation of an abscess of the organ.For men suffering from chronic prostatitis, ultrasound is performed to detect stones and cysts, as well as to assess the level of pressure in the urethra.Today, transrectal ultrasound is more effective, where the sensor is inserted into the rectum.
• Uroflowmetric diagnostic method.In this way, indicators of the urinary process are studied: the duration and speed of urine flow.A rate above 10-15 ml/s indicates good urethral patency.Indicators below this norm indicate poor permeability of the urethra caused by chronic prostatitis.

Chronic prostatitis: treatment

Each clinical situation requiresindividual choice of treatment regimen.When choosing a therapeutic model, the causes of the disease, the duration of the course and the presence of aggravating factors are taken into account.

Drug treatment:

• Antibiotics.Antibacterial therapy is indicated only in cases of prostate infection with a bacterial agent identified in prostatic secretions or urine.Antibiotics from the fluoroquinolone group are prescribed.Treatment lasts from two to eight weeks.After an antibacterial course, the full range of symptoms often remains, provided that the infectious factor is eliminated.
• Alpha blockersprescribed to men to reduce hypertonicity of bladder muscles and stabilize intraurethral pressure.They are ineffective if the patient has impaired muscle innervation and pelvic floor muscular dystrophy.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Help relieve pain syndromes.
• Selective antidepressants.It is prescribed to men to improve their emotional background, eliminate anxiety and self-doubt.
• Hormonal drugs.Antiandrogens and androgens are used to regulate hormonal levels.
• Immunostimulating drugs.It is prescribed for proven immunodeficiency.
• Regulators of uric acid levels.If there are sand and stones in the prostate gland, the appointment is justified.
• Vitamin complexes.

Auxiliary methods for the treatment of chronic prostatitis

Some urologists believe that physical impact on the prostate significantly alleviates the patient's condition.But most of these therapeutic methods have contraindications, so theyis determined under certain conditions:

• Prostate massage.Contraindicated in hyperplasia of the prostate gland, as it can cause acute urinary retention.In addition, by massaging, you can spread the infection to the prostate and cause sepsis.Massage should not be done in the presence of cystic formations or venous stasis in the prostate gland.Natural drainage during discharge is considered the best way to free the diaper from stasis.
• Bladder gymnastics.The treatment consists of a group of special exercises aimed at improving the muscle tone of the bladder and its sphincter.
• Instillation.Infusion of drug solutions deep into the urethra.The procedure is very painful and often ends with complications.
• Physiotherapy.Prostate treatment with transrectal ultrasound, electrical stimulation, magnetotherapy and phonophoresis will be useful for weak pelvic floor muscle tone.Physiotherapy brings only temporary relief to the patient's condition.A lasting effect can be achieved only after eliminating the causes of prostatitis.
• Traditional medicine recipes.Honey with pumpkin seeds, alcohol tincture of horse chestnut and other folk methods are used after consultation with the attending physician.

Surgical treatment of chronic prostatitis

Taking into account which pathological process causes prostatitis, they use ittransurethral resectionprostate gland.This is a modern surgical treatment method that replaces open surgery.An endoscope is used to drain the prostate cyst that has formed, and surgical correction of the seminal vesicles is performed when the flow of secretions is blocked.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis -long process, which requires patience and endurance from a man.To prevent the disease from taking you by surprise, it is necessary to monitor your health, strengthen your immune system and treat colds in time.