Symptoms of chronic prostatitis are often mild and treatment is not carried out in the initial stage. However, the problem can be solved if you take it seriously.
What is
Many patients learn what chronic prostatitis is when they visit a doctor for a completely different reason. Meanwhile, this disease is very dangerous and is a long-term inflammatory process that occurs in the prostate gland. If left untreated, serious complications can occur: impotence, infertility, vesiculitis, prostate cysts, adenomas and prostate cancer.
There are several forms of the disease:
acute bacterial prostatitis caused by the penetration of infectious pathogens into the prostate gland. It is characterized by typical pain in the lower abdomen and when urinating;
chronic bacterial prostatitis, which, along with the clinical picture of the acute form of the pathology, is accompanied by the presence of bacteria and an increased level of leukocytes in the urine and secretions of the prostate;
chronic prostatitis, which is a consequence of a previous bacterial form of the disease with ineffective treatment or its absence;
asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, characterized by the absence of any symptoms, but manifested during laboratory diagnostic methods.
More than 90% of cases of the disease are non-bacterial chronic prostatitis, which is asymptomatic, which leads to delayed treatment.
Is it possible to cure it?
The diagnosis itself shows that the disease has been progressing in the body for a long time. It is often difficult for men to visit a doctor for such an urgent problem until the situation becomes critical. Meanwhile, the sooner a person seeks medical help (at the first signs of ill health), the more effective the treatment will be and the greater the probability of completely getting rid of the disease. In an advanced form, chronic prostatitis is almost impossible to treat, but with proper and regular therapy, the symptoms will become less pronounced. That is why timely consultation with a doctor is so important.
reasons
The disease occurs in men aged 20 to 50 and depends on a number of prerequisites:
Infectious pathogens. They enter the prostate gland in several ways:
ascending (along the urethra);
descending (through infected urine);
lymphogenic (via the lymphatics);
hematogenous (through blood).
Examples of pathogenic microflora that provoke the bacterial form of prostatitis are staphylococci, Escherichia coli, enterococci, protea, pathogens of a viral, fungal, parasitic nature, as well as chlamydia, gonococcus, gardnerella and others.
Violation of normal blood circulation in the pelvic organs. This can be due to a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work (drivers, office workers) and improper nutrition. As a result, congestion and swelling occurs in the tissues of the prostate gland, and there is an incomplete discharge of secretions from the cavity of the organ. All this leads to partial or complete dysfunction of the gland.
Prolonged sexual abstinence or practicing interrupted intercourse. These actions also provoke inflammatory processes in the prostate gland.
Accompanying diseases. First of all, this refers to pathologies of a urological nature: cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, untreated acute prostatitis. However, the cause of chronic prostatitis can also be other diseases: chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, etc.
The frequent and prolonged stay in the cold, in conditions of high ambient temperature or high humidity, constant psycho-emotional stress.
Symptoms
The clinical picture of chronic prostatitis is poorly expressed in the initial stage. A person, as a rule, does not experience any discomfort or does not pay attention to the appearance of signs of the disease, if they do not interfere with leading a normal lifestyle. Over time, the general condition worsens and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
The appearance of pain in the perineum, genitals, groin. The pain can be weak, painful or quite intense during urination, defecation, after intercourse and during ejaculation. Often the pain syndrome spreads to the sacrum, anus, scrotum and testicles.
Disturbances during urination and defecation. In the first case, the process is characterized by frequent and painful urges and burning in the urethra. The presence of filamentous formations in the urine is observed. During defecation, discharge from the urethra is possible, which indicates insufficient tone of the prostate gland.
Disorders of sexual function. In men suffering from chronic prostatitis, there is a decrease in libido, an unstable erection or its absence, pain during and after intercourse, hemospermia and infertility.
Poor sleep, irritability, increased nervousness, fatigue, depression.
Increased body temperature. It can be observed during an exacerbation of the disease and have minor deviations from the norm.
Symptoms may not appear all at once, but may be persistent.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic tests make it possible to refute or confirm a suspected diagnosis, to determine what kind of disease it is and to what extent it is possible to cure it.
