Chronic prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate that affects men of all ages. In most cases, it occurs due to exposure of the prostate gland to sexually transmitted infections and opportunistic microflora. In itself, the inflammation of the gland is not terrible, but in the absence of effective treatment, it can cause urination disorders, pain, male infertility and impotence. Also, the development of chronic prostatitis very often contributes to a sedentary lifestyle and lack of regular sexual activity.
What role does the prostate play in the body?
The chestnut-shaped prostate is located below the bladder. It prevents the entry of seminal fluid, and also produces prostatic secretion, an important component of sperm.
Causes of chronic prostatitis
The most common cause of chronic inflammation of the prostate is sexually transmitted infections and pathogens. For example, Trichomonas. Also, the development of such prostatitis contributes to a sedentary lifestyle. But prostatitis itself is not so terrible as the fact that this disease triggers the appearance of more serious diseases - male infertility, prostate adenoma.
The causes of the onset of the disease also include:
- frequent hypothermia;
- low immunity;
- hormonal disorders;
- the presence of a person's bad habits;
- pelvic organ injuries;
- sedentary lifestyle.
The causes of chronic prostatitis are divided into two types:
- infections.They enter the body in various ways: through the urethra, with the flow of blood or lymph from foci of infection or inflamed organs in their own body.
- Circulatory disorders in the prostateor stagnation of its secret, which occur in the following cases:
- sexual abstinence for a long time;
- often interrupted sexual intercourse or unrealized arousal;
- defective ejaculation.
Stress, alcoholism can also contribute to chronic prostatitis in the male body. An exacerbation is often observed after hypothermia, various infectious diseases, errors in the diet (too spicy food, alcohol).
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis
The most common symptoms:
- feeling of discomfort or pain in the inguinal and suprapubic areas, perineum, scrotum, rectum, in the lumbosacral region;
- frequent and painful urge to urinate;
- pain in the lower abdomen (constant or when urinating);
- intermittent or slow urine stream;
- decreased duration of sexual intercourse, worsening of erection, decreased libido, premature ejaculation;
- periodic/permanent absence of morning erection (spontaneous);
- pain of a pulling nature in the head of the penis after ejaculation, which disappears on its own in half an hour.
Many men do not pay attention to the signs of chronic prostatitis, believing that the disease will pass on its own. However, it progresses, causing various complications: pyelonephritis, cystitis, vesiculitis. Over time, against the background of prostate inflammation, infertility and impotence develop.
Diagnosis of the disease
For an accurate diagnosis, laboratory and instrumental examinations are required. It includes:
- general urinalysis,
- general blood tests,
- study of prostate secretion,
- bacteriological examination of prostatic secretion to identify microflora with determination of sensitivity to antibacterial drugs,
- blood test for PSA (prostate specific antigen),
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and prostate,
- Digital prostate exam.
Complications that can cause chronic prostatitis
This disease causes many concomitant diseases that seriously complicate a man's life:
- Urination disorders: frequent daytime and nighttime urination, weak urine stream, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
- Vesiculitis, colliculitis - inflammation of the seminal vesicles and the seminal tubercle.
- Gland abscess is a serious pathology that requires hospitalization and, very often, surgical intervention.
- Sclerosis of the prostate - develops with a prolonged course of prostatitis and requires surgical treatment.
- Cysts and, as a consequence, prostate stones.
- Impotence, infertility.
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
Treatment of this disease should be carried out only under the constant supervision of a doctor. One of the best and most effective modern medicines used to treat chronic prostatitis is an extract of prostate tissue. Its use gives a quick result and elimination of symptoms.
Since the therapy must be complex, other drugs should also be used:
- antibacterial,
- alpha blockers,
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
There are no universal drugs. Therefore, doctors can recommend antibacterial drugs from different groups. Cephalosporins, protected penicillins, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans and tetracyclines and others. All of them affect the cause of the disease - a bacterial infection.
