Signs of prostatitis in men: symptoms, description and treatment

Prostate inflammation today is the leader in the group of male diseases that are mostly sexually transmitted. Its complications threaten infertility, decreased libido, and impotence.

Symptoms of prostatitis are not only pain, urinary disturbances, and inflammation of the spermatic cord. The most dangerous consequence of advanced inflammation can be the degeneration of prostate gland cancer. While pathological processes that are diagnosed on time are easy to stop.

Signs of illness

If a man finds at least two of the following symptoms of prostatitis, he should immediately contact a qualified specialist:

• Urinary disturbances with intermittent, weak, unusually short flow of urine, causing splashing, difficulty and pain before urinating. Frequent urges to empty the bladder occur especially at night.
• Pain, located in the lower abdomen, radiates to the scrotum, perineum, and rectum.
• Sexual dysfunction.
• Ejaculation problems, changes in sperm (consistency, quantity).

Acute prostatitis

The disease begins with a sudden increase in temperature (up to 40 degrees), painful headache, and fever. The symptoms that appear are accompanied by pain in the groin, perineum, back, coming out of the urethra, frequent urination and a constant desire to urinate.

Emptying the bladder occurs with delay and a burning sensation. The urine itself becomes cloudy and may contain blood. Irritability and fatigue occur.

The result of acute prostatitis can be a complete resolution of the process (if treatment is started on time). Since changes occur in many pelvic organs, they cannot be left to chance, otherwise the corresponding complications will arise:

• Vesiculitis is an inflammation of the seminal vesicles, the cause of the appearance of pus in the sperm, which not only reduces the quality of ejaculation, but leads to the loss of reproductive function.
• Colliculitis - inflammatory changes in the seminal tubercles become the reason for the development of severe pain during intercourse, orgasm disorders, and impotence of a psychological nature.
• The formation of an abscess in the body of the prostate, its rupture, and purulent damage to the rectum lead to worsening symptoms, severe intoxication, and even death.
• Stagnation in prostate tissue leads to changes in their structure, disruption of conservation, blood supply, both to the gland itself and to nearby organs, with disruption of their function. Erection becomes insufficient for full sexual intercourse, premature ejaculation and prolonged sexual intercourse without orgasm is observed.
• Cicatricial changes in the spermatic glands and cord lead to infertility, decreased sperm quality, and sperm motility. Narrowing of the urethra interferes with the normal process of urination; Bladder obstruction can cause acute urinary retention, requiring emergency surgical care.

Chronic prostatitis

The main feature of this disease is the vagueness of clinical symptoms with a long and continuous process. More often, the chronic form occurs independently, as the main pathology against the background of blood stagnation in the ducts (prostatosis), abacterial prostatitis.

The main symptoms of chronic prostatitis are:

• fever;
• pain occurs in the scrotum, perineum, anus, back;
• urinary disorders;
• mucus or mucopurulent discharge from the rectum, urethra, even without urination or defecation;
• erectile dysfunction, painful ejaculation, disturbed sexual intercourse, prolonged sexual intercourse without satisfaction.

Inaction and improper treatment of chronic prostatitis can cause complications:

• Infertility is the result of chronic inflammation in the spermatic cord, vesicles, testicles, and appendages.
• Cystitis, pyelonephritis (other diseases of the genitourinary system) are the result of hematogenous and mechanical spread of microbes.
• Sepsis.
• Continued decline in immunity.
• Untreated prostatitis can lead to cancer in 35-40% of cases.

Diagnostics

The clinical picture of this disease is typical, so the diagnosis is not difficult. It is performed by a urologist based on the medical history, patient examination, minimal laboratory use of the most modern medical devices:

• Rectal examination of the gland, taking secretions for examination (culture with determination of sensitivity to antibiotics).
• UAC, UAM, urine bacterial culture.
• Smear test for STD, UGI examination.
• Daily monitoring of urinary rhythm, measurement of urinary rate (uroflowmetry).
• For differential diagnosis, ultrasound or TRUS is performed.
• If necessary to exclude oncology, a biopsy is taken, urography is performed, and PSA is determined - prostate-specific antigen.
• To diagnose infertility, a spermogram is prescribed - an analysis of ejaculate to determine a man's fertility.

Based on the results of the examination of the patient, an individual scheme for the complex treatment of prostatitis is prepared. When prescribing the drug, the pathological form and the presence of concomitant diseases are taken into account. The decision about where to carry out therapy (inpatient or outpatient) is made by the doctor. The course of treatment is carried out with careful laboratory monitoring of the results.

