Chronic prostatitis: symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention

Symptoms and causes of prostate inflammation

Prostatitis is diagnosed exclusively in men. This is one of the most common diseases among male reproductive system diseases. 4 out of 5 men have encountered symptoms of prostatitis at least once in their life.

Most often, prostatitis affects men aged 20–40 years at the peak of their sexual activity. Chronic prostatitis is diagnosed in every 10th man. It is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission and masquerades as a range of other diseases.

Symptoms of chronic prostatitis include the following manifestations:

  • Malaise and aching pains in the lower abdomen, with periodic cramps that do not go away for a quarter or more. Pain can appear in the lower back, legs, scrotum, and anus. It is particularly painful when urinating and when ejaculating.
  • Penile erection worsens and sexual desire decreases. First, premature ejaculation develops, and over time, on the contrary, ejaculation practically does not occur, it becomes very difficult to achieve this.
  • Urination becomes painful and incomplete. All the time there is a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
  • A man's quality of life sometimes deteriorates.

There are two types of chronic prostatitis: bacterial and nonbacterial.

Bacterial (infectious) prostatitis occurs with a constant alternation of sharp exacerbations and remissions, while infections and bacteria are found in the secret of the prostate.

In this case, neighboring organs such as the urethra, bladder neck or vas deferens can also be affected, which is why the disease manifests itself in different ways. An accurate diagnosis can be made after a thorough examination.

Most often, the disease manifests itself as follows:

  • Frequent and painful urination.
  • burning in the urethra.
  • Premature ejaculation.
  • Small mucous discharge from the urethra.
  • Severe disorders of sexual function.

All this greatly affects the working capacity and mental state of a man, which leads to prolonged depression and neurasthenia.

Abacterial chronic prostatitis is a disease in which bacteria are not found in the prostate secretion. This form is very difficult to diagnose, as evidenced by numerous reviews of men on various forums. Finding the right treatment regimen is also very difficult.

Important

Until now, doctors are faced with many unclear factors of the development of this disease. This greatly complicates the treatment process.

Even ultrasound and laboratory tests of the secretion may not show the presence of an inflammatory process. According to the recommendations of the European Association of Urologists, the main signs of abacterial prostatitis are distinguished:

  • It occurs in middle-aged men.
  • Prolonged pain in the pelvic area and groin.
  • Violation of the function of urination and frequent compelling urges.
  • Erectile dysfunction and pain during ejaculation.
  • Chronic congestive prostatitis: exacerbation and remission
  • Chronic congestive prostatitis is characterized by several stages of development, which are expressed by their different signs:
  • Exudative - a man feels a cutting pain in the groin, scrotum and pubic area.
  • Erection problems and accelerated ejaculation are observed.
  • Alternative - the patient complains of discomfort in the groin, scrotum and pubis.
  • During sexual intercourse, there is a frequent urge to urinate and rapid ejaculation.
  • Proliferation - the patient notes frequent urination with a weak stream, a constant feeling of not completely emptying the bladder. And ejaculation, on the contrary, becomes difficult and slow.
  • Cicatricial changes - at this stage, the prostate tissue begins to thicken intensively. The patient complains of discomfort in the pelvic and pubic area, frequent urge to urinate with a thin stream and incomplete emptying. The erection is very weak or absent, ejaculation becomes almost impossible, and the orgasm is weak, without vivid impressions. Prostatitis passes into the stage of chronic prostatitis with unstable remission, in which constant pain is observed, and remission occurs only for a few hours.

As for classification, it is common to use the US NIH classification, which divides the disease into types: acute and chronic bacterial, chronic without signs of inflammation and congestive, and histological.

Factors and causes of chronic prostatitis in men

Despite the fact that in the body of almost all people there are some microbes of chronic prostatitis, only a few get sick. How can the development of such a disease be explained in individual cases?

Experts determine the occurrence of chronic prostatitis not only by the presence of an infection in the body, but also by conditions affecting the development of the disease.

The most common causes of chronic prostatitis in men include:

  • Stagnation of the blood contained in the prostate caused by a sedentary lifestyle;
  • unstable sex life;
  • uncomfortable and rather tight clothes;
  • frequent hypothermia;
  • Injuries, as well as infections of various organs of the genitourinary system;
  • malnutrition;
  • constant stress;
  • frequent drinking and smoking.

Diagnosis begins with a conversation with the patient, who must state exactly and fully what is troubling him. The doctor needs to find out why the patient developed chronic prostatitis, find out all the possible causes and symptoms, how they manifest themselves. The doctor should tell everything in the smallest detail, it depends on how correctly the diagnosis will be made and effective and comprehensive treatment will be prescribed.

Next, you need to palpate and pass the secret for bacteriological analysis, which will allow you to determine the presence of infections and find out the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.

attention

Palpation is performed by the urologist through the rectum. This procedure makes it possible to find out the size and pain of the prostate. The probing can also detect hemorrhoids, adenomas or prostate cancer. Ultrasound of the prostate provides accurate data on the condition of the organ.