Alpha-blockers - drugs for chronic prostatitis, designed to relax the muscles of the prostatic urethra and bladder neck, facilitate urine outflow by relieving spasm. In fact, they do not cure, but only eliminate the painful symptoms of inflammation.
Among anti-inflammatory drugs, urologists recommend reducing the inflammatory process and reducing pain.
A drug | Advantages | disadvantages | Recommendations for use |
---|---|---|---|
Fluoroquinolones |
|
|
Recommended for use. |
Diaminopyrimidines |
|
Negative against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterobacteria. | Second line drugs. |
macrolides |
|
Insufficient activity against gram-negative bacteria. | It is used for specific pathogens. |
tetracyclines | Good activity against atypical pathogens. |
|
It is used for specific pathogens. |
An effective cure for chronic prostatitis
Among the drugs with a large evidence base are those derived from bovine prostate tissue extract. Most often - in the form of suppositories or ampoules. The drug is effective in the treatment of acute and chronic forms of the disease. This drug is available in the form of suppositories (rectal suppositories) and ampoules (injections), the action of the drug is aimed at strengthening the walls of blood vessels and improving blood circulation at the micro level.
The effect of using the drug for chronic prostatitis:
- Elimination of dysuric disorders and normalization of the urination process.
- Improve the functional state of the prostate gland.
- Reducing congestion, reducing prostate edema.
- Reduction of severe symptoms of chronic prostatitis.
- Normalization of full blood circulation in the pelvic area, reducing the likelihood of blood clots in the blood vessels.
- Decrease in the concentration of leukocytes that infiltrate the prostate tissue.
Methods of treatment of chronic prostatitis.
In most cases, a chronic disease is successfully treated with conservative methods. But it must be remembered that therapy will bring a quick positive result only with an integrated approach. It is recommended to reconsider the lifestyle that causes the disease, otherwise a relapse is likely. Alcohol abuse, unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle and promiscuity are extremely harmful to the male reproductive system.
Healing Procedures:
- prostate massagecarried out manually through the anus. It is worth noting that the procedure is not very pleasant, but the effectiveness is very high.
- Physiotherapy procedures.Treatment of chronic prostatitis with thermal physiotherapy gives good results by improving microcirculation and absorption of drugs in the tissues. Physiotherapeutic procedures include ultrasonic heating and irrigation with an antibacterial solution using enemas.
- Balneotherapy.In many sanatoriums, this disease is successfully treated with balneotherapy methods, that is, with the help of mineral waters. For the treatment of patients with prostatitis, low-mineralized water is usually prescribed both indoors and in the form of baths.
- Diet therapy.You need to start adhering to a special diet already at the first signs of prostatitis. First of all, you need to give up alcoholic beverages, since ethyl alcohol irritates the ducts of the prostate, which increases pain and inflammation. It is also necessary to limit the intake of fatty meats in order to exclude the formation of cholesterol plaques and further impairment of blood circulation. Legumes, mushrooms, organ meats, salty and spicy foods, tea and coffee, carbonated drinks and cakes are prohibited.
The diet for chronic prostatitis should include foods rich in zinc (it is found in shellfish and pumpkin seeds). It is recommended to eat as many vegetables as possible (except those that contribute to gas formation, for example cauliflower), dairy products, cereals and dried fruits.
Precautionary measures
Chronic prostatitis usually does not develop if a man leads the correct lifestyle - follows the diet, plays sports, etc. Prevention of prostatitis is facilitated by the rejection of bad habits and casual sex.
There are primary, aimed at preventing the onset of the disease, prevention, and secondary, the task of which is to prevent recurrence (exacerbation) of existing chronic prostatitis.
Primary preventionit comes down to regular sexual intercourse, a balanced diet, compliance with a regimen of physical activity, timely and thorough treatment of any infectious (purulent) diseases of the body, and timely sanitation of the oral cavity.
Secondary preventionprovides for a regular examination by a urologist and preventive treatment: multivitamins, restorative drugs, sports.
asprophylactic drugprostate diseases, ovules can be used.