Prostatitis is a specific disease that is mainly characteristic of men of reproductive age. It is characterized by acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland, which is the second "heart" of a man.
It is not always easy to recognize the symptoms of prostatitis in men, especially if the pathology has a chronic course, without a previous acute stage. If the process is acute, then the symptoms of prostatitis in men will be quite typical and obvious.
If a man has the first signs of prostatitis, he should immediately consult a doctor. Even a small malfunction indicating the development of a disease of the genitourinary system can cause serious complications.
The ability to recognize the first signs of the inflammatory process allows to detect the pathology in time and start treatment. Therefore, every man should be familiar with them to avoid serious problems caused by prostatitis.
Prostate and its role in men's life
Although the prostate is small, if its function is disturbed, a man can face many problems. The prostate gland is an organ about the size of a walnut, located between the genitals and the bladder. The prostate produces a secret that mixes with the sperm to make complete seminal fluid.
Unlike other prostate diseases, such as prostate hypertrophy or cancer, which often affect older men, prostatitis can develop at any age, but the incidence peaks between the ages of 30 and 50.
Types of prostatitis
According to the severity of the symptoms, the time of their occurrence and the duration of the disease, two variants of the pathology are distinguished:
- Chronic prostatitis. Symptoms can be subtle and may come and go over several months. This is the most common type of prostatitis, and the causes of inflammation are usually non-infectious.
- Acute prostatitis. In this form, the symptoms of prostatitis in men are severe and develop suddenly. This variant of the disease most often causes a microbial infection, the condition can be serious and requires immediate treatment until hospitalization.
Chronic prostatitis problems
The causes of prostatitis have been studied for a long time, but in recent years, the understanding of the essence of the process has been significantly revised. Chronic prostatitis, sometimes alternatively referred to as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is characterized by a group of symptoms that can significantly impair men's daily quality of life. It is not always possible for a doctor to diagnose chronic prostatitis immediately, and it is no less difficult to choose further treatment, because it depends on various causative factors and symptoms of prostatitis in men.
Unlike the approaches used in the past, the diagnosis and subsequent treatment is based on the separation of chronic bacterial prostatitis, which is considered a multifactorial disease, and other forms of the disease. According to information published in Urology Research and Reports in 2019, autoimmune and systemic inflammation, nervous system dysfunctions, and psychological factors play a role in the development of chronic inflammation.
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is characterized by various symptoms related to the urinary organs, genitals, rectum and perineum, and often men can be treated for a long time for other pathologies, as a result of which the problem turns out to be inflammation. prostate.
Symptoms of prostatitis in men
If acute inflammation of the prostate occurs, it is relatively easy to recognize, the manifestations are quite bright and pronounced. The first symptoms of prostatitis in men include:
- severe pain that radiates around the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or back. Emptying the bladder can be painful;
- urinary problems, pain when the bladder is full, frequent need to urinate (especially at night), urinary incontinence, urgent need to urinate, sometimes blood in the urine;
- severe swelling of the prostate and acute urination against the background of severe pain is possible;
- weakness, fever, nausea;
- light thick discharge from the urethra, odorless.
If these or other symptoms of prostatitis are detected in men, you should immediately contact a therapist or urologist.
Chronic inflammation: symptoms of prostatitis in men
If the following symptoms of prostatitis are detected in men for at least the last three months, you can talk about a chronic process:
- pulling, squeezing, or aching pain around the penis, testicles, anus, lower abdomen, or lower back.
- pain when urinating, frequent or urgent need to urinate, especially at night or intermittent urination.
- An enlarged or tender prostate may be normal in some cases on rectal examination.
- intimate problems such as erectile dysfunction, pain during ejaculation or pelvic pain after intercourse.
These symptoms can significantly affect a man's quality of life. Without treatment, the condition can gradually worsen, the symptoms of prostatitis appear more often.
How is the examination conducted?
At the first signs of prostatitis in men, you should contact a urologist who will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis. The doctor will ask in detail about all the symptoms and events, and the health problems that preceded them. Later, examination of the genitals, abdomen and rectum will be performed. The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate. During the study, discomfort is possible in case of enlargement or inflammation of the prostate gland. In addition, blood and urine tests are prescribed to look for signs of infection.
How is prostatitis treated?
The tactics of prostatitis treatment will depend on the form of the disease - acute or chronic prostatitis.
For acute inflammation, when symptoms are sudden and severe, pain relievers and a 2-4 week course of antibiotics are usually given. If acute urinary retention occurs, hospitalization and urgent measures are necessary - catheterization of the bladder with urinary flow against the background of intensive care.
Treatment for chronic prostatitis usually focuses on relieving all discomfort, when symptoms come and go over several months. Your doctor may suggest the following procedures:
- pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve pain and discomfort in the pelvis.
- alpha-blocker drugs that relieve urinary problems. They help relax the muscles of the prostate gland and the base of the bladder.
- sometimes antibiotics may be prescribed if the microbial nature of the infection is confirmed or if there are indications that there is an acute process that has not been previously treated.
The goal of chronic prostatitis treatment is to reduce symptoms to a level that does not interfere with daily activities.