Treatment of acute prostatitis

Acute prostatitis requires bed rest, a special salt-free diet, and sexual rest.

Course treatment method:

• The most effective treatment for prostatitis is etiotropic therapy. If the basis of prostatitis is an infection, a course of antimicrobial agents is a priority, which relieves the manifestations of inflammation.
• Pain syndrome is eliminated with analgesics, antispasmodics, rectal suppositories, microenemas with warm solutions of painkillers. NSAIDs can be used.
• Immunostimulants, immunomodulators, enzymes, vitamin complexes, and combinations of microelements have proven their effectiveness.
• Physiotherapy methods are only possible in the subacute stage of the disease. They improve microcirculation and improve immunity: UHF, microwaves, electrophoresis, laser, magnetic therapy.
• Massage is another effective method to influence the prostate. It opens the channels, normalizes blood circulation in the scrotum and pelvis.
• Acute renal filtrate retention can be corrected by catheterization and trocar cystostomy.
• The purulent process involves surgical intervention.
• Psychologist consultation.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

With long-term effects, the course (at least a month) on the prostate, there is no 100% guarantee of recovery. Priority is given to herbal medicines, immunocorrection, changing household habits:

• Herbal preparations are widely used in urological practice. They can accumulate at the site of the most active pathological processes, protect cells from oxidation, eliminate free radicals, and prevent the proliferation of glandular tissue.
• Antibacterial therapy is selected individually, based on the sensitivity of the microbe to the drug.
• Drugs that improve immunity not only help to overcome prostatitis, they also correct the negative effects of antibiotics that interfere with the functioning of the immune system.
• The pain syndrome is relieved by giving alpha blockers and muscle relaxants.
• Prostate massage allows you to mechanically remove the "extra" secretions of the gland through the urethra, improve blood circulation, and minimize congestion.
• Physiotherapy: laser, magnet, ultrasound, iontophoresis, warm sitz bath or microenemas with herbs.
• In severe cases, intravenous fluids with diuretics are indicated. This stimulates the production of copious amounts of urine, preventing hangover symptoms, the development of ascending cystitis, and pyelonephritis.
• For constipation, herbal laxatives are used.
• Urologists and psychologists, together with the patient, develop an individual long-term program of daily routine, necessary rest, diet, dosed physical activity, and sexual activity.
• If the chronic process is resistant to therapy and the outflow of urine is blocked, surgical intervention is prescribed: removal of all affected tissue (transurethral removal of the prostate) or complete removal of the gland with surrounding tissue (prostatectomy). Practiced in exceptional cases, it is fraught with impotence and urinary incontinence. Young people do not undergo surgery because it can cause infertility.

Symptoms and treatment of chronic prostatitis

Many men suffer from chronic prostatitis, but they associate the symptoms with other diseases or waste time on ineffective treatment. From our article, you will learn comprehensive information about this men's problem: causes, exact symptoms and diagnostic methods, various treatment methods.

Despite all the successes of modern medicine, diagnosing a disease such as chronic prostatitis causes certain difficulties. This also has a negative effect on the effectiveness of the treatment.

Causes of chronic prostatitis

The causes of chronic prostatitis are very different. Of the various negative factors that affect a man's health, it is difficult to choose exactly those that trigger the development of the disease. Often this is a complex of situations and circumstances that accompany a man's life.

The main causes of chronic abacterial prostatitis are as follows:

• dysrhythmia (irregularity) of sexual intercourse;
• physical inactivity, which is typical for overweight people;
• long-term stressful conditions;
• predominance of foods rich in fat in the diet;
• negative effects on the body in hazardous industries.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis is the result of bacterial prostatitis that does not heal completely. Or the man ignores the disease and does not seek help from a urologist. Therefore, no treatment is carried out.

Chronic prostatitis of the abacterial type develops due to exposure to infectious agents against the background of decreased immunity. As a rule, such patients are diagnosed with diseases of the endocrine system.

Factors that trigger the development of chronic bacterial prostatitis are:

• surgical operation on the prostate (if antibacterial therapy is not performed before the operation);
• refusal to use contraceptives;
• lack the habit of keeping the body clean.

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis

Today there are many myths about chronic prostatitis. For this reason, any temporary disturbance in sexual function is associated with this disease. You can often hear the opinion that decreased libido and erectile dysfunction are caused by prostatitis, and if an older man, then for chronic prostatitis.

