Prostatitis is a great disease of the male genitalia, which often affects young men under the age of forty. Although its symptoms - decreased sexual desire, difficulty urinating, groin pain - are very painful, men are still in no hurry to seek medical help.
And the reason for this is the lack of information about this disease, there are too many myths and prejudices about it.
However, the manifestations of prostatitis only worsen over time, so at the first signs of prostatitis it is necessary to urgently contact a qualified urologist.
Causes of prostatitis
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. Doctors classify the acute stage of the disease and the chronic. If the former is not treated, then the inflammation quickly becomes chronic and is fraught with many complications, such as impaired sexual function and even the development of malignant prostate tumors.
What are the reasons for its occurrence?
Here are just a few:
- Sexually transmitted diseases. Often men are carriers of a certain infection without even knowing it, because the disease is completely asymptomatic. However, this picture is very misleading. As soon as the immune system is damaged, for example under the influence of a stressful situation, this gives impetus to the development of prostatitis. The most common causes of the disease are the herpes virus, fungi of the genus Candida, Escherichia coli, etc.
- Untreated bladder infections. In this case, the infection easily spreads to the nearby prostate gland.
- Stagnation of blood in the pelvic area. This can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, irregular sex life. In this case there is the so-called nonbacterial prostatitis.
- Regular hypothermia, stress, the presence of infectious foci, including carious teeth, in the body.
- Prostatitis can develop as a complication after severe infectious diseases - influenza, tonsillitis and others.
The main symptoms of prostatitis
The most common signs of this disease, regardless of the cause, include:
- reduction of potency;
- pain and difficulty urinating;
- pain of varying severity in the groin and genitals.
Symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis
As mentioned above, the first stage of bacterial prostatitis is acute, lasts no more than 3-5 days, then slowly becomes chronic.
It is very important not to miss the first symptoms of the disease:
- Pain in the groin and scrotum;
- Acute pain during urination;
- Painting pain after intercourse in the glans penis;
- Deterioration of erection, reduction of the duration of sexual intercourse.
A few days after the first symptoms appear, the pain subsides, and the men get the deceptive impression that the threat has passed. However, this only means that prostatitis is slowly but surely becoming chronic.
Such a course of the disease is characterized by:
- Alternation of periods of remission and exacerbation of prostatitis;
- Difficulty urinating, frequent urges, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder join the above signs of the disease.
In the period of exacerbation of chronic bacterial prostatitis, patients suffer from the same symptoms as in the acute form.
Even seemingly harmless factors can provoke it:
- hypothermia;
- Stud;
- An erection that did not have a realization;
- Avitaminosis;
- Stress and overload;
- Sedentary way of life;
- constipation;
- Irregular sex life;
- Smoking and alcohol abuse.
Symptoms of nonbacterial prostatitis
This disease is also called congestive prostatitis. This is the most dangerous and common type of pathology. Its development is directly related to the way of life of modern man.
Medical researchers have compared chronic congestive prostatitis in severity and prevalence to such dangerous diseases as tuberculosis or cancer, as its neglected form is a direct route to prostate cancer.
This form of the disease can be said when the inflammation of the prostate is caused not by microorganisms, but by other factors - prolonged absence of sexual intercourse, sedentary lifestyle, regular stressful situations.
Such a conclusion can be drawn from the results of bacteriological examination, which shows the absence of pathogenic microorganisms.
The symptoms of this form of the disease are slightly different from the bacterial ones:
- Patients complain of intermittent or persistent dull pain in the pelvis, lower abdomen, groin and genitals;
- Sexual dysfunction and urination problems;
- Depressed mental state of patients
Symptoms of chronic asymptomatic prostatitis
This is a latent form of the disease. As the name suggests, it is asymptomatic, ie there is an inflammatory process in the prostate, but this does not affect the patient's condition.
Some medical researchers tend to view this form of pathology only as normal age-related changes in the prostate gland that occur due to impaired blood supply to the organ.
