According to statistics, inflammation of the prostate occurs in 15% of the male population. This is a dangerous disease that, without treatment, leads to the formation of cysts and stones in the prostate, erectile dysfunction (impotence) and infertility. You need to know the symptoms of prostatitis in order to visit a urologist in time and cure the disease without consequences. Inflammation is divided into acute and chronic forms, each of which has distinctive features.
Symptoms and signs common to all types of prostatitis
Despite the fact that prostatitis is acute and chronic, experts have identified a number of common symptoms and signs of the disease in men, which are inherent in both conditions: the main first and others.
Moderate pain in the perineum and scrotum
Painful and tight sensations in the groin are the first sign of prostatitis in men. The symptom is constantly worried. The pain increases and decreases. A person cannot accurately indicate the localization of discomfort, since pain is often given in the lower back, in the sacral region.
When a symptom appears, a man tries to sit or lie down, bending over slightly and bringing his knees up to his stomach.
To treat the discomfort, pain relievers from the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used. The drugs have a good analgesic effect and do not cause serious adverse reactions.
They are not recommended for men with gastritis or stomach ulcers.
Increased urination (pollakiuria)
With prostatitis, a man begins to run to the toilet every 1. 5-2 hours. If you drink a few liters of beer or too much water in the heat, the condition becomes completely unbearable: the craving occurs every 20-30 minutes.
After going to the toilet, there is a feeling of incomplete urination.
With pollakiuria, no pill will help. The "drink less water" option also does not work in this case. Desires can occur even with a tiny amount of urine in the bladder.
Discomfort
Weakness and weakness often occur at the very onset of the disease. Many do not attach much importance to it, attributing everything to overwork.
If a man after 40 suddenly has severe fatigue, incomprehensible pain sensations in the muscles and joints, a decrease in interest in work, this may indicate the development of prostatitis. This symptom alone does not make it possible to diagnose the pathology, but when combined with 2-3 other symptoms, inflammation of the prostate is very likely.
To improve his well-being, a man needs more rest, normalizes the daily routine. Good sleep for 7-8 hours is very important and you should fall asleep no later than 11 p. m. A good effect will come from vitamins both in natural form and in the form of dietary supplements (use is recommended after in-person consultation with a specialist).
Slow urine flow
Urination with too weak and too short a jet, spray in all directions are typical complaints of men who are faced with inflammation of the prostate. Seeing such a problem, a person tries to force and bring out a "powerful flow", but nothing comes out. For prostatitis, it is precisely the slow flow that is characteristic, and not the release of droplet urine, which is more often observed with prostate adenoma in the middle and at the end of its development.
The symptom is mainly associated with swelling or dystrophic changes in the tissues of the prostate, which block the lumen of the urethra. NSAIDs that relieve puffiness may provide some relief in the acute process, but they will be ineffective in chronic inflammation. It is possible to remove edema at home with the help of prostate massage, but for this a man must have certain skills.
Mucous discharge from the urethra
Drops of secretion appear on the glans penis during the day. The discharge is due to self-massage of the prostate, which occurs during brisk walking, sports, running. As a result, part of the inflammatory secretion travels along the urethra and is released to the outside. Often the mucus is cloudy, has an unpleasant odor, and sometimes the color is bad.
Men faced with a symptom must strictly observe hygiene. The genitals should be washed at least 2-3 times a day, since the secretion accumulated on the head is an excellent medium for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. The genitals can be rinsed with an antiseptic solution or a decoction of chamomile, which helps to destroy harmful microorganisms.
Pain when urinating
One symptom of prostatitis is cramping and a burning sensation (burning) in the urethra that occurs during urination. Discomfort is most pronounced in the morning, as a large amount of inflammatory exudate accumulates in the prostate during the night. Resi worries a man not only during the act, but also within 15 to 20 minutes afterwards.
To reduce discomfort, you can use drugs from the group of herbal uroseptics. The drugs have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, they relieve symptoms and prevent inflammatory diseases of the urethra against the background of prostatitis.
Imperative desire
Men describe this feeling as a sudden, painful urge to urinate. There is a fear of "not reaching" because the sensations are painful and very strong.
Often there is a false urge, when the flow of urine does not occur and after a few minutes the pain subsides. Sometimes this symptom is accompanied by urinary incontinence, when a few drops of liquid appear on the laundry.
The only advice of doctors in such a situation is not to try to endure the urge. Frequent visits to the toilet cause psychological discomfort, but when an attempt is made to forcefully compress the muscles, the pain intensifies.
Acute prostatitis: what hurts at the same time and what sensations of the disease
Acute prostatitis in men has 9 distinctive symptoms, which are mainly observed with a strong manifestation of inflammation of the prostate. We will tell you in detail about each.
Excruciating pain in the groin
Men complain of severe cramps, spasms and unpleasant pulsations in the groin area.
Pain constantly worries a person, increases with prolonged sitting in a still position, with urination. Sometimes the pain is so severe that it is impossible to walk normally.
The symptom occurs suddenly, it may be preceded by hypothermia or unprotected intercourse.
The discomfort must be treated. Pain relievers are used to quickly relieve symptoms of prostatitis in men. NSAIDs are the drug of choice.