This is not true, because sexual dysfunction has many other causes, and the main symptom of chronic prostatitis is pain. All other signs can be considered equivalent and indirect.

Chronic prostatitis is often confused with pelvic pain syndrome, as the symptoms of these diseases are largely similar. This is due to the formation of a myofacial trigger zone near the prostate, which appears as a result of injuries and surgical interventions. Pain in this area can be mistaken for a symptom of prostate inflammation.

In the diagnosis of the disease, complaints of pain and discomfort in the perineum and pelvis, lasting at least 3 months, come to the fore. The pain is localized near the prostate, radiating to the sacrum, rectum, and scrotum. With prolonged exposure to negative factors (carrying heavy objects, excessive physical activity, being on your feet for a long time), pain increases.

The hallmark of this disease is premature ejaculation. Patients experience decreased sexual desire and erectile dysfunction. These symptoms are also characteristic of other genitourinary diseases. Therefore, it cannot be said that they are characteristic of chronic prostate disease.

An important symptom is the fading of orgasm. If the patient begins to notice that the intensity of sensations during ejaculation has disappeared, this is a reason for a more attentive attitude towards his health and a signal about the need to visit a urologist.

The structure of the inflamed prostate becomes more dense, the pressure on the urinary tube increases, and the quality of urine deteriorates. Patients with chronic prostatitis note a frequent urge to urinate at night. The process of urine excretion is accompanied by burning, burning, and pain. Urinary incontinence is common.

Signs of chronic prostatitis can be fully or partially expressed. Much depends on the patient's health status and the presence or absence of other diseases. Chronic prostatitis is characterized by a wave-like course, with waxing and waning symptoms. With this disease, the inflammatory process is not acute.

Laboratory research methods

If chronic prostatitis is suspected, first of all they know its nature: bacterial or abacterial. In the first case, it is necessary to identify the pathogen or pathogens and find out which drugs they are sensitive to. To do this, laboratory tests of urine and prostate secretions are performed.

If, after a period of 10 days after DRE, the PSA test shows that the prostate-specific antigen level exceeds 4. 0 ng/ml, this is a reason to refer the patient for a biopsy to exclude an oncological process.

The following research methods are recommended:

• scraping from the urethra;
• general and biochemical urine analysis;
• LHC culture of prostate secretions.

Treatment of chronic prostatitis

Treatment of chronic prostatitis requires an integrated approach. Taking medicine alone is not enough. Physiotherapy procedures and therapeutic exercises are necessary. In general, chronic prostatitis is difficult to treat and requires a radical revision of lifestyle, changes in habits, and in some cases, job changes. Urologists insist that only one set of measures will help get rid of the disease completely or ensure long-term remission.

Regardless of whether the disease is bacterial or abacterial, congestion in the prostate plays a major role in its formation. Viscous secretion stored in the ducts of the gland is a good environment for the development of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms. Therefore, the main attention should be directed to eliminate stagnation.

This issue can be resolved by changing lifestyle and including physical therapy classes in the daily schedule.

Training complexes have been developed that are suitable for different life situations:

• for men who have to sit most of the time (drivers, office workers, managers);
• for overweight people;
• for those who don't have time to exercise.

Having thought about how to treat chronic prostatitis, you should decide to seriously reconsider your attitude to your health.

Treatment with drugs

For chronic prostatitis, outpatient treatment is mainly carried out. If the pathological process continues and it is not possible to achieve remission using this method, hospitalization is recommended. In the hospital, under the supervision of medical staff, there are more opportunities to adhere to the regimen and monitor changes in the patient's condition.

Chronic prostatitis in men develops against the background of endocrine disorders. In this case, the drugs 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and alpha 1-blockers are recommended. They help normalize hormone levels and eliminate pathological symptoms.

An integrated approach includes taking medications such as:

Treatment methods for chronic bacterial prostatitis

Chronic bacterial prostatitis is treated with antibiotics. The most effective drug for a particular patient is determined using preliminary laboratory studies of prostate secretions.

There is no universal drug to suppress and destroy the pathogenic microflora. What helps one patient may not help another. For this reason, there are many negative reviews about drugs advertised for the treatment of chronic prostatitis.

The drugs recommended for antibacterial therapy are fluoroquinolones. Most bacteria are sensitive to them.

Treatment with herbal medicine

Many people doubt whether chronic prostatitis can be cured with the help of herbal medicine. The answer to this question is obtained through many years of use of this healing agent in urological practice.

