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%, after 50 - 50%, etc.At the same time, the actual incidence is much higher than the registered one, which is explained by the peculiarities of the diagnosis and the possibility that the disease occurs in a latent form.With prostatitis, numerous problems with urination occur, libido decreases and erectile function is impaired.
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%, after 50 - 50%, etc.At the same time, the actual incidence is much higher than the registered one, which is explained by the peculiarities of the diagnosis and the possibility that the disease occurs in a latent form.
The prostate is a small glandular-muscular organ located in the small pelvis below the bladder, covering the initial part of the urethra (urethra).The prostate produces a secretion that, when mixed with seminal fluid, maintains sperm activity and their resistance to various adverse conditions.
With prostatitis, numerous problems with urination occur, libido decreases and erectile function is impaired.The saddest thing is that, in the absence of proper treatment, about 40% of patients face some form of infertility, because the prostate can no longer produce a sufficient amount of quality secretion to ensure sperm motility.It is important to remember that similar symptoms can appear not only in prostatitis, but also in prostate adenoma and cancer.
Forms of prostatitis
According to the 1995 criteria of the American National Institutes of Health (NIH USA), there are four categories of prostatitis:
- Category I - Acute prostatitis;
- Category II - Chronic bacterial prostatitis;
- Category III – Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS):
- Category IIIa - Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome with signs of inflammation;
- Category IIIb – Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome without signs of inflammation;
- Category IV - Asymptomatic (asymptomatic) chronic prostatitis.
Occasionally, chronic granulomatous prostatitis occurs, which is not mentioned in this classification.
Most experts distinguish 4 main forms of prostatitis:
- acute bacterial prostatitis,
- chronic bacterial prostatitis,
- non-bacterial prostatitis
- Prostatodynia.
Causes of prostatitis in men
In people under the age of 35, the disease most often occurs in the form of acute bacterial prostatitis.Bacterial prostatitis is called when there is laboratory confirmation of the presence of infection.Most often it turns out to be chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis or gonorrhea.The infection enters the prostate from the urethra, bladder, rectum and through the blood and lymphatic vessels of the pelvis.
However, recent research proves that the infection is in most cases superimposed on existing disorders in the structure of the prostate tissue and blood circulation in it.In non-bacterial prostatitis, bacteria cannot be isolated, although this does not exclude their presence.
Older patients are more often diagnosed with chronic forms of the disease.
Prostatodynia is the presence of the clinical picture of prostatitis, thickening of prostate tissue without signs of inflammation.
Symptoms of prostatitis in men
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;
- disorders of sexual function (pain along the urethra and rectum during ejaculation, weak erection, premature ejaculation, loss of orgasm, etc.);
- increased anxiety and nervousness of the man, caused by the fixation of the patient's attention on his condition.
Acute prostatitis usually begins with an increase in body temperature to 39-40°C with fever and chills.Urination is difficult and painful.Swelling of the prostate develops, which can cause acute urinary retention.
Chronic prostatitis progresses more calmly, but at any moment, under unfavorable factors, it can worsen.Possibly asymptomatic.
Complications of prostatitis
In the absence of timely treatment, prostatitis can cause the following complications:
- the transition of acute prostatitis to chronic,
- bladder obstruction with acute urinary retention, which requires surgical treatment,
- the development of male infertility,
- narrowing and scarring of the urethra,
- recurrent cystitis,
- pyelonephritis and other kidney damage,
- abscess (spuration) of the prostate, which requires surgical intervention,
- sepsis is a life-threatening complication that often develops in people with reduced immunity (patients with diabetes, kidney failure).
Treatment of prostatitis in men
The modern arsenal for diagnosing prostate disease is very wide.
The doctor will prescribe a bacteriological examination of urine and prostate secretions.To clarify the location of the urinary tract infection, different parts of the urine are examined.In addition, a mandatory diagnostic method is a digital examination of the prostate.This procedure is not very pleasant, but it is very informative.Your doctor may refer you to an ultrasound examination of the prostate and pelvic organs.If necessary, computerized or magnetic nuclear tomography, cystoscopy, urography and prostate enzyme testing are prescribed.
When making a diagnosis, your doctor must rule out the presence of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.Analgesics and warm baths can be recommended for quick pain relief in acute prostatitis.
Bacterial prostatitis requires the prescription of antibiotics, the selection of which is made based on the results of a bacteriological culture of secretions on nutrient media and determination of the pathogen's sensitivity to chemotherapy.
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).A regular sex life is also a way to prevent prostatitis (because one of the provoking factors is sperm stagnation and frequent erections without subsequent ejaculation).Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases is equally important.
In adulthood, every man should undergo regular (once a year) examinations by a urologist.After prostatitis, preventive courses of outpatient treatment are carried out at least twice a year for a month and one course of sanatorium treatment.