This disease is often found in a patient quite by accident, for example during abdominal surgery involving a completely different diagnosis.
To avoid prostatitis, you need to know the causes.
So, the main measures to prevent inflammation of the prostate:
- Although the main measures to prevent prostatitis, as we have mentioned many times, include regular sexual activity, it is still worth avoiding casual sexual contact or it is imperative to use barrier contraceptives. This measure is mandatory because about 30% of cases of inflammation of the prostate are related to sexually transmitted diseases.Sex alternative- Masturbation is also welcomed by urologists, as it improves the blood supply to the prostate gland no less than full sexual intercourse.
- Physical activity, active lifestyle. Physical education and sports are useful as a general strengthening measure, but it is worth focusing on exercises that improve pelvic circulation. These include running, skating, skiing and more.
- Regular preventive examinations by a urologist or andrologist, at least once a year.
- Timely treatment of foci of infection in the body, such as remediation of the oral cavity.
The diagnosis of prostatitis is complex and multifaceted
The diagnosis of prostatitis is mainly associated with identifying the cause of the disease, includes the following steps:
- Of great importance for clarifying the picture of the disease is a survey of the patient, who must describe in detail his complaints - the location of certain sensations, their duration, what events are associated with the manifestations, after which they began. Also, at the time of appointment, the doctor carefully reviews the patient's medical record for previously transmitted diseases, tests and examinations. The urologist clarifies the patient's information about sex life, the presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Examination of smear and scraping of the urethra. The increased number of leukocytes in the smear and the presence of pathological microflora in the scraping will tell about the presence of infection.
- General urine analysis. Helps to identify the presence of infection, its presence is indicated by an increased number of leukocytes (more than 5).
- Ejaculate analysis. It is performed to confirm the diagnosis of nonbacterial prostatitis.
- Prostate ultrasound. It allows you to see the picture of the disease in the most complete way. It is performed to clarify the diagnosis of both acute and chronic inflammation of the prostate, suspected cancer.
Pain and decreased potency - as the first signs of prostatitis
Most often, doctors have to deal with an already advanced form of the disease, as most men either tend to ignore the first alarming bells - groin pain and decreased libido, or the disease itself is asymptomatic for some time.
These are the peculiarities of male anatomy - in the prostate blood circulation is difficult, it is a "nutrient medium" for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, sedentary lifestyle significantly exacerbates this problem. Therefore, the reason for the widespread spread of prostatitis among truck drivers and office workers is becoming apparent.
One way or another, up to 50% of the entire male population of the globe has ever experienced certain symptoms of prostatitis. That is why it is so important to know the first signs of the disease and seek medical help in a timely manner. After all, treating an advanced form of the disease is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor.
Treatment that returns the patient to a full life
Of course, it is much easier to get rid of prostatitis in the early stages than a neglected disease. But it is the chronic form that doctors most often have to deal with, and it usually requires long-term and complex treatment.
But in any case, you must first identify the root cause of the pathology - blood stagnation and (or) inflammation of the prostate.
Thus, the complex treatment of prostatitis includes:
- Inflammatory processes are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. In addition, the drugs are prescribed both in the form of tablets and in the form of rectal suppositories. Infusions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, calendula), which are applied in the form of microclysters, help well in the complex.
- However, the treatment of prostatitis should not be limited to medication, it should be aimed at restoring blood circulation in the prostate, and this includes a set of physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises. Such measures contribute to better absorption of antibacterial drugs, as they improve the blood supply to the prostate gland. Doctors often prescribe for prostatitis: electrophoresis, laser therapy, magnetic therapy;
- Prostate massage. This procedure is useful and effective, but should not be performed at home without consulting a doctor, as there are many contraindications, including the acute phase of the disease.
In summary, we can say that the issue of treatment and prevention of prostatitis largely depends on the desire and activity of men themselves. Basic morning exercises, regular preventive examinations by a urologist, a balanced diet - this is the key to male strength and longevity!