Symptoms of chronic prostatitis are often mild, and treatment is not carried out in the initial stage. However, the problem can be solved if you take it seriously.
What is it
Many patients find out what chronic prostatitis is when they visit a doctor for a completely different reason. Meanwhile, this disease is very dangerous and is a long-term inflammatory process that occurs in the prostate. If left untreated, serious complications can arise: impotence, infertility, vesiculitis, prostate cysts, adenomas and prostate cancer.
There are several forms of the disease:
acute bacterial prostatitis, caused by the penetration of infectious pathogens into the prostate. Characterized by typical pain in the lower abdomen and during urination;
chronic bacterial prostatitis, which, along with the clinical picture of the acute form of the pathology, is accompanied by the presence of bacteria and an increased level of leukocytes in urine and prostate secretions;
chronic prostatitis, which is a consequence of the previous bacterial form of the disease with ineffective treatment or its absence;
asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, characterized by the absence of any symptoms, but manifested during laboratory diagnostic methods.
More than 90% of cases of the disease are non-bacterial chronic prostatitis, which is asymptomatic, which leads to delayed treatment.
Is it possible to cure
The diagnosis itself indicates that the disease has been progressing in the body for a long time. It is often difficult for men to consult a doctor for such an urgent matter until the situation becomes critical. Meanwhile, the sooner a man seeks medical help (at the first signs of ill health), the more effective the treatment will be and the more likely he will be completely cured of the disease. In an advanced form, chronic prostatitis is almost impossible to cure, but with proper and regular therapy, the symptoms will become less pronounced. That is why a timely consultation with a doctor is very important.
Causes
The disease occurs in men between the ages of 20 and 50 and depends on a number of prerequisites:
Infectious pathogens. They enter the prostate in several ways:
ascending (along the urethra);
descending (through infected urine);
lymphogenic (through lymphatic channels);
hematogenous (through the blood).
Examples of pathogenic microflora that cause the bacterial form of prostatitis are staphylococci, Escherichia coli, enterococci, Proteus, pathogens of a viral, fungal, parasitic nature, as well as chlamydia, gonococci, gardnerella and others.
Disturbance of normal blood circulation in the pelvic organs. The reason for this can be a sedentary lifestyle, sedentary work (drivers, office workers) and poor nutrition. As a result, there is congestion and swelling in the tissues of the prostate, and incomplete ejection of secretions from the organ cavity is observed. All this leads to partial or complete dysfunction of the gland.
Prolonged sexual abstinence or the practice of interrupted sexual intercourse. These actions also cause inflammatory processes in the prostate.
Accompanying diseases. First of all, it refers to pathologies of a urological nature: cystitis, urethritis, pyelonephritis, untreated acute prostatitis. However, the cause of chronic prostatitis can also be other diseases: chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, etc.
Frequent and prolonged stay in the cold, in conditions of high ambient temperature or high humidity, constant psycho-emotional stress.
Symptoms
The clinical picture of chronic prostatitis is weak in the initial phase. A man, as a rule, does not feel any discomfort or does not pay attention to the appearance of signs of the disease if they do not interfere with leading a normal lifestyle. Over time, the general condition worsens and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
Appearance of pain in the perineum, genitals, groin. The pain can be weak, painful or quite intense during urination, defecation, after sexual intercourse and during ejaculation. Often the pain syndrome spreads to the sacrum, anus, scrotum and testicles.
Disturbances during urination and defecation. In the first case, the process is characterized by frequent and painful urges and burning in the urethra. The presence of thread-like formations in the urine is observed. During defecation, discharge from the urethra is possible, which indicates insufficient prostate tone.
Disorders of sexual function. In men suffering from chronic prostatitis, there is a decrease in libido, unstable erection or its absence, pain during and after sexual intercourse, hemospermia and infertility.
Bad sleep, irritability, increased nervousness, fatigue, depression.
Increased body temperature. It can be noticed during the exacerbation of the disease and have minor deviations from the norm.
Symptoms may not appear all at once, but they may be constant.
Diagnostics
Diagnostic studies allow refuting or confirming the assumed diagnosis, determining what type of disease it is and how much it can be cured.
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The main diagnostic procedures are:
general urinalysis;
analysis of prostate secretion for the presence/absence of pathogenic microflora, as well as for determining the deviation of physiological parameters from normal values (increased number of leukocytes, etc. );
bacteriological culture of urine and taking a swab from the urethra;
urine sample from three glasses to determine the area of localization of inflammation;
analysis to identify pathogens of genital tract infections;
Prostate ultrasound;
study of spermogram data, MAR test (for reproductive abnormalities);
urodynamic, endoscopic examinations;
determination of prostate specific antigen (PSA).
