Prostatitis is a dreaded disease of the male genital area, which often affects young men under the age of forty. Although its symptoms - decreased sexual desire, difficulty urinating, pain in the groin area - are very painful, men are in no hurry to see a doctor.
And the reason for this is the lack of information about this disease, there are too many myths and prejudices 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 an inflammation of the prostate. Doctors classify the stage of the disease as acute and chronic. If the first is not treated, the inflammation quickly becomes chronic and leads to many complications, such as impaired sexual function and even the development of a malignant prostate tumor.
What are the reasons for its appearance?
Here are some of them:
- Sexually transmitted diseases. Often, men are carriers of a particular infection, without even knowing it, since the disease is completely asymptomatic. However, this image 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, etc.
- Untreated bladder infections. In this case, the infection easily spreads to the nearby prostate gland.
- Stagnation of blood in the pelvic region. 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 serious 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 potency;
- pain and difficulty during urination;
- pain of varying intensity 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:
- Groin and scrotum pain;
- Sharp pain during urination;
- Drawing pain after intercourse in glans penis;
- Deterioration of erection, reduction in the duration of sexual intercourse.
A few days after the first symptoms appear, the pain subsides, men have the false impression that the threat has passed. However, this only means that the 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 urges, 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 cause it:
- hypothermia;
- Cold;
- An erection that has had no realization;
- Avitaminosis;
- Stress and overwork;
- Sedentary lifestyle;
- constipation;
- Irregular sex life;
- Abuse of tobacco and alcohol.
Symptoms of nonbacterial 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 lifestyle of modern man.
Medical researchers compare chronic congestive prostatitis in terms of severity and prevalence with such dangerous diseases as tuberculosis or cancer, since 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 not caused by microorganisms, but by other factors - a long absence of sexual intercourse, a sedentary lifestyle, stressful situationsregular.
Such a conclusion can be drawn from the results of a bacteriological study, which shows the absence of pathogenic microorganisms.
The symptoms of this form of the disease are somewhat different from those of the bacterium:
- Patients complain of periodic or constant dull pains in the pelvis, lower abdomen, groin and genitals;
- Sexual dysfunction and problems with urination;
- Depressed mental state of patients
Symptoms of Asymptomatic Chronic Prostatitis
It is a latent form of the disease. As the name implies, 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 consider this form of pathology only as normal age-related changes in the prostate, which occur due to insufficient blood supply to the organ.
This disease is often detected in a patient quite by accident, for example, during an abdominal operation combined with a completely different diagnosis.
To avoid prostatitis, you need to know its causes.
So, the main measures to prevent inflammation of the prostate:
- 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 contacts or it is imperative to use barrier contraceptives. This measure is mandatory, since about 30% of cases of prostate inflammation are associated with sexually transmitted diseases.Sexual alternative- masturbation is also welcomed by urologists, since no less than full-fledged sexual intercourse improves blood supply to the prostate.
- Physical activity, active lifestyle. Physical education and sports are useful as a general strengthening measure, but it is worth focusing on exercises that improve blood circulation in the pelvic region. 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, sanitation of the oral cavity.
The diagnosis of prostatitis is complex and multifaceted
The diagnosis of prostatitis is mainly associated with the identification of the cause of the disease, it includes the following steps:
- Of great importance is a survey of the patient, who should describe in detail his complaints - the localization of certain sensations, their duration, the events with which the manifestations are associated, after which they began, to clarify the picture of thedisease. In addition, during the appointment, the doctor carefully reviews the patient's medical record for previously transferred diseases, tests and examinations. The urologist clarifies the patient's information about sex life, the presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- Examination of a smear and scraping of the urethra. An increased number of leukocytes in a smear and the presence of pathological microflora in a scraping will indicate the presence of an infection.
- General urine analysis. Helps identify the presence of an infection, its presence is indicated by an increased number of leukocytes (more than 5).
- Analysis of the ejaculate. Performed to confirm the diagnosis of nonbacterial prostatitis.
- Ultrasound of the prostate. Allows you to see the picture of the disease in the most complete way. It is carried out to clarify the diagnosis in acute and chronic inflammation of the prostate, suspicion of cancer.
Pain and decreased potency - the first signs of prostatitis
Most often, doctors have to deal with an already advanced form of the disease, since most men tend to ignore the first alarming bells - pain in the groin and decreased libido, or the disease itself isasymptomatic for some time.
These are the features 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 significantly exacerbates this problem. Therefore, the reason for the massive spread of prostatitis among truck drivers and office workers becomes obvious.
One way or another, up to 50% of the entire male population of the globe have experienced some symptoms of prostatitis. Therefore, it is so important to know the first signs of the disease and to consult a doctor in a timely manner. After all, treating an advanced form of the disease is a long and expensive business.
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 have to deal, and it usually requires a long and complex treatment.
But in any case, you must first identify the root cause of the pathology - blood stagnation and (or) inflammation of 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. In the complex, infusions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, calendula), which are administered in the form of microclysters, help well.
- However, the treatment of prostatitis should not be limited to taking medications, it should be aimed at restoring blood circulation in the prostate area, which involves a complex of physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises. Such measures contribute to better absorption of antibacterial drugs, as they improve blood supply to the prostate. Doctors often prescribe for prostatitis: electrophoresis, laser therapy, magnetic therapy;
- Prostate massage. This intervention is useful and effective, but it should not be performed at home, without consulting a doctor, since it has many contraindications, especially in the acute phase of the disease.
Summing up, it can be said that the issue of treatment and prevention of prostatitis largely depends on the desire and activity of the men themselves. Elementary morning exercises, regular preventive examinations by a urologist, a balanced diet - this is the key to male strength and longevity!