Heat
An active inflammatory process in the prostate is always accompanied by a rise in temperature. In acute prostatitis, fever reaches values of 39-39. 5 ° C. Body temperature suddenly rises, sometimes preceding the onset of pain or other typical symptoms.
The symptom may be accompanied by alternating periods of chills and increased sweating.
Temperatures above 38 ° C must be lowered. Standard antipyretics are sufficient. You should not use acetylsalicylic acid to lower the temperature. It has many proven side effects when misused, so it's best to stick with safe products.
Cloudy urine
With prostatitis, inflammatory exudate is released from the gland, which appears during urination.
Due to this, the urine becomes cloudy, sometimes individual inclusions of mucus or pus can be seen in it. Inflammation of the prostate is characterized by a change in the last portion of the urine, while at the onset of urination the flow looks familiar. Turbidity is often accompanied by an unpleasant odor.
If such a symptom appears, it is worth using drugs from the uroseptic group. Here, it is not the medicinal plants that are most suitable, but drugs with an antibacterial effect, which are more effective in this particular case.
Purulent discharge from the urethra
The appearance of a few drops of pus from the mouth of the urethra is a typical sign of bacterial prostatitis.
The symptom can occur during the day, as well as at the end of each urination. If the prostate disease is caused by trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted infections, there may be a profuse discharge of foamy, foul-smelling pus.
Symptomatic treatment is carried out with uroseptics. Men are advised to observe hygiene and regularly wash the groin area with chamomile solution or antiseptic to prevent irritation and maceration of the skin of the penis.
At the same time, it is important to start antibiotic treatment as soon as possible in order to prevent complications that, at first glance, lead to harmless discharge.
Urine retention
With acute edema of the prostate, urination is impossible, since the lumen of the initial urethra is completely blocked. The man feels the need to go to the toilet, there is a feeling of bursting in the suprapubic area.
When you try to urinate, the pain intensifies, but there is no result.
Herbal preparations, which contain, for example, extract of the fruit of sabal, help to combat urinary retention. They make it easier to empty the bladder and relieve excruciating suprapubic discomfort.
Headache
Symptoms of acute prostatitis include manifestations of intoxication. The inflammatory process in the prostate is accompanied by the production of specific biochemical markers that affect the condition of the whole organism.
The disease is often accompanied by a high fever, against which also a headache of a pressing or constricting nature occurs.
For pain relief, analgesics from the NSAID group are suitable. If the discomfort is mild, the drugs can be withdrawn.
Painful stools
When emptying the intestines, there is a strong pressure on the inflamed gland, so that the man feels a sharp pain. Sometimes the pain becomes so intense that the person tries to hold back the urge so as not to feel discomfort.
Sometimes with prostatitis tenesmus is observed - a painful "unsuccessful" urge to defecate.
Unpleasant sensations cannot be managed at home. The pain will go away only after the acute inflammatory process has subsided. Do not hold back the urge to have a bowel movement, as constipation may occur, which will make the situation worse.
Lumbosacral pain
An unpleasant symptom of prostatitis is due to the general innervation (supply of nerve endings) of the pelvic organs, due to which the pain spreads to neighboring parts of the body.
The pain can be dull and aching or sharp. Also characteristic is acute "lumbago" in the lumbar region, which occurs during straining, defecation, urination.
To eliminate the symptom, analgesics from the NSAID section are suitable. You should not use hot baths or warm the lumbar area to relieve discomfort, as this can intensify the acute inflammatory and purulent process, accelerating its development.
Aches
The symptom develops as one of the components of intoxication syndrome in prostatitis. The man complains of discomfort in the joints and muscles: it seems that they are twisted, stretched and squeezed at the same time.
The discomfort is similar to the onset of a cold or the flu.
There are no drugs or folk remedies to eliminate the discomfort. This symptom occurs mainly against the background of fever. Therefore, after lowering the temperature (in any practical way), the pains in the body disappear, and the state of health improves.
Diagnose chronic prostatitis at home based on signs and symptoms
Chronic prostatitis is distinguished by a number of signs, so it can be diagnosed at home, even before going to the urologist.
Painful ejaculation
Unpleasant sensations disturb a man when approaching orgasm: pulling pains begin in the scrotum and perineum, which are given to the penis. The discomfort reaches its peak during ejaculation, when a person may experience severe spastic pain.
This situation is repeated with each intercourse, but the strength of the painful sensations varies.
To reduce discomfort, urologists recommend that a man have regular sex (at least 2 times a week). This helps in removing congestion from the prostate. After ejaculation, hot sitz baths are helpful in relieving pulling pains.
Frequent night visits to the toilets
Symptoms of chronic prostatitis include nocturia - abnormally frequent urination at night. The patient has to wake up 2-3 times or more to go to the toilet.
The urge to urinate is quite painful and the flow of urine is accompanied by discomfort in the perineum and lower abdomen. The symptom can occur regardless of how much fluid you drink at night.
There are no symptomatic treatments. To reduce the frequency of nocturnal awakenings, you should limit drinking water and drinks in the evening, try to empty your bladder completely before bedtime.