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The main diagnostic procedures are:
general analysis of urine;
analysis of prostate secretion for the presence/absence of pathogenic microflora, as well as for determining deviations of physiological parameters from normal values (increased number of leukocytes, etc. );
bacteriological culture of urine and taking a smear from the urethra;
a urine sample of three glasses, which allows you to determine the area of localization of inflammation;
analysis to identify pathogens of genital tract infections;
Ultrasound of the prostate gland;
examination of spermogram data, MAR test (for reproductive abnormalities);
urodynamic, endoscopic studies;
determination of prostate specific antigen (PSA).
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
The answer to the question of how to treat chronic prostatitis depends on the severity of the pathology and its type. The disease requires an integrated approach for its elimination or stable relief of symptoms.
Medication treatment
This includes taking drugs from the following groups:
Antibiotics, which are necessarily prescribed when diagnosing a bacterial form of pathology. However, such therapy can also be indicated in non-bacterial chronic prostatitis if a sustained positive effect is observed. Medicines from the groups penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones are taken in strict accordance with the doctor's instructions for at least two weeks.
Antispasmodics that help eliminate painful spasms in the perineum.
Anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving.
Alpha1-blockers used to reduce prostate hypertonicity and normalize motility.
Immunostimulating drugs.
The treatment regimen is selected individually in accordance with the characteristics of the diagnosis and intolerance to individual drugs (if any).
Non-drug treatment
In this case, the positive effect of the therapy is achieved through physical impact of a different nature on the diseased area. Patients may be prescribed:
Prostate massage. Activates the complete discharge of secretions from the prostate gland, improves blood circulation and normalizes the tone of the organ. Massage along with antibiotics is particularly effective in treating bacterial chronic prostatitis. However, there are contraindications for its use if the patient is diagnosed with:
acute bacterial prostatitis;
concomitant diseases of the gonads (vesiculitis, cooperitis);
the presence of stones in the prostate gland;
prostate cysts;
DHP;
organ cancer or suspicion of it;
prostate abscess;
hemorrhoids, rectal fissures and other diseases.
Electrophoresis. Physiotherapy procedure includes the therapeutic effect on the pathological area with a small electric current (not more than 50 μA). In this way, restorative reactions are stimulated, pain is relieved and blood flow in the gland tissues is optimized. Electrophoresis promotes the deep penetration of antibiotics into the structures of the prostate, thereby increasing the effectiveness of their action.
Ultrasound. The method is widely used in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, as it has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, restores sexual function and suppresses pain. Prostate tumors are successfully treated with ultrasound.
Ultraphonophoresis is the use of ultrasound therapy along with medication. This method allows drugs to penetrate into the deep layers of the affected organ and act most effectively there.
Magnetotherapy. The physiotherapeutic procedure has a comprehensive restorative effect on the genitourinary system, improves metabolic processes and neurogeneration.
Laser magnetic therapy. Laser exposure also effectively treats the manifestations of the disease, eliminating the risk of possible complications.
Inductometry is exposure to a high frequency alternating magnetic field.
Urethral instillations, mud treatment, therapeutic enemas, hot baths.
Physiotherapy together with drug treatment allows to obtain a lasting therapeutic effect and in most cases to completely defeat the disease in the initial stage.
Surgical intervention
It is indicated in cases where it is impossible to help the patient with other methods.
Prostatectomy is partial or complete removal of the prostate gland while preserving erectile function.
Transurethral resection (TUR) is an operation to cut out or remove enlarged glandular tissue. Prescribed for prostate adenoma or cancer.
Laser surgery. The operation involves removal of the affected organ tissue using a laser beam. In this case, the blood vessels are "sealed", eliminating bleeding.
Drainage of a prostate abscess. This operation allows you to extract pus from the cavity of the gland with the help of a rubber drain placed through the perineum or rectum by cutting the skin tissue.
Transurethral incision of the prostate. The operation involves several incisions in the prostate to relieve pressure from the affected organ on the urethra and restore urination.
After surgical intervention, the patient needs rehabilitation, the time interval of which, depending on the type of operation used, varies from 2-3 days to several months.
People's funds
Herbal preparations are also effective drugs in the complex therapy of chronic prostatitis. For these purposes, tinctures, decoctions, food mixtures or ointments are used, which include:
pumpkin seeds;
aspen bark;
hazel leaves and bark;
chestnut shells;
parsley;
honey, propolis;
Kalanchoe and others.
Regular use of herbal medicines helps to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, restore impaired functions and has a long-term preventive effect.
Chronic prostatitis is a disease that you should pay attention to at its first signs in order to eliminate dangerous complications and cure it in time.