Prostatitis

15 November 2026

Prostatitis is a disease that develops as a result of inflammatory changes of the prostate gland (prostate gland).According to statistics, the prevalence of the disease reaches 35-50% and is detected in men aged 20-40.

Species

There are 4 forms of prostatitis:

acute (bacterial);
chronic bacterial;
chronic non-bacterial;
asymptomatic chronic.

Acute prostatitis is very rare due to the rapid progress of the inflammatory process and immediate transition to the chronic stage (false improvement).

Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, can be inflammatory (with an increase in leukocytes in the urine and discharge) and non-inflammatory.

Reasons

The cause of acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis is pathogenic microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi).The most common sources of inflammation are:

coli;
streptococci;
staphylococci;
Proteus;
Klebsiella;
Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
agents of sexually transmitted diseases (chlamydia, mycoplasma, gonococci, trichomonas, cytomegalovirus, etc.).

Most microorganisms are found in the intestines and skin, but when they enter the tissue of the prostate gland, they cause an inflammatory process.As a rule, the cause of the disease is not a single pathogen, but a combination of several types of microbes.

The following factors can cause the development of chronic prostatitis:

accompanying diseases of the urinary system (cystitis, pyelonephritis);
sedentary lifestyle ("sedentary" work);
tendency to constipation;
weakening of the body's defense ability;
injuries;
hormonal imbalance;
alcohol abuse and smoking;
debauchery;
irregular sexual life (long-term abstinence);
interrupted sex;
irregular emptying of the bladder;
unsatisfied sexual desire;
chronic stress;
hypothermia;
the presence of rotten teeth and other sources of chronic infection (for example, chronic tonsillitis).

Symptoms of prostatitis

Acute prostatitis is a very insidious disease.It is quite difficult to "catch" it, because firstly, the process becomes chronic very quickly, and secondly, most patients prefer to "sit out" the manifestations of acute prostatitis at home.Patients with inflammation of the prostate gland often consult a doctor in advanced cases with erectile dysfunction and other consequences.

The acute form of the disease occurs against the background of:

high temperature;
trembling;
other signs of intoxication (weakness, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.).

Inflammation of the prostate gland is accompanied by pain in the perineum, groin and scrotum.

Painful and frequent urination is also characteristic.Sometimes a whitish purulent discharge may appear in the urine.

In addition, the patient may notice the absence of an erection at night and in the morning, a poor quality erection during intimacy and a sharp shortening of sexual intercourse.

Typical symptoms of urinary disorders appear: weak urine flow and frequent urges, although a small amount of urine is produced.

Later, in the absence of treatment, chronic prostatitis reaches its apogee: sexual dysfunction appears.For example:

insufficient erection or its absence;
painful erections, so the patient avoids sexual intercourse;
deletion of orgasm;
short sex;
painful ejaculation.

Chronic abacterial prostatitis accounts for 95% of all prostatitis;it mainly affects men in their 30s.It is characterized by constant or periodic pain in the pelvic area, prostate gland and testicle area, there are no signs of inflammation in laboratory tests.The causes of the disease have not been precisely determined.

Diagnostics

During the diagnosis of acute and chronic prostatitis, in addition to collecting complaints, anamnesis and examination of the patient, the following methods are used:

general blood and urine analysis;
microscopic examination of prostate secretion and injection of it into the food medium to identify the pathogen (secretion is taken after digital massage of the prostate gland through the rectum);
cytological examination of urine;
Ultrasound of the prostate gland and pelvic organs;
computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI);
smear from the urethra for microflora.

Differential diagnosis is aimed at distinguishing signs of prostatitis, prostate adenoma, prostate cancer and stones in the prostate gland.

A complete list of diagnostic procedures and medications for the treatment of prostatitis is in the 2012 Federal Standard of Care.

Treatment of prostatitis

The same symptoms can be signs of different diseases, and the disease cannot proceed according to the textbook.Do not try to treat yourself - consult a doctor.Treatment of prostatitis is carried out by a urological surgeon.

The goal of etiotropic treatment aimed at eliminating the cause of prostatitis is to eliminate the pathogen.Depending on the determined cause, antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal drugs are prescribed.The duration of therapy for acute prostatitis is 7-10 days, for chronic process - 4-8 weeks.

To treat a bacterial infection, the following are used: