Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate caused by various infections. It often proceeds in an acute form and is accompanied by an increase in temperature up to 37–38⁰ C, pain in the perineum and problems with urination.
Untreated acute prostatitis becomes chronic and in this condition is the most common. In this case, the symptoms are less pronounced (pain in the lower abdomen, when urinating, sexual disorders, general weakening of the organism) or completely absent. However, the consequences can be very serious. The inflammatory process is directly related to problems with potency and results in a decrease in libido, the erasure of orgasm.
A neglected infection greatly increases the risk of developing complications. These include 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, quality of sexual relations.
Causes of prostatitis
This question is relevant not only because many men face 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 dysrhythmia 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, including gonococci, trichomonas, chlamydia, ureaplasma, and mycoplasmas, 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 ducts of the urethra and prostate.
Of course, if the patient turned to a urologist or venereologist in time, passed tests for STDs, revealed the presence of a sexual infection and cured it, there will be no reasonfor the appearance of prostatitis. Everything will end with recovery at the stage of anterior urethritis. 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 not cured accordingly, microbes enter the urethraposterior and prostate, causing inflammation, i. e. prostatitis, and is most often both 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 STIs
- Complete treatment for identified sexually transmitted infections
- Do follow-up tests after treatment to determine the presence of venereal infection not only in the urethra, but also in the secretion of the prostate
- And it is better to go through medical prophylaxis in the clinic after casual sex even before the appearance of STD symptoms and protect yourself and your loved ones from sexually transmitted diseases in general, and as a cause of prostatitis, inparticular
Symptoms of prostatitis
How to recognize or suspect prostatitis in an ordinary person, since its symptoms are very similar to many diseases of the genitourinary system and even other organs? How does prostatitis manifest? What are its first signs, and how do 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 in fact, the prostate 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 those of prostatitis.
- Pyelonephritis - inflammation of the renal pelvis has similarities in symptoms with inflammation of the prostate.
- Diseases of the scrotum (epididymitis, orchitis, varicocele) - heaviness and pain in the scrotum can be associated with these diseases, including prostatitis.
- Diabetes mellitus - patients note increased urination, as in prostate diseases, but there is no slow flow, and the volume of urine is normal or even increased.
- Other prostate diseases: cancer and adenoma (benign hyperplasia) of the prostate.
- Urethritis.
- Diseases of the rectum - cracks, hemorrhoids, tumors.
- Diseases of the lumbosacral spine.
In order to make a correct diagnosis, a urologist must not only be very familiar with the symptoms of prostatitis, but also be able to correctly prescribe tests and other diagnostic studies, as well as be able to correctly assess theirresults.
So, consider the signs or symptoms of prostatitis:
Group 1 is a pain syndrome. That is, the appearance of pain in the perineum, in the groin, lower abdomen, scrotum, penis, rectum, sacrum, coccyx, inner thighs. It can be simply sensations of pain, tightness, pressure or rather sharp, stabbing and intense pains. Sometimes a man just complains of some discomfort in these areas, both during urination and outside of it. Often the aching pain intensifies when you sit in a chair or in a car for a long time.
In chronic sluggish prostatitis, the pain may decrease 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 throughout 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 moment to urinate.
Group 3 - violation of sexual function. At the initial stage of prostatitis, there is a certain increase in sexual desire, hyperexcitability and premature ejaculation. Also, due to a decrease in the production of sex hormones, a decrease in libido occurs, an erection falls. A man cannot have sex or, having started, 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 further contacts, which adversely affects his sexual function in the future due to prolonged abstinence. And this also leads to the progression of congestive prostatitis. A vicious circle sets in.
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, as well as withfailures in sex life. Some patients have hyperhidrosis (high sweating) of the inguinal region, redness of the glans penis.
With a sufficiently pronounced inflammatory process in the prostate from the urethra, there may be mucous or purulent discharge.
The clinical picture of each patient with prostatitis is individual. Not all symptom clusters are necessarily present and not all can be pronounced. With a chronic process in the prostate, a cleared clinic and minor symptoms are observed, but this does not make it the least dangerous for a man's health.
Therefore, if you notice prostatitis manifestations of 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 latent 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. Thus, you protect yourself from the negative consequences not only of advanced chronic prostatitis, but also of prostate adenoma and cancer.
Treatment of prostatitis
Modern methods of treating prostatitis include the following varieties:
- drug treatment (prescription of antiviral and antifungal drugs);
- maintenance treatment (prescription of immunostimulating drugs, intake of food supplements);
- urological massage (prostate massage);
- LOD-therapy (a method using low pressure to restore potency);
- a set of special physical exercises for relaxation;
- doctor's recommendations in terms of nutrition, lifestyle, sexual relations.
In treatment, I use the best methods of leading medical centers and my own developments, which give excellent results.
Congestive (congestive) prostatitis
The treatment of congestive prostatitis presents certain difficulties, since the causes of this type of inflammation of the prostate are the lifestyle and sexual activity of this man. Accordingly, 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 eliminate the effects of blood stagnation in the prostatic venous plexus and prostate secretion in its ducts and acini.
Treatment of congestive prostatitis
After a preliminary diagnosis, which includes:
- Analysis of prostate secretion for microscopy, STIs, cultures
- Blood test for PSA
- General urine and blood tests
- blood chemistry
- Ultrasound of the prostate, of its venous plexus
- kidney ultrasound
A diagnosis of chronic congestive prostatitis is established, a drug treatment complex and the necessary procedures are determined, including:
- Massage of the prostate through the rectum is necessary to remove leukocyte plugs, mucus and congestive inflammatory secretion of the prostate gland from the gland ducts. It is the main treatment procedure that also improves blood flow in the prostate, which serves 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 from 10 per course. The cost is 600 rubles.
