Prostatitis is a formidable disease of the male genital area, which often affects young people under the age of forty. Although his symptoms - decreased sexual desire, difficulty urinating, pain in the groin area - are very painful, males are in no rush to seek medical help.
And the reason for this is the insufficient amount of information about this disease, there are too many myths and misconceptions about it.
However, the manifestations of prostatitis only worsen over time, therefore, at the first signs of prostatitis, it is necessary to urgently contact a qualified urologist.
Causes of prostatitis
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland. Doctors classify the acute and chronic stage of the disease. If the former is not treated, the inflammation quickly becomes chronic and is fraught with many complications, such as impaired sexual function and even the development of a malignant tumor of the prostate.
What are the reasons for its occurrence?
Here are just a few:
- Sexually transmitted diseases. Often men are carriers of a particular infection, without even knowing it, since the disease is completely asymptomatic. However, this picture is very misleading. As soon as the immune system fails, for example, under the influence of a stressful situation, this gives impetus to the development of prostatitis. The most common causative agents of the disease are the herpes virus, the fungus of the genus Candida, Escherichia coli, and so on.
- Untreated bladder infections. In this case, the infection easily spreads to the nearby prostate gland.
- Pool of blood in the pelvic area. This can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, irregular sex life. In this case, there is a so-called non-bacterial prostatitis.
- Regular hypothermia, stress, the presence of infectious foci, including decayed teeth, in the body.
- Prostatitis can develop as a complication after severe infectious diseases: flu, tonsillitis and others.
The main symptoms of prostatitis
The most common signs of this disease, regardless of the cause that caused it, include:
- decrease in power;
- pain and difficulty when urinating;
- pain of varying severity in the groin and genital area.
Symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis
As mentioned above, the first stage of bacterial prostatitis is acute, lasts no more than 3-5 days, after which it slowly turns into chronic.
It is very important not to miss the first symptoms of the disease:
- Pain in the groin and scrotum
- Sharp pain when urinating;
- Drawing pain after intercourse in the glans penis;
- Deterioration of erection, shortening of the duration of sexual intercourse.
A few days after the first symptoms appear, the pain subsides, men have 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:
- Alternating periods of remission and exacerbation of prostatitis;
- Difficulty urinating, frequent impulses, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder join the above signs of the disease.
During 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;
- Freddo;
- An erection that hasn't had a realization;
- Avitaminosis;
- Stress and overwork;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- constipation;
- Irregular sex life
- Abuse of smoking and alcohol.
Symptoms of non-bacterial 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 compare chronic congestive prostatitis in terms of severity and prevalence with dangerous diseases such as tuberculosis or cancer, because its neglected form is a direct path to prostate cancer.
This form of the disease can be discussed when the inflammation of the prostate was caused not by any microorganism, but by other factors: a long absence of sexual intercourse, a sedentary lifestyle, regular stressful situations.
Such a conclusion can be drawn from the results of a bacteriological study, which shows the absence of pathogenic microorganisms.
Symptoms of this form of the disease are somewhat different from bacterial ones:
- Patients complain of periodic or constant dull pain in the pelvis, lower abdomen, groin and genitals;
- Sexual dysfunction and problems with urination
- Depressed mental state of patients
Symptoms of asymptomatic chronic prostatitis
This is a latent form of the disease. As the name suggests, it is asymptomatic, that is, 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, which occur due to a reduced blood supply to the organ.
This disease is often detected in a patient almost by accident, for example, during an abdominal operation associated with a completely different diagnosis.
To avoid prostatitis, it is necessary to know its causes.
So, the main measures to prevent inflammation of the prostate gland:
- Although the main measures for the prevention of prostatitis, as already mentioned several 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, as about 30% of prostate inflammation cases are associated with sexually transmitted diseases.Sexual alternative- masturbation is also welcomed by urologists, since no less than full-fledged sexual intercourse improves the blood supply to the prostate gland.
- Physical activity, active lifestyle. Physical education and sport are useful as a general strengthening measure, but it is worth focusing on exercises that improve blood circulation in the pelvic area. These include running, skating, skiing, etc.
- Regular preventive examinations by a urologist or andrologist, at least once a year.
- Timely treatment of foci of infection in the body, for example, hygiene of the oral cavity.
The diagnosis of prostatitis is complex and multifaceted
Diagnosis of prostatitis is mainly associated with the identification of the cause of the disease, it includes the following steps:
- Of great importance in clarifying the picture of the disease is an investigation of the patient, which must describe in detail his ailments: the localization of certain sensations, their duration, with what events the manifestations are associated, after which they began. Also, at the appointment, the doctor carefully examines the patient's medical record for previously transferred diseases, tests and examinations. The urologist clarifies the patient's information about sexual life, the presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Examination of a smear and scraping from the urethra. An increase in the number of leukocytes in a smear and the presence of pathological microflora in a scraping will speak about the presence of an infection.
- General urine analysis. Helps to identify the presence of infection, its presence is indicated by an increase in the number of leukocytes (more than 5).
- Analysis of the ejaculate. Performed to confirm the diagnosis of non-bacterial prostatitis.
- Ultrasound of the prostate. Allows you to view the picture of the disease in the most complete way. It is carried out to clarify the diagnosis in both acute and chronic inflammation of the prostate, suspected of cancer.
Pain and decreased potency - as the first signs of prostatitis
Most often, doctors are faced with an already advanced form of the disease, as most men tend to ignore the first alarming bells - pain in the groin and decreased libido, or the disease itself is asymptomatic for some time.
These are the characteristics of the male anatomy: in the prostate area, blood circulation is difficult, it is a "nutrient medium" for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms, a sedentary lifestyle greatly aggravates this problem. Therefore, the reason for the massive spread of prostatitis among truck drivers and office workers becomes evident.
One way or another, up to 50% of the entire male population of the globe has ever had some symptoms of prostatitis. Therefore, it is so important to know the first signs of the disease and seek medical help in a timely manner. After all, the treatment of an advanced form of the disease is an expensive and time-consuming undertaking.
Treatment that brings the patient back to a full life
Of course, it is much easier to get rid of prostatitis in the early stages than from a neglected disease. However, it is with the chronic form that doctors most often deal with and usually requires long-term and complex treatment.
But in any case, first you need to identify the main cause of the pathology - stagnation of blood and (or) inflammation in the prostate.
So, the complex treatment of prostatitis includes:
- Inflammatory processes are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. In addition, drugs are prescribed both in the form of tablets and in the form of rectal suppositories. Overall, infusions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, calendula), which are administered in the form of microenemas, help well.
- However, the treatment of prostatitis should not be limited to taking drugs, it should be aimed at restoring blood circulation in the prostate area, and this involves a series of physiotherapeutic 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, magnetotherapy;
- Prostatic massage. This procedure is useful and effective, but it should not be done at home, without consulting a doctor, as it has many contraindications, including the acute phase of the disease.
Summing up, we can say that the question of the treatment and prevention of prostatitis largely depends on the desire and activity of men themselves. Elementary morning exercises, regular preventive examinations by a urologist, a balanced diet - this is the key to male strength and longevity!