Determining the level of PSA in the blood makes it possible to rule out or confirm the presence of adenomas and prostate cancer.

If the urologist suspects the presence of a tumor, they will need to remove pieces of prostate tissue for a biopsy that will show its presence or absence.

Treating chronic prostatitis is a complex and time-consuming process. Today, various methods are used to treat this disease.

Treatment with antibiotics. In this case, antibiotics of the macrolide group and tetracycline are used.

Only the attending physician can choose the right drug, its dosage and duration of treatment.

Usually medication is taken for 10-15 days. After that, repeated tests are performed, which the doctor uses to determine whether the patient has recovered or whether additional treatment is needed.

Prostate massage is necessary so that the secretion of the prostate does not stagnate and its microcirculation takes place. This is very conducive to a speedy recovery.

But with acute prostatitis, hemorrhoids and rectal fissures, massage is prohibited.

Massage is usually prescribed as an additional therapy to antibiotic treatment.

Physiotherapy is prescribed to improve the condition of the tissues of the prostate, thereby accelerating the healing process.

Laser therapy and ultraphoresis are used for treatment. It is also effective to use mud, enemas with mineral water rich in hydrogen sulfide.

Phytotherapy serves as an additional stimulus for the patient's recovery and is always used in combination with other methods. Various herbal remedies are used for treatment.

In some cases, surgical intervention may also be indicated when the urethra is very narrow, the presence of abscesses or prostate adenoma is detected.

Important

Diagnosis and treatment should be carried out in a medical facility under the constant supervision of qualified doctors.

Timely contact with a doctor will allow you to achieve rapid healing. Once treatment begins, there will be long-term remission. You can talk about a full recovery when all the symptoms of the disease disappear and laboratory tests show good results.

The most popular questions from patients about chronic prostatitis

How to quickly and effectively cure chronic prostatitis with folk remedies?

Treatment can be carried out with the help of folk remedies. In folk medicine, the most popular is the use of infusions of chamomile, yarrow and sage. These microclysters are very good at reducing inflammation that occurs in the prostate.

To prepare such a microclyster, take two tablespoons of chamomile and pour 100 g of grass. boiling water. For treatment, you can also use horse chestnut peel, which is poured with alcohol and kept in a dark place for 10 days.

A decoction of the onion also helps. It is necessary to finely chop two large onions and pour them into a half-liter jar with boiling water. The glass is wrapped with a terry towel and left to steep for 2 hours. Then you need to drink 50 grams of broth every hour.

How to cure impotence in chronic prostatitis?

Impotence can be cured at home, subject to a number of measures.

It is necessary to select appropriate drugs that will help fill the cavernous bodies of the penis with blood. But before that, a consultation with a urologist is necessary. Modern drugs to increase potency with the active ingredient sildenafil have a good effect.

It is necessary to adjust the diet and go on a diet. You can not eat fatty foods and foods that reduce testosterone. It is necessary to lean on cereals and lean meats, drink juices and green tea.

Also, do not forget about physical activity. Walking and light jogging in the fresh air are very effective here. You also need to swing your legs. This helps contract the muscles of the anus and perineum.

How long is chronic prostatitis treated and how to get rid of it forever?

Antibiotic therapy lasts 1-3 months, depending on the neglect of the disease. If necessary, additional treatment with small doses of antibiotics may be prescribed. Lipophilic antibiotics best cope with this task.

In order to forget about this problem forever, you need to change your lifestyle, eat right, do not overcool and give the body a rest.

Why is chronic prostatitis dangerous?

Chronic prostatitis is characterized by sharp exacerbations of the disease, which are replaced by remissions. When the pain subsides, it becomes easier, and the man decides that he can cope with this problem on his own, instead of quickly contacting a urologist. However, delay will not help here, since the inflammation increases with each exacerbation.

Inflammation can affect adjacent organs, leading to cystitis, pyelonephritis, and vesiculitis. As a result, a man can develop infertility.

What antibiotics to take for chronic prostatitis?

A number of penicillins are often used. Tetracycline antibiotics are often prescribed for mycoplasma and chlamydia.

Fluoroquinolones are very potent and penetrate well into prostate tissue. Macrolides accumulate well in prostate tissue and quickly remove toxins.

Is sex possible with chronic prostatitis?

If the disease is caused by an infection, it is better to refrain from sex so as not to infect your partner. Although you can use a condom. It is simply necessary to have sex, because when it is aroused, blood rushes to the prostate and it begins to contract. The pelvic muscles also contract strongly during ejaculation, which is considered a good self-massage.

Prevention of chronic prostatitis in men and its characteristics

Preventing chronic prostatitis in men requires a healthy lifestyle and daily exercise. You can constantly strain and relax the scrotum from time to time.

Stop the stream a little each time you urinate, this will harden the sphincter muscle of the bladder to a certain extent. Such high-quality exercises allow blood to circulate well through the veins of the prostate and improve metabolic processes in the body.