Even if the patient does not have the opportunity to undergo the full treatment of congestive prostatitis, he must attend at least 10 massage sessions. Taking drugs alone does not give the expected effect in the treatment of prostate congestion.
- Vibrating prostate massage 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, the blood supply to the gland improves, the attachment of leukocyte plugs to the walls of the prostate ducts is weakened, which facilitates their removal duringsubsequent finger massage. This is usually done just before a massage session.
- Magnetic laser therapy improves blood flow and trophism of the gland, removes inflammatory products from it, relieves swelling. Many patients feel the effects from the first days of treatment in the form of reduced pain and a feeling of tension in the prostate.
This treatment of congestive prostatitis has long established itself and has been successfully used 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
Adenoma of the prostate, or as it is now commonly called, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic disease that occurs mainly in older men, at least after 50 years. After 70 years, more than 50% of men already have complications from 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 form in the thickness of the gland, which, when they reach a large size, begin to compress the surrounding tissues - the bladder, urethra, rectum, and sometimes the ureters, disrupting the normal functioning ofthese organs.
Reasons for the development of prostate adenoma
The development of prostate adenoma is associated with hormonal imbalance in increasingly older men, that is, with a kind of manifestation of "male menopause". Over the years, there is a decrease in the production of the main male hormone, testosterone, by the testicles and an increase in the content of the female hormone, estradiol (especially in men with high body fat). A direct negative effect of female hormones on the prostate has been proven, as well as increased production of dihydrotestosterone in prostate cells, which provokes active growth of its tissues and the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia, i. e. an adenoma.
Reasons leading to the development and progression of BPH may also include:
- hypodynamia - a sedentary lifestyle
- alcohol abuse and smoking
- fatty foods, high in cholesterol, spicy, spicy
- 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 prostate 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 urinating, slow urine stream, constant urges up to 15-20 per day, nocturia - nocturnal urination.
- Then, as the muscles of the bladder weaken, pain in the lower abdomen worries, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, urine is excreted in portions, drop by drop, it is necessary to strain the abdominal muscles. It ends with a complete loss of the detrusor - the muscles of the bladder that expel urine.
- When combined with chronic prostatitis, there are pains in the perineum, rectum, fever, discharge of mucus and pus from the urethra.
- Urine changes color, becomes cloudy, drops of blood may be present.
- Sexual function is impaired.
- With the growth of prostate adenoma towards the triangle of the bladder formed by the mouths of the ureters and urethra, there is a blockage of the ureters and a violation of the outflow of urine from the kidneys, whichends with a more rapid development of chronic renal failure. failure and urolithiasis.
The main complications of prostate adenoma:
- Acute urinary retention - requires emergency bladder catheterization.
- As a result of stagnation of urine, urolithiasis and inflammation of the kidneys (pyelonephritis), bladder (cystitis) and urethra develop.
- The appearance of blood in the urine.
Chronic kidney failure is a dreaded 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 prostatic adenoma is carried out with decompensation, a large volume of growth of prostatic adenoma towards the triangle of the bladder. It comes in different types:
- from an open transvesical adenomectomy - removal of the tumor through the bladder
- ending with minimally invasive methods, when through the urethra using an electric knife, radio waves and laser techniques, the urethra is freed from adenoma tissue or hyperplastic areas of theprostate are completely eliminated.
In order not to so that at the first visit to the urologist you are immediately offered an operation for prostate adenoma, it is necessary to undergo an annual prostate examination, ultrasound and blood testfor PSA.
prostate massage
One of the most common and effective treatment and diagnostic 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, seminal vesicles and STIs.
Why is prostate massage used?
Prostate massage can be used in two cases:
for diagnostic purposes for:
- Obtaining prostatic secretion for microscopic analysis
- Determination of the presence of sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, ureaplasmas, mycoplasmas, gonorrhea, etc. ) in the prostate by PCR, PIF and others
- Collect culture material with determination of microflora and antibiotic sensitivity
- Obtaining subjective data on pain, density, size of the gland - the so-called diagnostic palpation of the prostate
for therapeutic purposes:
- to free the ducts of the gland from 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 male health issues, for example:
- chronic bacterial and abacterial prostatitis
- chronic vesiculitis - massage 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 end-stage STDs
Prostate massage is not performed in the presence of acute purulent inflammation of the genitals!
How is prostate massage performed?
There are several classic prostate massage positions.
The most common is the knee-elbow position, when the patient stands on the couch with their knees and 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.
When massaging the seminal vesicles, the patient stands with his feet on the couch 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 groove (isthmus). During this manipulation, which lasts from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, the doctor receives information about the pain of the gland, its size, consistency, area, severity of the furrow and can take the prostate secret for analysis.
During prostate massage, there may be some discomfort, urge to urinate, a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen, penis. With severe pain, the massage stops.
It is very important that this procedure be performed by qualified and experienced urologists or venereologists so as not to harm the man and not injure the prostate.
Prostate vibrator
Vibromassage of the prostate - the use of vibration, magnetic field and heating in the treatment of chronic prostatitis. This type of physiotherapy improves blood circulation and nutrition of prostate tissue. Vibro massage helps remove leukocyte plugs from the ducts of the gland. With calculous prostatitis - one of the alternatives to finger massage. The duration of the session is 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 appropriate clothing.
- For constipation, use laxatives and do not 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, because it fits perfectly 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 life, do not get sick and, finally, just think about your health from time to time.
And do not forget to consult a urologist regularly.