Treatment of chronic prostatitis
The answer to the question of how to treat chronic prostatitis depends on the severity of the pathology and its type. The disease requires an integrated approach to its elimination or stable relief of symptoms.
Drug treatment
It includes taking drugs from the following groups:
Antibiotics, which are necessarily prescribed when diagnosing a bacterial form of pathology. However, such therapy may also be indicated for non-bacterial chronic prostatitis if a lasting positive effect is observed. Medicines from the penicillin, cephalosporin, tetracycline, aminoglycoside and fluoroquinolone groups are taken in strict accordance with the doctor's instructions for at least two weeks.
Antispasmodics that help relieve painful spasms in the perineum.
Anti-inflammatory, anti-pain.
Alpha1-blockers used to reduce prostate hypertonicity and normalize motility.
Immunostimulating drugs.
The medication regimen is selected individually in accordance with the characteristics of the diagnosis and intolerance to certain medications (if any).
Treatment without drugs
In this case, the positive effect of the therapy is achieved by physical influence of a different nature on the diseased area. Patients can be prescribed:
Prostate massage. It activates the complete expulsion of secretions from the prostate, improves blood circulation and normalizes the tone of the organ. Massage with antibiotics is particularly effective in the treatment of bacterial chronic prostatitis. However, there are contraindications for its use if the patient is diagnosed with:
acute bacterial prostatitis;
accompanying diseases of the gonads (vesiculitis, cooperitis);
the presence of stones in the prostate;
prostate cysts;
BPH;
organ cancer or suspected cancer;
prostate abscess;
hemorrhoids, rectal fissures and other disorders.
Electrophoresis. Physiotherapy procedure includes a therapeutic effect on the pathological area with a small electric current (not more than 50 μA). In this way, recovery reactions are stimulated, pain is alleviated and blood flow is optimized in the gland tissues. Electrophoresis promotes the deep penetration of antibiotics into the structures of the prostate, which increases the effectiveness of their action.
Ultrasound. The method is widely used in the treatment of chronic prostatitis, because it has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect, restores sexual function and suppresses pain. Prostate tumors are successfully treated with ultrasound.
Ultraphonophoresis is the application of ultrasound therapy together with drugs. This method allows drugs to penetrate into the deep layers of the affected organ and work there most effectively.
Magnetotherapy. Physiotherapy procedure has a comprehensive restorative effect on the genitourinary system, improves metabolic processes and neurogeneration.
Laser magnetic therapy. Laser exposure also effectively treats disease manifestations, eliminating the risk of possible complications.
Inductometry is exposure to a high-frequency alternating magnetic field.
Urethral instillations, mud therapy, therapeutic enemas, warm baths.
Physiotherapy together with drug treatment makes it possible to achieve a lasting therapeutic effect and, in most cases, to completely defeat the disease in the initial phase.
Surgical intervention
Indicated in cases where it is impossible to help the patient with other methods.
Prostatectomy is the partial or complete removal of the prostate while maintaining erectile function.
Transurethral resection (TUR) is an operation for excision or removal of overgrown tissue of the gland. It is prescribed for prostate adenoma or cancer.
Laser surgery. The operation involves the removal of the affected organ tissue using a laser beam. In this case, the blood vessels are "sealed", eliminating bleeding.
Drainage of prostate abscess. This operation allows you to drain the pus from the cavity of the gland using a rubber drain inserted through the perineum or rectum by cutting the skin tissue.
Transurethral incision of the prostate. The operation involves several incisions on the prostate to reduce the pressure of the affected organ on the urethra and restore urination.
After surgical intervention, the patient needs rehabilitation, the time interval of which, depending on the type of operation, ranges from 2-3 days to several months.
Folk remedies
Herbal medicines are also effective medicines in the complex therapy of chronic prostatitis. For these purposes, tinctures, decoctions, mixtures of food or fat are used, which include:
pumpkin seeds;
aspen bark;
hazel leaves and bark;
chestnut shells;
parsley;
honey, propolis;
Kalanchoe etc.
Regular use of the herbal medicine helps to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, restore impaired functions and has a long-term preventive effect.
Chronic prostatitis is a disease that you should pay attention to at the first signs in order to eliminate dangerous complications and cure it in time.