Constipation
The prostate increases in size and presses on the rectum, making the act of defecation difficult. Men complain of constipation that lasts 3 to 4 days or more. When you try to force, the pain arises in the perineum, the sacral region. The symptoms bother a person for weeks or even months.
To improve bowel movements, doctors recommend eating more vegetables and fruits, whole grain cereals. These foods are high in fiber, which increases the volume of feces and makes them softer. Prunes, fresh plums, kefir and other fermented dairy products have a natural laxative effect. For prolonged constipation, you can use laxative tablets or suppositories.
Subfebrile temperature
An increase in thermometer readings to 37-37. 5 ° C occurs with exacerbation of chronic prostatitis. In this case, headaches, discomfort, body aches and other typical symptoms of the disease come together.
The use of antipyretics is inappropriate for indications up to 38 degrees on a medical thermometer. Treatment of relapse should be carried out, due to which, in fact, a subfebrile condition has arisen.
Weakened erection
With chronic prostatitis, sexual problems can occur not only in older people, but also in young men after 30 years.
Patients complain that during arousal the erection is not firm enough. This causes psychological and physical discomfort. For fear of "failure", the man avoids sex, which makes the problem even worse.
There are many folk remedies that treat potency problems. Only a few of them: decoctions of thyme and rosehips, tincture of rowan berries, the use of propolis. Man is advised to consume more celery, which has a good effect on erection, and to drink ginger tea.
Decreased performance
With chronic prostatitis, a man experiences constant weakness, fatigue, irritability and nervousness.
Concentration and memory inevitably decrease and it becomes more difficult to perform usual work tasks. The symptom also applies to physical work: even with minor training or sports effort, muscle pain and severe fatigue occur.
During such a period, it is important to take care of yourself, get plenty of rest, and not try to complete all tasks to the maximum of your ability. After treating prostatitis (or at least achieving stable remission), the unpleasant symptoms will disappear, and then it will be possible to dive headlong into labor.
Inability to conceive a child
With the asymptomatic course of chronic prostatitis, men often go to the doctor to complain that they cannot conceive.
Patients say they have no pain and frequent urination, and even in intercourse everything can be normal. This option for the development of pathology is considered unfavorable, as it means that a man already has an advanced form of the disease.
The production of viable and active sperm is a serious process which is regulated by the sex glands and the brain. No folk recipes and symptomatic remedies will help in this case, it is important to study and solve the problem on a medical level.
Reviews: the opinion of men on the forums
- "I had signs of prostatitis over a year ago. At first there was a slight pulling in the groin and perineum, then the pain got worse. I noticed that I woke up 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom. I didn't attach much importance. I thought I was frozen somewhere or sitting in a draft. Then the sexual problems began: the erection was unstable, the sensitivity decreased, there were no sharp sensations during orgasm. At work, a colleague advised me to bee podmore. I took it for several months (as a tincture, bought from a local beekeeper), the condition improved, the pains disappeared. "
- "I had pain in my scrotum, perineum, and pulled lower abdomen. Sometimes a few drops of pus would come out of the urethra. I have read reviews on the Internet, where men described the same symptoms, went to the doctor and were diagnosed with prostatitis. I know the disease is serious, so I decided not to delay treatment. The hospital did a bunch of tests and ultrasounds, prescribed pills. The prostatitis was cured, but bowel problems started, probably due to the antibiotics. Then for another 2 months I had to buy probiotics, then all kinds of kefir and yogurt to take away the abdominal discomfort ".
- "For a long time, I thought I had digestive problems. I didn't even know about prostatitis - I didn't know that the lower abdomen hurt and the stools were disturbed. I had exactly these symptoms. I even started to visit the restroom in a small way, but at first I didn't pay attention to this sign. It's good that I decided to go to the urologist after all. I was diagnosed with chronic prostatitis. I was treated for a long time, I drank different pills, I put candles. To be honest I can't even remember the names, it just popped out of my head. Now I feel good. "
- "I know firsthand what prostatitis is. It all started suddenly for me: there was severe pain in the scrotum and suprapubic area, the urge to urinate was literally every 30 minutes. For a few days I suffered so much and went to the urologist. They did a urinalysis and an ultrasound of the prostate, did a smear, and the doctor wanted to see what was rectally with a finger, but I generally refused. . . It turned out that "acute prostatitis" had developed. The doctor prescribed antibiotics. After 2 weeks I was completely healed, there have been no relapses so far, I hope there will be no more, it's scary because they say prostatitisis incurable. "
results
Regardless of the form of prostatitis, the use of symptomatic therapy alone is not effective enough. NSAIDs or pain relievers will temporarily relieve pain and fever, and uroseptics will help reduce microbial inflammation. But at the same time, the pathological process of the prostate continues to develop and becomes a chronic form. As a result, ultrasound changes (tissue sclerosis), erectile dysfunction appear, and the risk of prostate cancer increases.
In order not to lead to sad consequences for the disease, complex treatment of prostatitis is necessary. The treatment regimen is prescribed by a doctor (urologist, less often - an andrologist), taking into account the characteristics of the disease and the results of tests.