Prostatitis is one of the most common urological diseases in men.It is generally accepted that after 30 years, 30% of men suffer from prostatitis, after 40 - 40%, 50 - 50%, etc. At the same time, the real incidence is much higher than the recorded one, which is explained by the characteristics of the diagnosis and the possibility of the disease occurring in a latent form.
The prostate gland is a small glandular-muscular organ located in the pelvis below the urinary bladder, covering the initial part of the urethra (urethra).The prostate gland, when mixed with seminal fluid, produces a secretion that protects the sperm's activity and resistance to various negative conditions.
During prostatitis, there are many problems related to urination, decreased libido and impaired erectile function.The saddest part is that, without proper treatment, about 40% of patients experience some form of infertility because the prostate gland can no longer produce high-quality secretions sufficient to maintain sperm motility. It should be remembered that similar symptoms can occur not only with prostatitis, but also with prostate adenoma and cancer.
Causes of prostatitis
There are 4 main forms of prostatitis: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, non-bacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia.
In people under the age of 35, the disease usually occurs in the form of acute bacterial prostatitis.When there is laboratory confirmation of the presence of infection, it is called bacterial prostatitis.Often it is chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis or gonorrhea.The infection enters the prostate gland through the urethra, bladder, rectum, pelvis, and blood and lymph vessels.However, recent studies prove that in most cases, the infection is layered on existing disturbances in the structure of the prostate tissue and blood circulation there.In non-bacterial prostatitis, bacteria cannot be isolated, although this does not exclude their presence.
Chronic forms of the disease are more often diagnosed in elderly patients.Prostatodynia refers to the presence of the clinical picture of prostatitis, thickening of the prostate tissue without signs of inflammation.
Symptoms of prostatitis
Symptoms of prostatitis can be divided into 3 groups:
- disorders of the urinary system (frequent and painful urge to urinate, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder), pain in the lower abdomen;
- sexual dysfunction (pain along the urethra and rectum during ejaculation, weak erection, premature ejaculation, loss of orgasm, etc.);
- increased anxiety and nervousness in a man caused by focusing the attention of patients on their condition.
Acute prostatitis usually begins with fever and chills, with body temperature rising to 39-40°C.Urination is difficult and painful.Swelling of the prostate gland develops, which can cause acute urinary retention.
Chronic prostatitis continues more quietly, but at any time, under the influence of unfavorable factors, an exacerbation can occur.May be asymptomatic.
Complications
In the absence of timely treatment, prostatitis can cause the following complications:
- transition of acute prostatitis to chronic form,
- bladder obstruction with acute urinary retention requiring surgical treatment;
- the development of male infertility,
- narrowing and scarring of the urethra,
- recurrent cystitis,
- pyelonephritis and other kidney damage,
- prostate abscess requiring surgical intervention;
- sepsis is a life-threatening complication that often develops in people with weak immunity (diabetes, patients with kidney failure).
What can you do?
If you experience the above symptoms, try to contact a urologist as soon as possible.
What can a doctor do?
The modern arsenal for diagnosing prostate diseases is very wide.
The doctor will prescribe a bacteriological examination of your urine and prostate secretions. Different parts of the urine are examined to clarify the location of the urinary tract infection.In addition, a mandatory diagnostic method is digital examination of the prostate gland. This procedure is not very pleasant, but very informative.Your doctor may refer you for an ultrasound examination of the prostate and pelvic organs.If necessary, computer or magnetic nuclear tomography, cystoscopy, urography and examination of prostate enzymes are prescribed.
When making a diagnosis, your doctor should rule out the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.Analgesics and hot baths may be recommended for quick pain relief in acute prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis requires the mandatory appointment of antibiotics, their selection is based on the results of bacteriological culture of secretions in the food environment and determination of the sensitivity of the pathogen to chemotherapy drugs.
Non-bacterial prostatitis is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Prevention of prostatitis
Avoid hypothermia and do not sit on cold objects. Follow a gentle diet (excluding alcohol, spicy, fried and canned foods).Regular sexual life is also a way to prevent prostatitis (because one of the provoking factors is stagnation of sperm and frequent erections without subsequent ejaculation).Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases is equally important.
During puberty, every man should be examined regularly (once a year) by a urologist.After prostatitis, preventive courses of outpatient treatment are carried out at least 2 times a year for one month and one course of sanatorium treatment.