Today the following treatment complex is recommended:

All these drugs have a good effect on the function of the male genitourinary system. Effective treatment of chronic prostatitis is possible provided that urinary function is normalized. The components included in the herbal medicine perform this task. They help reduce the frequency of urges and eliminate sluggish flow syndrome.

For chronic prostatitis patients, herbal mixtures containing pumpkin extract or pumpkin seeds are recommended. The latter has a unique chemical composition and acts in three directions at once:

• normalize metabolism;
• strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
• activates blood circulation in the pelvic organs.

Taking herbal medicine should not be considered as the main method of treatment. These health-improving agents are considered in tandem with drug therapy.

Treatment is not medicine

Non-drug therapy methods allow you to act directly on the prostate, increase the concentration of drugs in its tissues, and help relieve congestion.

Today, non-drug treatments focus on laser therapy. The possibilities of this technique are vast. Under the influence of the laser, the following processes occur in the prostate gland:

• activation of redox reactions;
• blood microcirculation improves;
• new capillaries are formed;
• pathogenic microflora is suppressed;
• The process of cell division is activated, which promotes tissue regeneration.

During the period of research on the effect of laser therapy on prostatitis patients, side effects, but positive for the purpose of treatment, have been observed. Those who complete the course increase potency, eliminate erectile dysfunction, and restore vitality. To achieve this result, it is necessary to use a beam with a certain wavelength. In general, low-intensity laser radiation is used to treat chronic prostatitis.

This technique can have several positive effects:

Patients can, on their own initiative, undergo a course of laser therapy if it is not prescribed by the attending physician.

Surgical treatment of chronic prostatitis

Chronic prostatitis does not pose a threat to the patient's life, but can significantly reduce its quality. The most serious complication of this disease is the formation of stones in the glandular tissue. To free it from prostatolith, transurethral resection is used.

Surgical intervention is carried out under TRUS control.

If complications such as prostate sclerosis occur, transurethral electrosurgery is performed. If sclerosis of the bladder neck is observed in combination with this pathology, a partial resection of the prostate is performed.

When the seminal and excretory ducts are blocked, endoscopic surgery is indicated to eliminate the obstruction of secretion patency. For this purpose, incisions are made into the seminal vesicles and excretory ducts. In the case of an abscess, complete removal of the gland is possible.

Exercises for the treatment of chronic prostatitis

There are several exercises that are effective in stimulating the prostate, which helps relieve congestion. This complex was developed for patients suffering from hip joint problems. Practice has shown that this exercise is also useful for those diagnosed with prostatitis. Classes can be run at a convenient time; complex will take no more than 15 minutes to complete.

Exercise No. 1

1. Lying on the gymnastic mat, stretch both arms upwards.
2. Bend your knees and pull them towards you, simultaneously spreading them in different directions.
3. Raise the pelvis as much as they can. Repeat 10-12 times.

Exercise No. 2

Standing on the mat, do a deep squat.

Repeat 10-12 times.

Exercise No. 3

1. Lie on your stomach.
2. Lift one leg up, then the other. Repeat 10-12 times.

Exercise #4

They lay on their sides.

When performing this set of exercises, all movements should be smooth. This is the main condition for obtaining a high therapeutic effect.

Treatment prognosis

Few men can cure chronic prostatitis completely. Prostate inflammation often goes into long-term remission. But when conditions arise for pathological activation, relapse occurs. Severity begins with the occurrence of pain in the prostate. Often they are accompanied by urinary disorders. At the first symptom of a relapse, you should seek help from a specialist.

Patients are recommended to visit a urologist regularly, at least once every six months. With the same frequency, they conduct an examination of the state of the prostate and take a PSA test. By systematically monitoring the condition of the glands, the process that triggers the recurrence of the disease can be identified in time. But even with long-term remission there is no guarantee that it will not be disturbed.

Patients must follow the recommendations to avoid worsening of the disease. It is recommended to balance your diet by excluding fatty and spicy foods. The use of herbal medicine and traditional medicine must be agreed with the attending physician. With this approach, you can minimize the risk of exacerbation of chronic prostatitis.

Is it possible to cure prostatitis by yourself?

If there are severe symptoms, it is better to be treated by a specialist, the time factor plays a big role in the treatment, because the longer the inflammation lasts, the greater the chance of irreversible changes in the organ.

But it is better to do prevention yourself; no doctor will do it for you.

Avoid hypothermia, stagnation during prolonged sitting, sexually transmitted infections, irregular sex life - all these are ways for effective prevention of prostatitis.